Writing and Editing a Novel
If you have not written a novel, you need to realize that it is fun, rewarding, but hard work. It’s a job. I tell students and clients that everyone has at least one book in them to write. Most people suspect it, they just don’t do it, which is unfortunate.
I am currently on the third edit of my novel entitled Farmville (not the online game, but a real town in Virginia). I grew up there, so my story is fiction based on facts– a complex murder mystery including information about real crimes, Civil War history and massive resistence to integration. Between teaching, reseraching, and doubting myself, writing the story it has taken about three years. If I were one of those writers who makes and follows an outline, I probably could have finished quicker; however, I am a character-driven writer. Individuals write either way and neither is wrong.
Being led by characters has its good and bad points. The best part is the excitement. I never get bored because like a any first-time reader, I never know what will happen next or who might appear on a scene. Before I finishing the story, I would often tell friends that I couldn’t wait to see what going to happen next. On the contrary, sometimes my characters (like children) misbehaved and wandered and talked too much. That’s when I would get frustrated and doubtful that I’d ever finish with a good story. I will say, however, it all came together. That’s when I thought I was finished. Not so.
My elation from completing the story lasted about two weeks, when editing began. I had talked to some successful, beginning, novelists, who told me they had to write seven drafts– depressing but good information. All of them had people helping them edit, too, because writers cannot be objective about their creation. I’ve heard it said it’s your book is like your child, or maybe it’s like being blindly in love.
My first draft involved correcting obvious mistakes such as grammar, mechanics, and typos. The second was mostly correcting plot flaws. The third is serious cutting and working on dialogue– with an objective consultant. He reminds me of such sage advice as, ” A book is not meant to be hidden to anyone but the author. If it is, then you have a journal. If you are writing a book, it ceases to be yours.”
I am now half way through the third edit of my manuscript, and it has been quite an education. I will continue this article when I have more information. Hopefully, it will not take seven edits; however, if it does, so be it.
