Monday 3 October 2011

It's good and bad.


I’m suffering from mixed emotions at the moment. 
I’ve started re-reading the first draft of Odd Squad that I completed the other week,
So far, barring a few minor tweaks, the plot is standing up to scrutinisation.  The peaks and troughs of the tension and emotional journeys are clear enough that the reader is being carried along the path.  So far there doesn’t seem to be too much that needs to be chopped out as being superfluous (with the exception of the first chapter, which starts in the wrong place.) 
The quality of writing, however, needs some major work.  There’s far too much passive text, and the perspective jumps from character to character like a moth in a room full of candles.
 
This is where the mixed emotions fit in:
The work required to tidy up the text is going to be long, slow and arduous.  It’s made me realise how far I still need to go to be able to turn out something that’s half decent.
On the other hand, I can see what needs to be done.  I’ve obviously learnt how to spot the issues, and have some idea what is required to improve it.

4 comments:

  1. I know how you feel. I just began substantial revisions on my current WIP and I was dreading jumping in. I'm only a chapter in, and I'm thinking, "This is going to take forever!" I think this is where a love of your story and setting good goals comes in. Your passion will keep you going and reward you along your way, and your goals will motivate you to finish. Good luck!

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  2. E.R. - I think you just summed up how I'm going to get through it. I keep thinking how good it will be once I'm done.
    Good luck with your revisions, and make sure you update us :o)

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  3. Oh so true. I think it's great that you can see what you need to work on. I am the same way. Sometimes I hate seeing that stuff. Why can't it just come out great the first time? Ugh! But that would be less rewarding at the end of the road I assume. Keep us posted on how things go.

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  4. I hadn't thought of it that way Abby. You're right, it is very rewarding when you look back at the end result :o)

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