Writer's Aid discussion

Finished a novel last spring that's most autobiographical, which is unusual for me. Mostly write more fantastic stories, but this was a tale I had to get out. Let it sit for a year, and now I've dug it out and am working on it with an editor. Jeez, so much work left to do!

I needed the time off to think about it and get some distance, but now that I'm submerged in it again I realize how much stuff I need to fix and add. It's overwhelming sometimes, but I guess that's just how it works.

I guess that's the thing with writing. You reach a level of finished, and then you realize you're not finished at all. Grrrr.

I just finished doing something similar. It was suggested that I chop my manuscript into four books because of its length. The original has eight parts plus an appendix. Two parts per book - shouldn't be too large a problem. Until.... The first chapter of book three had a really weak (like not much of one) beginning because it segued from the chapter before it. Major rewrite time. Two days to figure out a better beginning because the MC wasn't cooperating. Finally got that done and then...the transitions from the new start to what was previous written didn't work. More rewriting. It finally works (IMHO) but more than doubled the word count. Why go to all this? Personally I don't care for cliffhangers or series in which each book can't stand on its own. If I don't like it, I'm not going to do it to my readers (assuming I ever have any).

Yeah, it's overwhelming at time, but keep at it. I've been working on my epic one way or another for 18 years. You just gotta keep at it.

thank you, yeah I have no intention of giving up. Gotta make the best book I can, it just takes longer than you think, unfortunately! :)

Didn't believe you were going to give up - just encouraging you along. And yeah...just when you think you're done -

you're not. LOL