Monday 3 October 2011

Quelle horreur!

So. As you know (or if you are new here - hello! Take a seat! I'm about to start flailing!) I am on a mission with the rewrite of the novel. A complete and utter mission. This little puppy has to be done and dusted by the end of October or my name's not Jayne Ferst. (Ah. Bad example.)

There are a lot of changes to make.

1. Main character is forty years younger.
2. This means the setting (for a bit) is now 1962 instead of 2002.
3. It's now first person narration, instead of third person.
4. It's present tense intead of past.

So there's a lot to do, but whereas I thought the rewrite would be like lifting up the rug of my Word document and gently flapping it, watching it settle down and glow with magic and promise, instead I notice the rotten rug is sewn together with 'suddenly' and 'just' and 'quite'. Also what is with my characters 'looking' everywhere, all the time? They look up, they look down, they look all-a-sodding-round. I've also noticed they constantly bite their lips.

My poor characters - I've inadvertantly given them neck-ache and an addiction to lip balm.

So the rewrite is keeping me very busy indeed and apologies for not blogging as much or getting around to visit as many blogs as I would like (although if you comment I will pop by at some point). Here, have a picture of some autumn leaves:

29 comments:

mshatch said...

ooh, pretty! And good luck with your re-write - sounds like you have some work to do!

Old Kitty said...

Autumn leaves are alwasy a welcome sight!! But yay for the mini heatwave too!!

GOOD LUCK with your re-writes!!!! Yay! Take care
x

Old Kitty said...

p.s. misspelt "always"! sorry!!
x

Out on the prairie said...

Sounds like a lot of work.I have a hard time doing much this time of year than play, although I did a few programs lately.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

You are making me laugh with your harried tale! You'll get it all done, I just know! Just breathe.

Debbie Coope said...

Deep breath and plough back on in there.

Tanya Reimer said...

At least it’s worth a rewrite, right? I just did a rewrite on one I wrote 10 years ago, and it’s killer now. Love it. So have fun and enjoy the magic.

E. Arroyo said...

Wow. Good luck! Nice pic.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

OOoh! You're going to be ONE busy chic! Ach! Changing POV is tough. Get a handful of beta readers to comb through. I had changed my current novel from 1st person present to 1st person past. Sheesh, let me tell ya...

It'll be a fun visit for you, though. Enjoy every minute and get off blogger for crying out loud! ;)

best wishes!

Please join my Darskpell Launch Spookfesta October 31st!


KamilleE said...

That is a very big rewrite! Good luck!

MorningAJ said...

That's a hefty rewrite. But I know you can do it. Good luck.

Happy Frog and I said...

Best of luck with the re-write, sounds like you have a lot on your plate but thankfully you're much better at editing then I am!

Iain said...

Just think how good you'll feel when it's all polished, and neck ache free :o)

Karen Jones Gowen said...

You sound frazzled! Hope it all goes well!

Golden Eagle said...

Good luck with your rewriting!

Beautiful picture. :)

Shirley Wells said...

I love that picture. Very pretty.

Good luck with the rewrite. Sounds like a lot of work. It made me laugh though and I'm so with you on characters looking everywhere. Mine do that a lot too. :)

Melissa Sugar said...

Good luck. I just spent 5 months doing what you are doing ( my first novel) so mine was rather rough and needed more than polishing. When you finish, it is the best feeling. I will keep you in my thoughts.
Melissa

Val's alentejo blog said...

I am new to your blog Jayne. Your writing atracts me to read on. I am also new to blogging..and am slowly learning how this works..but still a lot to learn.
I love the Autumn leaves ..wanted to paint some in water colour for a while.. now your picture has inspired me.
Wish you luck, with the changes you have to make on your work in progress.

L.A Speedwing said...

LOL! Re "she looks up and down and bit their lips"
Although I used other verbs, there were there alright! But I must ask: who asked/advised you to do all that? I know the first narrative (might) make a book more interesting/personal but first tense too? My, you have a lot of things to do ahead of you. Brave girl.

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

Good luck with the rewrite. I'm in the middle of one that I want finished by January, and I notice my characters "look" and "stare" and "peer" a lot, too. I've added a character which needs to be layered into the very beginning, (sigh). Oh, these rewrites. Meanwhile, I hope I can keep my sense of humor as I work it through as well as you are keeping yours.

4 Life said...

LOL - if you're rewrite is as good as this blog post, you've no worries. That's a lot of rewrite you got going on too, don't forget to break for a nice cup of tea. A writer must be properly fortified!

Maggie May said...

A complete rewrite then! That is a challenge. Hope you are managing to make these changes. I would feel like screaming and chucking the proofs at them.!
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Vikki said...

Good luck with the rewrites lovely, I haven't been blogging much either, naughty Vikki and Jayne :-). x

Bob Sanchez said...

I like your approach. Write the story first, then make the fixes. I bet it will come out just fine.

Tasha Seegmiller said...

Good luck with your work. I'm working through a first draft with the dream of needing to re-write even part. Hope it goes well for you.

Sweet Lily said...

Excellent! Inspiring!

Unknown said...

I have the same trouble, can't keep up with everything including blogging - must try harder!

Dolly said...

Oh my goodness Jayne that sounds very complicated with editing all those looking arounds & lip bitings, though your descriptive words made me smile a bit.

Best of luck with your rewriting I am sure it will all come out fine, though I can't imagaine how time consuming this sort of thing must be!

Rose said...

I had no idea of the changes- how exciting and interesting- can't wait to hear more- good luck with the writing (I still owe you an email back I know)