Once upon a time, I imagined Briar-Bound as a trilogy. This fall, after revising the entire story arc based on editorial feedback, I found I wasn't looking forward to writing the middle book.
Bad sign.
I told Chris, and he suggested I reimagine the three books as one, and see if the product was meaningful.
So I did and found that condensing the story did wonders for the pacing. The resulting acceleration drives the story forward. Most surprising: instead of ending the story sooner, what I'd done was akin to the Big Bang for my book. Things have come together so tightly and with such force that there are now more possibilities, as the book ends, for more story.
BOOM. Expansion.
So that's what I'm working on. Not the possible expansion, but the rewrite required by the condensation and acceleration of the story. The synopsis is in place. The writing is coming along. I'm re-energized.
What have you discovered in revision or rewriting?
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4 ate pie:
I've discovered some characters really aren't necessary. I had two minor characters that only served one purpose each; those qualities are now combined with a third existing character to make more connections between everyone and a tighter story.
Congrats on your Big Bang moment!
I know what you mean. Two characters who played a big role early in my project don't exist anymore. But their roles/motivations do.
I've realized that sometimes I describe things/people/setting too much, and sometimes not enough. I only see this with fresh eyes (after letting the MS "rest for awhile) and with red pen in hand.
Those fresh eyes are essential, right? I usually don't describe enough on the first pass.
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