Mastering the Rewrite: One Writer’s Journey to the Finished Draft
Mark Twain’s words resonate with writers like me: “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” This quote sums up the grueling process of rewriting a novel. The first draft is like an exciting first date: full of promise, easy-going, and a bit breezy. You finish that draft with a grin, toasting your own brilliance, envisioning readers applauding your literary genius.
(When Is My Novel Ready to Read?)
The honeymoon phase lasts around 48 hours. Then that sinking feeling in your chest kicks in. As you revisit your draft, you realize the hard part has only just begun. Rewriting is where real writers emerge. It’s the time to dig deep, pull out the tools and techniques you’ve gathered over the years. It’s when you revisit the novels of your favorite authors, hoping they’ll drop some hints on how to navigate the rocky road of rewriting.
The rewrite is when you pore over each sentence, ensuring it’s the exact right word. It’s when every character gets a critical once-over to ensure they earn their keep in the story. You’ve got to decide if each chapter contributes to the narrative. And yes, even your beloved snippets of dialogue have to earn their spot on the page.
I learned this the hard way while creating my novel, Karma Under Fire. If you were to tally up all the pages I rewrote, you might question my sanity. The rewriting process haunted me, and I grappled to refine the story into something readers would enjoy.
One night, as the clock neared two a.m., after an exhausting editing session, I considered throwing in the towel. I wondered if Karma Under Fire was worth all the work, or if I should just toss the story into a drawer and start again with a new idea? I felt the weight of uncertainty, not sure what direction to pursue.
That’s when I stumbled upon the 2011 flick In Time, starring Justin Timberlake. In this futuristic dystopia, time is wealth, and the rich can seemingly live forever. Justin’s character stumbles into a race against the relentless clock, striving to reach his goals while facing numerous obstacles.
The film shined a spotlight on my deepest fear: the time invested in completing my novel. I felt a twinge of shame for the snail’s pace progress. I wondered if I was up to the task, if my story was engaging enough, if I could cross the finish line.
In that moment, I struck a deal with myself. I decided to halt the self-flagellation and recapture the joy and enthusiasm that initially fueled my writing. I committed to tackling the story one page at a time, asking myself a simple question: Do I love it? If the answer was no, I ruthlessly replaced it. This method allowed me to break down the process into a series of manageable steps and brought me to the finish line, confident I’d crafted the best story I had in me.
Check out Love Hudson-Maggio’s Karma Under Fire here:
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Now, here’s the advice I wish someone had offered me that night when I nearly abandoned Karma Under Fire. If you are grappling with your novel’s final draft, ensnared in the rewriting labyrinth, here’s an incentive to keep you moving forward: Simply begin at the beginning.
Here are 2 steps to get you started:
Rekindle the passion. Rediscover the enthusiasm and motivation that ignited your writing. Why did you embark on this story? What message did you intend for readers to carry away?Evaluate your work page by page. Scrutinize your work one page at a time, asking yourself if you genuinely love it. Does it make your heart sing?
Writing constitutes an ongoing journey, and the rewriting phase serves as the bridge between inspiration and a gratifying finished work. It’s no cakewalk, but remember the sage words of Mark Twain: the “right word” is the key to achieving excellence.