MARCH QUESTION: Have you ever pulled out a really old
story and reworked it? Did it work out?
I certainly have. I've shared this story before, but I'll
do it again. :) When I was twelve, I started writing a book that flourished
into a series. At the age of seventeen, I had reached Book 4 when writer's
block hit and hit me hard. I didn't write for months. I felt a total disconnect
from my characters and my plot. It took me a long time to realize why...it was
because I had matured, and so did my characters, but I wanted them to be older
than when they started. So, I set about rewriting the entire series from Book
1.
For years, I slaved over these stories, and I have finished
all 4 books. But I was never completely satisfied with the first book. I kept
tweaking it, redoing the beginning, editing it and editing it. It wasn't until
2015 when I asked for beta readers to read the first 3 chapters and the
wonderful Yolanda Renee helped me to whip the book into shape. I love it
now!
I actively sought representation last year and only
received rejections, but I'm not going to give up on it. I do have to
rework Book 2 to fit the changes, and I still have to revise/edit the final two
books, and I will...when it's time. :)
OPTIONAL APRIL QUESTION: Have you taken advantage of
the annual A to Z Challenge in terms of marketing, networking, publicity for
your book? What were the results?
Reminder: The questions are optional and meant as a prompt if you struggle with what to post. You don't have to answer a question if you don't want to. :)
I love your persistence in reworking your stories and not giving up. Sounds like Yolanda was a wonderful support to you in getting to this point. Yay for beta readers :-)
ReplyDeleteYolanda was a blessing. :)
DeleteIt is super fun to rework old stories and plots that didn't work the first time around. It shows how resourceful we are!
ReplyDeleteIt sure does.
DeleteWOW, I wasn't expecting that! Thanks, Chrys! It was a real pleasure reading your work and I've no doubt that you'll achieve your goals!
ReplyDeleteOld ideas can always be tweaked and become new stories/books!
Every author should have such a store house!
You deserve a big thanks, Yolanda. I hope I've expressed my gratitude. :)
DeleteWow. What a wonderful story. I wish I had some of the things I wrote when I was twelve, but the tropics ate just about everything. I hope your series sees print!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope it does, too.
DeleteHave to keep on keeping on indeed. That will get the job done. Old ideas can ring true when it is their time too.
ReplyDeleteI like that last sentence. :)
DeleteIWSG is certainly growing leaps and bounds. I hope the Twitter Pitch Party is a success. :)
ReplyDeleteMe too. :)
DeleteJust keep working on it and don't give up.
ReplyDeleteI will, I won't. :)
DeleteWhat happened to your festive site? I'm missing it already. :-(
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
What do you mean?
DeleteKeep at it Chrys persistance pays off.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Thanks. I will!
DeleteKeep submitting. You just haven't hit the right publisher.
ReplyDeleteI will. I'm really looking for an agent.
DeleteKeep on pushing forward. You can do it! And what wonderful stuff coming from the IWSG.
ReplyDeleteSo much great things coming. :)
DeleteChrys, I love your perseverance and your dedication to your stories. I wish I had that habit, sometimes I feel I give up too fast!
ReplyDeleteI can't help but feel strongly for this book/series.
DeleteHi Chrys - I echo Rachna's comment ... and it's definitely keeping on - IWSG really helps ... and the A-Z is a definitely plus for anyone wanting to get their story written. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIWSG certainly helps! :)
DeleteI love it when beta readers and/or critique partners can help us whip a stubborn story into shape. They're so valuable to any writer.
ReplyDeleteMore valuable than we can ever voice. :)
DeleteI hope something happens with this book because I want to read it (yes, I know I know nothing about it, but =P!)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteIt is interesting how our characters mature because we do too. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is. :)
DeleteWow, you started at 12? That's impressive. The things I wrote back then were definitely not books. Or good. At all. I prefer to focus on all the new ideas I have now, rather than trying to salvage what I wrote in the past. I do envy those who can, though.
ReplyDeleteI actually want to rewrite that old series again, but this time keeping the story and changing the characters.
DeleteImpressed by your determination. Chrys. I'm about to do my IWSG post as very behind...hope I catch up by A to Z. Tend to use A to Z to develop ideas for the current project, rather than promotion. However, maybe I will get organised to promote current project in the Twitter Party.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can catch up and join the pitch party!
DeleteAlmost all of my characters were written into existence when I was very young. I never saw the point of abandoning them just because I'd gotten older. Sure I don't write them the same way anymore, but that only makes them stronger and better. It's not like I thought, "Well, I'm 18/21/whatever now, time to grow up and laugh about those characters I created as a child and preteen. Adults only write about characters they created as adults."
ReplyDeleteI couldn't dump my characters. I loved them too much.
DeleteHow great that Yolanda was able to help you out! Congrats to you and her.
ReplyDeleteI think the TwitterPitch Party's going to be a smash hit!
Thanks, Lee. Yolanda's help was a gift. :)
DeleteYes yes yes. Some stories we are not ready to write well. That doesn't mean the ideas are bad or weak.
ReplyDeleteExactly! :D
DeleteWow, on writing those 4 books. You are amazing. I hope you find the representation you are looking for for your projects. I rewrote my first book over and over too. Luckily after I got a professional editor, I could publish it in 2015.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Murees! My book is pretty different, so I'm having a hard time getting someone to take a chance on it.
DeleteYou were writing way back then? Wow.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was. :)
DeleteHave I ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Yes, but then my computer crashed (no joke) and poof the new story was gone. It was about a kid meeting his idol Elvis Presley minus the bling and the fans.
ReplyDeleteElvis fans would like that story.
DeleteGlad to hear you're persistent! It will pay off someday (hopefully soon!).
ReplyDeleteI'd love to take part in the Twitter Pitch but I highly doubt I'll have a polished manuscript by then. And I may have genre issues. Oh well!
We hope to do the pitch party again. So never fear. You'll have a chance when you're ready. :)
Delete=) That's when I completed my first book too...but that one will NEVER be revised and NEVER see the light of day. It was just for me.
ReplyDeleteMine started out to be just for me. Then I got the dream to publish it. :)
DeleteYou were way ahead of me Chrys. I was writing as a teen, but I never finished my manuscripts. I was about half way in and then summer hit, and I got busy with work. Sigh. I might revisit it some day. A to Z challenge is too much blogging for me. I'm already dying with one a week...lol
ReplyDeleteI did the A to Z twice and enjoyed it but now I have no time. I'd rather take the month of April off of blogging, which is what I'm doing. ;)
DeleteAs my stories are often memoirs or based on memoirs, I used to think once I wrote it, that was it. But I have changed. I have read almost all of Edward Abbey's writings and learned from him that one can take the same story and rebuild it into a new story with a new emphasis.
ReplyDeleteSo true. I've used parts of my life and reworked them into different stories.
DeleteA 12 year old mind really isn't all that dumb and can come up with good stories. The maturity and experience of writing can put the polish on that story. You were wise to retain that old story and re-work it. Persistence is the key to success.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Yes and I still have them too. Another, different rewrite might be in order for the future.
DeleteYour perseverance definitely paid off. Good luck with the other books of the series.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Olga!
DeleteI wish had the stuff I wrote from about age 9 to 26, but we lost our home in a flood and all the stories with it. They all were hand written at that time.
ReplyDeleteWishing you much success always,
Happy IWSG Belated Day!
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Oh no! I'm so sorry. :(
DeleteIt sounds like you had a lot of creativity as a youngster! I started writing around 14 too, so I know the feeling. Although I wasn't as prolific as you were!
ReplyDeleteTo answer your questions, I don't realy use A to Z to advertize my book, but rather to get my blog out there. People will hopefully like what I post and that'll get me closer to my target audience!
Using the A to Z to advertise your blog is a great idea, the best way to get your blog out there and seen.
DeleteThe A to Z challenge never fails to provide inspiration for stories - past and present. I never thought of using it to advertise.
ReplyDeleteYour wondrous writing journey isn't over until you say it is. You've already proven you can, so enjoy the scenery till you get there (again) ;-)
I've been taking a break lately, but I know my writing journey isn't over. :)
DeleteThat's awesome that you were able to take something you wrote as a teenager to rewrite. I hope you can find a home for it :) I wish I would have been more persistent with my writing when I was a teen. I only managed to write short stories or essays with about 3 pages at the most.
ReplyDeleteBut those three pages helped you grow. :)
DeleteI agree with reworking on old stories because it grows as we grow. Change is good.
ReplyDeleteChange is excellent. :)
DeleteDefinitely don't give up on it. If you've stuck with it this long, it's a keeper.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I sure believe it's a keeper. :)
DeleteI think that is why my first novel (or novella) will always be in a keepsake box: cuz I matured out of the childish writing. Unlike some adult authors, I've never been able to recapture that teenaged mentality and and edit it into readable material. Its just been too many years from the naive writing to a time I seriously wanted to write for publication.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, maybe this first writing is around to remind me of innocence. Something I haven't been for a long long time.
The teenage mentality is a hard one to keep or recapture. I struggle with it, too.
DeleteI will say it again..if I ever write a book, your blog will be what inspired it :)
ReplyDeleteI wish you a wonderful weekend :)
Thank you! That's a wonderful compliment. Now I'm seeking hoping you'll start writing. ;)
DeleteCongrats on finishing your book! And don't give up on representation. It'll happen...it just takes time.
ReplyDelete