I've been looking at a manuscript I wrote as the first part of a series several
years ago. I really like this story. The quality doesn't fall into
the, oh my god, how awful category—those stories are long ago in a galaxy far
away, um, that would be in a hidden box. It’s full of old manuscripts written
through the years and won’t see the light of day anytime soon.
I
digress. This story has good bones but could be told in a better way. I knew
that four years ago, when started editing it. There are two editions both a bit
different than the other the original and #2 is from my first pass of edits. It
still wasn't quite right.
To
make it what it needs to be will take some pretty ruthless work. The third file of this story has pieces spread out everywhere. It's kind of like having all the pieces of the fabric for a quilt but no pattern handy to reassemble it so it looks like a quilt and not a stack of bright colors. It's daunting. There are pieces mixed in that aren't necessary in creating the quilt.
In writing I need to know many things that my reader doesn't. To complicate things more the story starts in the wrong place—cut about 5 chapters and you have the true beginning. I also know the plot needs tweaking. I have the main story and a couple of sub-plots. I need a clearer picture of where I want this story to go. Need to get rid of those things that don't move the story forward and add other scenes that will.
When
I look at the mess of pieces it overwhelms me. Where the hell do I start?
I've been thinking about that a lot lately. Just as with creating a quilt (which I've done) or any art form you first have to have a pattern. The
base pattern has to be a clear picture in your mind. The shape and scope of it.
That clarity determines what sort of accents and in what material and textures
are needed to compliment the pattern. Make it pop.
So,
I have my answer. I need to start with the pattern (plot). Get a clearer picture of it in my mind and then set out the pieces (chapters and scenes) that fit the pattern and baste them together. I need to decide, once that's done, what will add better texture to the story. Adding more layers of emotion and motivations. Add the contrasts of environment and description to match the picture in my head.
Easy-peasy
right? Pfft. Not hardly.
It’s
still in pieces and I don’t kid myself about the time involved to take
this story from okay to great. Even after I have the pattern clear and the
pieces and accents where I want them I know there will be several more editing
passes after the beta reads.
But
that’s for the future. Right now my focus is on getting the pattern
straight. I’ll worry about the rest later.
Bear with me folks, I had a severe allergic reaction Monday evening and I'm still weak and wimpy. I will get around to visit but it will be in ;-) bits and pieces.
