tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post1595542743173723298..comments2023-05-12T06:37:48.238-04:00Comments on Manuscript Mavens: Writing BackwardsErica Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05511276393455961757noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-79849789518414169342007-08-01T11:21:00.000-04:002007-08-01T11:21:00.000-04:00With WIP I've barely touched the beginning. Maybe...With WIP I've barely touched the beginning. Maybe I'm supersticious, maybe I'm dumb. But I really like the first few chapters and I've gotten good comments on them. For me, it's the middle that has taken so much work - that part of the book that I'd sit down to write every day with no clue what came next.<BR/><BR/>But for my last book, I rewrote the opening quite a bit - even cutting the first two chapters. If I ever go back to it, I'm sure I'd have to cut more!Carrie Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13751498516235657725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-57241805625717218592007-07-31T21:03:00.000-04:002007-07-31T21:03:00.000-04:00How many times have we written the first paragraph...How many times have we written the first paragraph of an article or book at www.TheArticleGroup.com only to rewrite is beyond count. On many occassions I find that we just simply have to start over after a quick review, trying to wordsmith or correct it is virtually impossible.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03692562817289136920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-17047915213890081602007-07-31T20:45:00.000-04:002007-07-31T20:45:00.000-04:00I've rewritten the first couple of chapters way mo...I've rewritten the first couple of chapters way more than I'd like to admit.<BR/><BR/>My only saving grace is this is my first paranormal. I figured I'd better get it right in the beginning. <BR/><BR/>Oh course now that it's getting much closer to 'the end' I'm finding I'll have to go back and once more work on the beginning. This time to layer in a few things needing to be there now that my characters have decided to take a few extra turns along the way. :)Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04521384704019863926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-86618975224261501132007-07-31T18:27:00.000-04:002007-07-31T18:27:00.000-04:00I'm about to outsource Erica to write one for me.B...<I>I'm about to outsource Erica to write one for me.</I><BR/><BR/>Bwa ha haa. =)<BR/><BR/>I mostly tweaked and rearranged the opening rather than whole-scale rewriting for TATTF. For DATD... dunno yet, hafta get to The End first. (Which is becoming increasingly difficult the longer I wait to do so.) The beginning for Touched I think will remain more or less as is, with the big picture revision storming in right about the start of Chapter 2. Every story is different that way, I guess.<BR/><BR/>As for knowing the characters too well... that's definitely a fear. Especially if they can be interpreted as unheroic in the beginning (as part of their arc, of course *g) because we don't want the reader to be incapable of identifying with the protagonist right from the start, flawed though s/he may be. Challenging, to say the least!Erica Ridleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05511276393455961757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-87407852496721031592007-07-31T17:06:00.000-04:002007-07-31T17:06:00.000-04:00I NEED to re-write the beginning (and middle and e...I NEED to re-write the beginning (and middle and end) of EVERYTHING, LOL. I've been looking at the first stuff (novellas) I ever wrote, and my God, they're ghastly. Am afraid to go for the actual books.Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12585076626818354332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-26175333920086962962007-07-31T16:02:00.000-04:002007-07-31T16:02:00.000-04:00I've rewritten the first two chapter's three times...I've rewritten the first two chapter's three times so far.And to be completely obtuse I find it easier AND harder to rewrite once I know my character's better...Kelly Krystenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15540403635154064801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-55378274408400914652007-07-31T15:04:00.000-04:002007-07-31T15:04:00.000-04:00*runs screaming in the opposite direction of the q...*runs screaming in the opposite direction of the quesion*<BR/><BR/>What's been hurting me lately is that as I cut text to get closer to the beginning of the story, I lose that first attention-grabbing line or paragraph. I'm about to outsource Erica to write one for me :-)lacey kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04748864831060027009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-72035944697416145292007-07-31T14:38:00.000-04:002007-07-31T14:38:00.000-04:00I don't even want to think about how many times I'...I don't even want to think about how many times I've revised some of the beginnings of my novels. Hurts brain. Can't see.Jody W. and Meankittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733607365443126784noreply@blogger.com