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| Ruins yield treasures. |
I dug out the hard copy of a manuscript yesterday. I had no choice as I'd only backed up half of it and the hard drive it was on is ruined. How it got physically damaged is a mystery. It will stay that way.
It may turn out to be a blessing in that I have to retype the story.
Retyping leads to rewriting.
Said manuscript had lain dormant for several months. It had gone to a beta reader whose taste and opinion I trust.
Beta advised. Beta is right. Betas words are gone with the hard drive, but I recall the gist and it is on a closed loop in my mind as I write.
Writing feels good. Rewriting does, too, because I am re-imagining. It's similar to starting from scratch, but with a good well of ideas from which to draw.
Yesterday's output was a few hundred words, but it included shuffling of chapters, perking up of dialogue, scene punching, all manner of good stuff that happens in the first excited blush of creation.
I'm still waiting to hear back on a manuscript I've submitted to agents and publishers. This will keep my mind occupied while I wait.
***
The photo is part of the house my granddad built. I live there the first year of my life.
13 comments:
Maybe every manuscript needs time to ferment in the back of the drawer, then be rewritten.
Holding on to good thoughts and wishes for the one you've submitted.
Messymimi, so true. The fermentation process is important.
Thanks for your good thoughts.
That re-vision part if often the most exciting. So glad to read about your life again! Crossing my fingers for good news for you!
Bossy Betty, it's so good to see you back in the blogosphere. You're right. It's a different kind of exciting from raw creation, but it is still good. Thanks for the finger-crossing.
Reminds me of Lampadusa's novel, THE LEOPARD, the manuscript of which was reportedly thrown out by a domestic. He had to write it all over again from word one. And that's a long novel.
Sad that these old houses are abandoned and left to fall into total disrepair. Sad too that he hard drive crashed and you lost material.
Ron, I didn't know that. I suspect my rewrite will be a better story. Or so I tell myself.
Red, it is sad, but there's no one to care for it.
Thanks.
I could SWEAR I left a comment here this morning!!
Good luck with the re-writing.
Thanks, BL.
Great shot of the house. Good luck on the submitted manuscript and I am sure the one you are rewriting will be better than ever.
You are your own silver lining. What a gift.
In re-writing one is manifesting a new link over a previous foundation. Retyping is beneficial as you say, as it gets the creative cogwheels going, and often, new tendrils and off shoots suddenly spurt out and there you go. I'm certain the new version will suit you just fine, Leah.
Thanks, Reb.
Hilary, one does as one can.
Barbara, I know it will be different from the original. I've no idea how yet.
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