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The DUH!!! Moment of Editing

I had a "DUH!!!" moment about my WIP last week.

I was plotting which direction the re-writes should take and what needed the most work. And then it hit me with a great big

and I was all like


partly because it seems so obvious in retrospect, but mostly because it means I will have to rewrite to an extent which I have never rewritten before.

I really have no clue how I managed to overlook this. Well, that's a lie -- because I made sure not to make this same mistake in another part of the WIP. I was oh-so-concerned that the friends-to-significant-others relationship should develop naturally. I was also oh-so-concerned that the just-friends relationship did the same thing. And the same for the sibling relationship, and so on and so forth.

Basically, I was so concerned over all this side stuff that I COMPLETELY IGNORED what might just be the MOST IMPORTANT relationship in the WHOLE DAMN THING.

I mean, it's not important in that it's meaningful to both people (though it is). It's important in that the entire plot literally hinges on it. It you don't believe in this relationship or understand why it's important, the plot and the decisions of a major character will make no sense.

 And I sidelined it. Ugh. What makes it worse is that it's my MFC's (main female character's) relationship with a mentor. I was plenty concerned about her romantic relationship, because that's also important to the plot...but how could I forget about this pivotal mentor? Does that mean I made my MFC all about the romance? Now I feel like a bad feminist.

 Well, I guess I'm not so much a bad feminist as I am a bad -- well, let's say learning -- writer. Leaving the reader free to use their imagination isn't the same thing as expecting the reader to read your mind as well as your book.

 Also, critique partners are essential. I really don't think The Book could progress beyond its current draft in any major way without the questions and comments of my critique partner.

I am almost back from vacation (one more day of Road Trip Hell to go). Care to leave a comment for me to read when I get back? Have you had any editing "DUH" or *facepalm* moments? Any similar experiences?

 In the meantime, I'll be doing rewrites, rewrites, rewrites.

Comments

  1. Ty UnglebowerSun Aug 04, 01:58:00 AM CDT

    I can't say I have had such a moment in the midst of edits. Not true edits. I have kind had a moment like this as I try to salvage Novel 2 from oblivion. (I think I can do it.) That's still a first draft, though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LauraMon Aug 05, 08:38:00 PM CDT

      I don't think I expected to have a moment like this. Critiques kind of jolted me out of complacency. I hope saving Novel 2 succeeds! :)

      Delete
  2. AlyssaSun Aug 04, 02:09:00 PM CDT

    Congrats on your a-ha moment! It's fun following along your book journey with your actual book, and from what you post on here. I think I've learned both of those lessons too, actually. It's easy to leave a lot of stuff out, thinking that the reader will catch on, but it's really only obvious to you because you wrote it... haha oh dear thank goodness for CPs. THANK GOODNESS.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LauraMon Aug 05, 08:40:00 PM CDT

      :) You've been a great CP! Thank goodness indeed! You probably know exactly what I'm talking about, too...

      Delete

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