@rhyseoshaughnessy asked on a previous post: “What good advice do you have for the revision part of the first draft?”
My number one piece of advice for revisions on any draft is do not hold anything as too precious to remove.
The story in your head is the self-indulgent one, tailored to whatever your mind needs at the time. It doesn’t have to make total sense as long as it makes you feel good.
But by the time the story comes together on paper, you’ll have to come face to face with what actually works and what doesn’t.
Many writers will try to fit what’s on the page to what’s in their original vision.
Me? I’ve learned to grow my vision with what the story on paper requires. I never regret it in the end.
For example, in the first draft of my current manuscript, I had an entire epic sequence for the meeting of Character A and B. I had a good time writing it.
By the second draft I realized I included a super problematic element to the reveal that I, personally, decided I didn’t want to keep. But that meant rewriting details to fit the new narrative.
In the third draft, I realized that I wanted to flip the backgrounds of the two characters, which fundamentally changed the setting and the character motivations. More rewriting.
Into the fourth draft, the logistics of B having time to even do the grand entrance came under scrutiny. I was still attached to the entrance so I did my best to make it work even if it felt contrived.
Now I’m in the fifth draft and I’ve had enough distance from the manuscript (four years,, damn) that I’m finally ready to remove the grand entrance entirely. Sure, it sucks, I was really looking forward to A being in awe of B upon their first meeting, but you know what? It’s better for the flow of my story on paper. I’ll still figure out how to give B their epic moment, but it’ll be a little later when logistics are better in my favor.
Revisions, for me at least, involve embracing massive structural overhauls. I’ll probably make even more changes once I get beta readers and have a fresh set of eyes on my piece.
Obviously there’s the risk of going too far and changing the story entirely, but that’s why you have to hold the essence of your vision as the blueprint. “Is this serving my original vision even if the details themselves changed?”
Don’t let sentimental attachment stop you from creating the best version of your story. Writing is a long process, and your creative work should be allowed to grow and change with you.
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