08 January 2014

The Second Chapter Two

It's that time again! The day for The Insecure Writer's Support Group. This month I have the honor of being a co-host. As always, the IWSG is hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh and my fellow co-hosts this month are Bob MilneRiver Fairchild, and Julie Dao. I'm looking forward to checking out a lot of blogs today and meeting some new people.

First Wed of Every Month

I should probably admit that I've been avoiding writing the second draft of Uneven Lines (Ooooh. Sorry, actually having a title kind of gives me chills. It's so shiny!). I did already rewrite the first chapter, but that was the easy part. Nothing in the first chapter had to change, structurally speaking. The things that happened in the first draft are the same things that happen in the second, just with a whole lot of new words to tell them. 

Now I'm faced with Chapter Two. And it's not nearly as simple as the first. I knew that in the second draft I was going to have to break the existing chapters down, often having each scene be its own chapter. Most of the chapters in the first draft were too long, so this seemed the most logical way to make them shorter. I also find that having a lot of scene cuts within a chapter can be disjointing for the reader. But it's easier said than done. Chapter Two has three scenes in it, but I really don't feel like any of them can stand on their own. But together, the chapter feels jumpy. The scene cuts bother me. So I'm not sure what I should do.

I've thought about rearranging. I could put the first and third scenes together, but the third scene reveals something that I don't want revealed right away. And the second scene isn't nearly strong enough to be its own chapter. I don't want the reader to be bored so early in the book. Then that makes me wonder if I need the scene at all, but without it the subplot won't get started early enough.

I guess the easiest answer is to rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. This is probably the hardest chapter to figure out. Most of the scenes later on in the book will be able to stand on their own as chapters. I probably need to write some new scenes to help make these early chapters stronger. Which isn't so bad, really. I love writing new scenes. 

So how do you deal with rewriting weak chapters? Do you find you have to rearrange a lot of scenes when you start editing? 

I hope everyone has a good day. I certainly will because I got the day off work to go visit as many blogs as I can!

33 comments:

  1. Thanks for hosting today, Sarah!
    I'm an odd writer in that I don't write by chapters. I just write one, long manuscript with a line break between scenes. The very last thing I do is go back and break it into chapters. Maybe that might work for you? (Or confuse you further...)

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  2. I wish I could give advice, I struggle with this while re-writing as well. But it sounds like you have a good foundation (and a great title!) so I'm sure it will come together for you. I also like Alex's idea about writing continuously and not worrying about the chapters yet. Good luck! And have fun co-hosting today!

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  3. Thanks for hosting today. Yes, I've had to rearrange scenes. A lot of them. What a chore and confusing on top of that. I made up a spreadsheet with each scene in the book on a different line. I included things like where, who, and the purpose/big secret. (I know, very OCD). Then I was able to see the whole picture and could figure out where the scene went. Good luck. Revisions are harder than writing. :)

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  4. My writing and crochet hobby have a lot in common. It's not easy tearing things out and getting it right, especially when it looks pretty good to begin with. But we know when it needs work, even if no one else does, and the only way to be true to ourselves is to just do the work, and make it what we know it could and should be. Wishing you all the best with your revisions!

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  5. Thanks for hosting today. I was anxious to read the comments about your post to see what advice writers would give you. I agree it's fun to write with abandon and just get the story down on paper. But I also enjoy revising and playing and adding scenes. (hate deleting but I know I have to be ruthless.) In the end it will be a tighter, suspense-filled, clearer story than all the gibberish I wrote with abandon! Best wishes.

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  6. Thanks for co-hosting!

    Good luck with the rewrites! I don't usually have to rearrange much in my work, since I write fairly linearly, but it can be hard to decide what needs to stay, go, or reworked. Sometimes focusing on one aspect at a time can help. Or just do a read-through and make notes and then work on the notes one at a time.

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  7. When I write articles, we're limited to a word count. By the time I've whittled down the story, I wonder if I've left too much out. Somehow, it all makes sense. That even the words that are cut leave their essence. Another way to know if it still flows and makes sense is to have someone else read it. Good luck! Editing can be challenging and fun. It makes you really think about which words are best to tell your story.
    Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
    Play off the Page

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  8. Some great advice I read--and I can't remember which book it was right now, but probably Save the Cat--to end a scene at the polar opposite of where it started, from an emotional climate. As in, the scene starts happy and up, end it on a negative note. The character has just lost something very valuable? End with hope and the opportunity to win in the sight. My personal favorite mantra when writing is: Tension all the time. If there isn't constant tension, the story will not drive the reader forward.

    I'm sure you'll get it, that this story will be epic once you're done with it!

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  9. Hi, Sarah,
    I'm lazy, so I find rewriting anything a chore. However, if it has to be done, I eventually get on it. The key is to know where you're going before you start fiddling with stuff, that way it's easier to get it all done. Thanks for co-hosting.

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  10. It sounds like you have a lot of work ahead of you. I don't like rewriting at all. Rearranging my original thoughts and ideas is hard. Good luck.

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  11. Ugh. I feel your pain. I HATE rewriting. Seriously loathe it, and therefore procrastinate and it ends up dragging on for much longer than it should. As for chapter length, who's to say what is too long? Some of the books I read have chapters that go on forever, and it doesn't bother me. Do what works for you, I say!

    Thanks for co-hosting and visiting my blog this morning. Much appreciated!

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  12. I avoid rewriting like that plague. That said, I lost count of how many times I had to rewrite chapter four of House. Hated that chapter by the time I was finished.

    I like the title. Just by the way.

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  13. You sound like you have things pretty well under control. Thanks for being a co-host and good luck on all that rewriting. It's lucky you enjoy it! :)

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  14. I just did a scene by scene analysis for my Editpalooza work shop and I think half of them are week and in the wrong order. They have not tension. Aren't rewrites fun. (sarcastic font). haha! Good luck with yours.

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  15. Good luck with the rewriting! Go with your gut and it will all work out. :)

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  16. Sometimes, the only way to solve writing problems that nag at you is to just keep rewriting over and over again until the solution finally presents itself. It's annoying as heck doing it that way, but as long as you know it will eventually work out (it always does) you can find the strength to keep going.

    Thanks for co-hosting this month's IWSG!

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  17. I like the title of your book. Uneven Lines. Mmmm, nice ring to it.
    Good luck with the rewriting, sounds like something you don't mind doing.
    Thanks for co-hosting the IWSG this month.
    Writer In Transit

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  18. The rewrites are actually my favorite part of the process. Good thing because my current WIP needs lots of it.

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  19. I've been in a similar place as you, and I've done a little of everything you've said: cut scenes, moved scenes, rearranged scenes. It's always worth it, but can be daunting. Good luck with your rewrite.

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  20. With weak chapters I usually do more deleting than re arranging as my first drafts are generally flabby.

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  21. Feel your pain, Sarah. I think the challenge is a good thing and when chapter 2 is up and at it, you are going to feel so good. Love the title. It's one that would draw me in.

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  22. Tough questions. Ones I think beta readers might be able to help you with. But they come later. I'd say go with your gut, then once you hand it off for critique, they will let you know if your gut was right or not. Good luck.

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  23. I realised quite a while ago that if I was bored reading my own story, somebody else probably would be as well. :P Sometimes I have managed to whittle down a big chunk of writing into the tiny little bit that matters. Is there a way you can weave the subplot into one of the other sections, even with just a single bit of dialogue or something? I dunno, just talking outta my butt. But I do have experience with slash 'n burn revision. :)

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  24. Excellent post, and I know exactly what you're going through because I am, too. I'm in the middle of, oh, probably the 5th or 6th round of revisions for this book and I'm finding all sorts of weak scenes. What helps me is opening up a fresh document and writing that scene from a different character's perspective, just for fun. That usually helps me determine what I'm trying to convey and to better understand it, and sometimes it even helps me get rid of the scene completely and realize that I don't need it! Good luck!

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  25. I keep rewriting the chapter a million times until I finally realize I didn't need the chapter after all. :)

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  26. I do end up rearranging quite a bit! That's why a plotting chart helps . . . see where things aren't flowing or missing. I think the most important thing to remember is every scene is a "mini" book--has to have a B,M,climax, and hook. Every scene must have a purpose. I always ask myself at the end of each scene, is this working? If yes, then why? What's the motivation for my scene? If it doesn't work, it gets cut. Good luck!

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  27. I don't see any mention of critique partners. I put an ad on the SCBWI website to find other children's writers to help me rewrite my middle grade SF. I loved getting their take on what to do with each chapter. And later on, past midpoint, they pointed out how to make some major improvements. If you can't find local critique partners, there are some great online groups. Just make sure they're within your genre!

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  28. It's a hard thing to admit your chapters are weak. Just with the admission you're in a good place to rework them and make them stronger. I had a similar problem in a class assignment last year. I combined several chapters (or what I thought were chapters) and everything fell into place after that. Guess I just needed some condensation to my rambling thoughts!

    Thanks for co-hosting this month! Best of luck with your edits!
    Jen

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  29. I have this problem all the time when I write. After the first or secnd draft, I go back and look at pacing and flow. I find that I always start out with chapters that are too long and have lots of scene breaks, for all the reasons you've mentioned.

    Sometimes changing the point of view and using more or less dialog makes shortending or altering a chapter easier because it forces alterations to be made, in order to accomodate the new point of view, etc...

    That can be trick though. You don't want too many point of view changes and unless each chapter is a different point of view.

    Also, sometimes if a scene seems to be crutial to the overal story, but it's not enough to stand alone as a chapter, you could go back and reevaulate the scene to see if there are details to add.

    Sometimes I also think to myself, "How would Hollywood chop this up to make it different or shorter?"

    That's all I have for the moment.

    Thank you for sharing and for co-hosting. Great questions and great post.

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  30. Rewriting isn't fun. I've fallen in love with yWriter for the rearranging. Dragging and dropping scenes into new places was exactly what I needed. But I have a huge undertaking of rewriting major plot flow and mostly I've thrown out what I have and retold the story from scratch, stealing bits and pieces that I like from the old version.

    Best of luck with your revisions!

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  31. Hi Sarah,

    Thanks for co-hosting and for visiting me yesterday ( I am still working my way through the linky list and just now getting to your blog).

    Rewrites are so tiresome.

    I started rewriting my current story while I was halfway through the rough draft. I know that we are supposed to plow through, but I had to do something with that first chapter. It was killing me.

    I ended up moving everything out of chapter 1 and dropping it into chapters 2 and 3. I just hope I don't decide to move everything again.

    Good luck with your revisions!

    Leanne ( http://readfaced.wordpress.com/ )

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  32. "The things that happened in the first draft are the same things that happen in the second, just with a whole lot of new words to tell them."

    I have a weird writing process: almost all my novels start as a short story that needs some character development and world building. I feel like I write through editing. My first chapter of book 1 in a three book series needs a serious overhaul. All the sentiments and circumstances are the same, but I need to rearrange the sequences. Not an easy task, but I know it needs to be done.

    I'm just lazy, and haven't gotten to it yet. Oh look, a shiny new idea is flashing over there . .

    .......dhole

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  33. HI! Thanks for co-hosting!

    I think, because you said the scenes felt jumpy, that to make a stronger chapter with each scene, you have to expand on what's happening, make sure there is an arc in each scene strong enough to stand on its own. And what's your goal for each chapter length? Maybe 2 is the inciting incident of the surprise in 3, or something of that nature?

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