This October I’ve spent revising an old work from before Naughty List, Wandering Off the Path. When I was submitting it last year I thought it was fantastic and I was convinced it would be my first published work, but all I received was rejections. I was devastated, especially as my first try, but it was necessary. I was lucky enough to get a lot of great comments, loving my voice, and what concerns the editors had.
Last September I was all ready to do another revision when I got the idea for Naughty List and was taken far off the path of this story. First I was bogged down with edits and revisions, and then promo and an urge to write the rest of the Naughty Holiday List series (I had intended them to come out by each holiday at first, Midnight Mirage a month after Naughty List, Heart’s Ultimatum a month after that, but I realized now that is too quick a pace for me to write quality work).
Now with two of the books out, Naughty List and Midnight Mirage, Heart’s Ultimatum in the pipeline and Amy’s story brewing, I thought this was a perfect time to revisit Wandering.
Immersed in the edits, I’ve realized two things. One, I love this story. It’s a historical and I love historicals. Historicals were the first romance novels I read and tried to write. I hope to get back to those roots some more in the future (ideas are brewing ;D). And Two, I’ve learned a lot over the last year. All the comments the editors wrote in their rejections now all make sense, and I agree.
As I read through it I see all the areas I made mistakes, newbie mistakes. Like the line of head-hopping, or Wolf’s back story, which now I realize doesn’t fit his character. It’s a classic story of a new writer trying to steer the character in a certain direction. As I read it now it sounds so false. It’s why all the editors said they couldn’t get a grip on Wolf’s motivations.
But all these things are nuances I would never have picked up before. It’s only come with time and experience. I still have much to learn, but it’s nice to see how much I’ve learned in a year.
I’m hoping to finish revisions on Wandering by the weekend. And then on to Nanowrimo…I can’t wait.
Last September I was all ready to do another revision when I got the idea for Naughty List and was taken far off the path of this story. First I was bogged down with edits and revisions, and then promo and an urge to write the rest of the Naughty Holiday List series (I had intended them to come out by each holiday at first, Midnight Mirage a month after Naughty List, Heart’s Ultimatum a month after that, but I realized now that is too quick a pace for me to write quality work).
Now with two of the books out, Naughty List and Midnight Mirage, Heart’s Ultimatum in the pipeline and Amy’s story brewing, I thought this was a perfect time to revisit Wandering.
Immersed in the edits, I’ve realized two things. One, I love this story. It’s a historical and I love historicals. Historicals were the first romance novels I read and tried to write. I hope to get back to those roots some more in the future (ideas are brewing ;D). And Two, I’ve learned a lot over the last year. All the comments the editors wrote in their rejections now all make sense, and I agree.
As I read through it I see all the areas I made mistakes, newbie mistakes. Like the line of head-hopping, or Wolf’s back story, which now I realize doesn’t fit his character. It’s a classic story of a new writer trying to steer the character in a certain direction. As I read it now it sounds so false. It’s why all the editors said they couldn’t get a grip on Wolf’s motivations.
But all these things are nuances I would never have picked up before. It’s only come with time and experience. I still have much to learn, but it’s nice to see how much I’ve learned in a year.
I’m hoping to finish revisions on Wandering by the weekend. And then on to Nanowrimo…I can’t wait.
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