The Joys of Revision

I reckon I must be the world’s worst blogger; it’s been an age since I last posted anything, but I have been absolutely buried in the revisions to my new novel The Golden Phoenix. It’s amazing to me that here I am on the fifth end-to-end revision, and things I’ve seen many times before are still leaping out at me, crying out for change. It’s not just the writing itself, although that’s the main thing: it’s also the historical detail. I must say most of it is sorted out now, but just yesterday I found a real howler of an anachronism I had literally never thought to check on before. One of my characters makes reference to Little Lord Fauntleroy, and it seemed fine every time I read it. However, yesterday it occurred to me to check the chronology and there it was! My character is speaking in 1793, but Fauntleroy was unknown until he appeared in a children’s book by Frances Burnett first serialized in the St. Nicholas Magazine in 1885! It just shows you, you can never be too careful. In this revision I also noticed one character making reference to a piece of information she had no way of knowing. It seemed reasonable, but when I checked it, it had to be changed even though it was integral to the plot at that particular juncture. Such is life. I am hoping to be able to submit this manuscript before Christmas. I will try to be more productive in the blogging department from now on and keep you up to date. My short story An Act of Treason is currently in the hands of the line editors and is still on track for release early in the new year. The new year! Where does the time go? Cheers all, Charles

The Revision Process

Well, I can't believe it!

I finished the first draft of the new novel The Golden Phoenix in late August, and got going on the first revision. Now normally, the revision process goes fairly quickly because the basic work is done: the plot's in place, the characters are built, everything fits together. All you have to do is sharpen up the writing in whatever way it needs.

This time, it hasn't worked that way at all! I am about two-thirds of the way throuigh thr first revision and I am doing nothing but change things. I have found I needed to alter the plot line, amend some of the cast of characters, and what's emerging is quite a bit different from what was in the first draft. I like what's happening, but it's certainly taking a lot longer than it usually does. I'll post the Prologue sometime in November and you can see what you think.

It just goes to show that no two writing projects are ever the same.

During the writing of the first draft, I also did a short story titled Act of Treason, which is set in the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. I'll be submitting it to some online mags in the next few weeks, and I'll let you know where it can be found. It's a tale of murder and espionage on the high seas. There's a naval battle or two, and all sorts of exciting things. I think you'll enjoy it if you like historical fiction, and maybe even if you don't!

Cheers,
Charles