I've been working on Masquerade this last week doing line edits, to figure out what I need to revise, and so far am up to Chapter 10. William and Robert have enlisted Richard's help in the scheme to find Penny's tormentor, and alas, I think I have finally found the place I need to cut to bring it down to a reasonable 90-95K. Richard has to go.
I love Richard. He is sssooooo "Master & Commander". But as you know, he has his own book and so, with a little bit of an introduction and a little bit of help at the end, Richard and his horse must go. I'm sorry, I hate to do it, but I need to get this damn book down to a marketable size. Otherwise I'll never get it pubbed.
I'm sorry I have to be so brutal but I did take Ellis' whole scene out of this book. They say you can't have filler, and although Ellis and William had a touching brotherly conversation (the first, I think in their whole lives) and I thought it was a great way to introduce Ellis, I took it out. There's nothing worse than taking out a scene you love. But, it's all for the book.
And so Richard must go as well. And his lovely Belgian horse, Morpheus. This will also cause more re-writes for Penny, she plays in intregal part in how Richard can finally ride his beautiful Belgain horse, however it must be done. I hate to do it but I find I have no choice. (I awoke at 2:45am with this idea and anything that interrupts my sleep must be a good idea.)
So, I'm off to re-write. Again.
3 comments:
I feel your pain.
The first novel I finished came in at about 165k, and my betas harangued me about cutting out things I loved. It felt like cutting off a limb or two, but I went with their advice, because I trusted them, and cut out about 60k of that.
Which I promptly stashed in a file for the sequel.
Sometimes you just have to take the backhoe to your work and sometimes it's a fine-toothed comb. But what I've learned and what I truly believe is that less is more when it comes down to it.
So congrats on having the strength to do the surgery.
Thanks but it still hurts. And you know how much.
I feel you.
I hope this rewrite goes well for you. Keep us posted.
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