Trust the Novel Writing (and Rewriting) Process

 

Two years ago, in March of 2022, after finallycompleting a sixth novel (set in Pompeii about an unusual friendship be­tweenan American backpacker and a British expatriate widow re­siding in Malay­­sia),I got the idea to rewrite a couple of my other novels (to give them a fightingchance in a tight US/UK market).  While Iwas at it, I did all five novels, plus two col­lections of short stories (in­clud­ingLovers and Strangers Revisit­ed that I recently blogged about, anda play, a comedy based on the short story “Neigh­bors”). 

I knew that a quick read wasn’t going to dothem justice, so I decided to give each novel what I came to call the 9Xtreatment.  First, after printing them out,I would line edit each manu­script 3X (three times)—in black, in blue, and inred.  Then on the com­puter, I would gothrough each chapter 3X—making additional corrections and tightening thewriting by cutting and rearranging sen­tences, paragraphs.  (Never assume your writing is good; assumeyou can make it better!)

Then for the final 3X, I would go througheach manuscript beginning to end.  Thefirst pass is straight forward and gives me a good feel for pacing, structure, chronologicalorder, inter­nal logic—is it working or not? For the second pass I would start with the last chapter, then the nextto last chapter, working my way to the first chapter.  Editing chapters out of sequence is power­ful.  It makes you think…wait, did I mention this detailearlier; then double check those earlychapters and make the necessary changes. A good way of catching those errors of omissions!

If I add new details at this stage, I wouldimmediately go back and reference those details, if neces­sary, in the earlier chapters(lest I forget later).  Of course, Iwould do the same while editing the manu­scripts in var­ious colors, scribblingin my notes and reminders to add in or move around various para­graphs or ashift a scene to a more effective lo­ca­tion. Then I would go through the manu­script one more time from beginning toend to com­plete the 9X process.  For theshort stories, since each story is complete within itself, I would stop at6X. 

Early during this novel rewriting process, Igot a great idea for a seventh novel.  Notwant­ing to be distracted, I began shoveling notes (and eventually note­books) intoa loose folder.  By mid-2023, I added myPompeii novel back into the mix to help cut the length and improve it withfresh eyes, impressed by what I had accomplished thus far with the other novelre­writes.

I also created a progress chart for alleight manuscripts since their progress ov­er­lapped, and would then check offeach completed step in the 9X process.  Noskipping steps along the way just because no one else is look­ing!

True, it was a lot of work.  It's also a nice feeling knowing that I followedthrough the entire proc­ess, thus keeping my commitment to myself.  When I started, I didn’t think it would taketwo years!  Nor had I planned to do allfive novels, let alone redo that sixth novel, plus both collection ofstories and that play that had been sitting idle for nearly a dec­ade.  I kept think­ing, while I’m at it…

And while I’m at it, I’ve started a newprogress chart for 2024 and the remainder of this decade (and the next—I’m beingambitious!) for future novels, beginning with that seventh novel, having accumulatedover 400 pages of notes these last two years. Plus, I have several previous novels on hold for one reason or another, somewith com­plete rough drafts; others, a third of the way through the firstdraft; or with hundreds of pages of notes already in the computer, includingsequels to the other six novels.

Itching to get started, I’ve already begun writingthat novel number seven.  In the meantime,I’m hoping one of these six re­written novels will open the door for the others,making it all worthwhile.  Or maybe itwill be this seventh novel… You just have to trust the novel writing(and rewriting) process.

       —Borneo Expat Writer

 My interviews with other Malaysian writers:

Ivy Ngeow author of Cry of the Flying Rhino, winner of the 2016 Proverse Prize. Golda Mowe author of Iban Dream and Iban JourneyPreeta Samarasan, author of Evening is the Whole Day, finalist for the Commonwealth Writers Prize 2009. 
Chuah Guat Eng, author of Echoes of Silence and Days of Change.

Malachi Edwin Vethamani, author of Complicated Lives and Life Happens.