I think I must be a masochist.
Here I have a perfectly good manuscript (that, I might add, is due to Berkley September 1.)
It’s completely finished. I’ve completed two revision sweeps for grammar, typos, content problems.
It looks good.
Plus, I have Pretty is as Pretty Dies coming out August 1. I’m in the middle of phone interviews, setting up blog hosts for my blog tour, and all sorts of mayhem. As my son said yesterday: “Your book is messing up my life!”
I shouldn’t be doing anything but continuing my revisions by tightening up my writing and finding more errors to erase. But…
I just can’t seem to help myself. So I have an alternate document in my computer for my WIP. It’s my ‘what if’ document.
In that document, I explore different outcomes for events. What if a different suspect committed the murder? What if there were an additional victim? What if I added a character and had them do ___________—what would this mean for my sleuth? And the investigation?
Right now, only small scenes from my what-if additions have made it into the real manuscript. But if one of the storylines I explore is really good, it’ll make it into the main doc. That will mean a lot of revising, but if it works, it’s worth it.
It’s almost as if I’ve created an alternate, parallel universe for my characters. This alt/doc helps me keep my creative juices going during the dry revision and marketing process, and may provide some additional content for my book.
Once your books are published, you can put those alternate scenarios on your website as additional content. Or repackage them into short stories. Or animate them and turn them into webisodes. Or…
Neat idea. Thanks.
Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com
Good ideas, Alan! It would be nice to put them to some actual use.
I never thought of organizing all those random ideas into a real document. Mine are scribbled on scrap paper I keep about the house, collected from time to time, and stored in a folder. When I start the first round of revisions, I take out the notes and make decisions.
Good luck with your Aug. 1 release of Pretty Is As Pretty Dies, Elizabeth. Can’t wait to read it.
Oh dear…I’ve never considered the What Ifs…although my husband does tend to throw them out there often. !!!
You are so darn creative. This is a fabulous idea. I’m going to start a file as well.
Can’t wait to get your books, Elizabeth. The writing on this blog is so great, I can only imagine how good the books are.
Karen
That’s a great idea!
The Old Silly
Susan Isaacs once said that the book in her head never comes out the same way on the page (paraphrasing from memory). I think most authors feel that way. I go through a love-hate relationship with my books. Every. Single. Time.
I mean, there’s the revision process, right? And that’s necessary for strenghtening a manuscript. But then there’s tearing it all up to do it another way.
Make sure you’re not letting the niggling editor-voice in your head shred something that’s fresher and may have come from a more spontaneous and creative well. I hope that makes sense!
Also: Alan’s suggestion is wonderful. I have a mysterious phone conversation in my fall HC release – the reader only hears one part of this conversation. I plan to publish the actual conversation online – both parties. The trouble is when? After the paperback comes out a year later? I don’t want to spoil anything for readers who haven’t read the book yet! That’s my dilemma, anyway…)
Have a great Friday!
Cleo Coyle
Great way to actually develop a whole new book/series. Just rename and redevelop the characters and setting.
Speaking of parallel universes,you’ve gotta check out my blog today. I think you’re onto something. Have a great weekend.
Stephen Tremp
http://www.stephentremp.blogspot.com/
What a great idea, Elizabeth. You sound incredibly organized and inspired, and I’ll definitely get your book.
Jane Kennedy Sutton nominated you as the super-successful writer in my dream contest, but I’m sorry to say it was someone else. There’s still time to guess and win a copy of Eldercide, though. I’m quoting you in today’s post.
Julie Lomoe’s Musings Mysterioso
http://julielomoe.wordpress.com
I like this idea. Going to start my own “What if?” scenarios. Great way to break through writer’s block, if that ugly demon arises. Thanks.
A very good idea, Elizabeth. Lot of work, though, to thread them in after the book is written!
Helen
Straight From Hel
Very interesting.
Marybeth–You’re probably doing just fine without them!
Marvin–Thanks!
Cleo–You are so right. I can suck the life out of a passage sometimes through the revision process! Good point.
Lynnette–Thanks!
Steve–That’s true–never thought of it that way! I’ll go ck out your blog.
Patricia–I have lots of scrap paper, too. And I’ve LOST lots of scraps! I’m trying to be better and stay on the computer.
Julie–I tried again on your blog. :) Not sure if that was against the rules or not.
Karen–Don’t even mention writer’s block! Ugh…scary stuff.
Karen–Good luck with your file. And thanks for the compliment.
Helen–You’re right. Sometimes I’m kicking myself. But sometimes it’s not a major rewrite, just some minor points.
Martin–Thanks for visiting. I’m a big fan of your blog.
Elizabeth
Ooooh! I like Alan’s ideas. Reminds me of those “choose your own path” adventure stories. I always thought that was so cool – you’d get to a certain point then had to make a choice which way the plot would go…such a cool concept.
Nancy, from Realms of Thought…
Nancy, I LOVED those books when I was a kid. There were so many of them…wild west ones, space adventures, etc. My sister and I adored them.