When is enough enough? |
Author: Trina Allen (64.246.215.---)
Date: 05-31-07 11:19
I'm writing this during my lunch break at work, so I'll check later for responses.
I finished the first draft my historical fantasy novel for young adults two years ago. This was the first novel that I’ve ever written; in retrospect, a historical novel was not the easiest genre for a first novel. The novel takes place in the present and in 1775. I made the mistake of writing the first draft without doing enough research into Colonial Boston, or into Paul Revere’s life, who is a central character. (I am a science researcher who was a former science teacher, far removed from the history of the American Revolution).
Patrick Leehy of the Paul Revere house was kind enough to edit my text and, no surprise, he found some mistakes. For example Sara Revere, Paul’s first wife, was alive and well in my first draft. She was deceased in 1775 -- oops. So I revised the entire novel, correcting such history mistakes.
In order to correct the history, I had to remove a chapter because it took place in March of 1775 and my novel is set in April. This wouldn’t be that important, but the battle of Lexington/Concord and Paul Revere’s famous ride happen in mid April, both significant events in the novel. After meeting with my critique group, I want to put the chapter back in. But this will involve the central character taking a trip back in time to March, and then making another second trip in April, which will involve some rewriting work. The novel is 50,000 words without the chapter. My choices seem to be: leave the chapter out, insert the chapter in the wrong time (April) or rewrite the chapter where it belongs.
Meanwhile, my husband is asking me when I’ll ever finish the novel (I have, after all, been working on it for three years). I keep saying soon, but sometimes I feel like the answer is really -- never. Since this is my first time around the block with a novel, I decided to post these two questions as a sanity check:
1 How important is it to have every fact correct in a historical fiction or fantasy novel? I have tried very hard to make the novel match real history as much as my humble science background allows.
2 When is enough enough? I do not feel that my novel is ready to query agents yet, but will it ever be perfect? I keep incorporating feedback from my writing group, but I wonder if I am rewriting too much.
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Re: When is enough enough? |
Author: Joe Zeff (---.lsanca.dsl-w.verizon.net)
Date: 05-31-07 12:07
If that chapter's that important to the story, try making it a flashback.
As far as rewriting too much, that's always possible. Your book's ready for agents and publishers when you think it is, because it's your name on it. No matter what you do, there's always somebody who wants something changed.
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Re: When is enough enough? |
Author: Harper (---.hsd1.ma.comcast.net)
Date: 05-31-07 12:27
It will never be perfect. And writing groups can be tricky because everyone's got an opinion and they can't all be right. Do they all say the same things, or do they each have a different slant on it? If they all agree on the problems, you should probably listen. Otherwise, you should follow your instincts. But it's never going to be perfect. As close as you can get to perfect is to be really serious about revisions and take it as far as your skill allows. But don't stop until you do that.
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Re: When is enough enough? |
Author: Diane Rogers (---.pswlaw.com)
Date: 05-31-07 15:26
Hi Trina,
I write historical FICTION and fiction is the key word here. I presume (and I could be wrong) fantasy falls into the same category as fiction, since it's not REAL. In order for some of my events to take place, I had to make a factual event happen earlier in the year than it did in reality, but, because the book is fiction I can do that. However....I clarified in an afterward that I was AWARE I had changed the time line so as not to be corrected by historians who KNOW when the event actually occurred. I believe Stephen King exercised his "poetic license" in Christine. He wanted to use a specific model for his car, but it wasn't manufactured until a year AFTER the book took place. A short afterward stating he used that car because....even though he was AWARE it wasn't manufactured until a year later took car of car enthusiasts who would have been breaking down his door to tell him that car didn't even exist when his story is set. And I agree with Harper about the writer's group. Unless you have experienced (i.e. published or very close to published) writers in the group, not all opinions may be correct. I'm in a group in which I'm the most experienced writer and I'm making corrections to assumptions all the time. Be careful.
Diane
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Re: When is enough enough? |
Author: Chuck Shaw (---.maine.res.rr.com)
Date: 05-31-07 16:21
What Joe said, only more so. Anyone one who works for the customer directly knows taking a long time to produce a product can hurt your business. So What? Trying to flog a sub-standard product to a knowledgeable clientele will attach the odor of dead fish to everything you do for a lot longer than it takes to re-write a chapter or two..
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Re: When is enough enough? |
Author: Smiling Curmudgeon (---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: 05-31-07 20:54
Yup, make the revision.
As an aside, you mention your manuscript is 50,000 words. Is it aimed at the YA market?
If not, it may be too short. If you agree 50K may be short, that gives you lots of opportunity to make the fix and add more.
cur
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Re: When is enough enough? |
Author: Trina Allen (---.nc.res.rr.com)
Date: 06-01-07 06:10
This is my second reply. The first didn't post for some reason.
Thank you all for your help. This is just what I needed. Diane, the afterword is exactly the fix that I need. It corrects this issue and others that I have been struggling with in getting the history right. I never would have thought of it on my own.
I will keep revising the novel until I am happy with it. It is the right thing to do. I do have confidence in my writing critque group. I think their suggestions have made the book stronger. We have a mix of new and experienced writers, one with 16 published books. So I'll keep on keeping on and let you know what happens.
Thanks again,
Trina
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Re: When is enough enough? |
Author: Patrick Edwards (63.240.53.---)
Date: 06-01-07 11:01
As an aside, you mention your manuscript is 50,000 words. Is it aimed at the YA market?
This crossed my mind as well (the low word count).
But it also made me think about my own worries about count. The other day, I did a word count and realized I was only at 15,000 :( Now, I know the story is nowhere near complete, but it just felt as if I've been writing for ages :) And the tough thing is not putting down the MEAT of the story just yet, because I know it's way too early--though the most important reason is that it's not quite time for it yet. Thus, patience is key.
Now, what that has to do with you, Trina, I couldn't tell you. :)
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