As I was going through my files last week I ran across an old version of a story I wrote some years ago, called "The Valiant Heart." This is a story that I posted on a now-long-defunct version of my website - a story I'd always liked but never been able to sell.
Lo and behold, when I started looking at the text, I started wanting to rewrite it and make it better. I told this to a writer friend of mine, and she suggested that I keep the old version and do a comparison of the old and new versions, talking about what I'd changed and why.
I was immediately excited about the idea. Therefore, my current plan is to sneak some revisions for this story in between my other projects, and eventually (when the revision is done) post it up at my author website alongside "Let the Word Take Me," at the same time bringing out a discussion post here talking about revisions and what I've learned as a writer since the last time I tried to write "The Valiant Heart."
This should be fun! I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Sounds great!
ReplyDeleteOld stories never die, they sometimes just smell that way.
ReplyDeleteVery little we write is actually useless. In this case, you were able to do a good makeover.
We might have one of those trunk novels stashed away; let's break it out and see what we can use. It might be an interesting concept, character or setting. You can steal your own work and use it in a new time.
This just looks so exciting. I love the workshops and real, useful example stuff you do. And since I'm in the middle of a couple of rewrites, I know there will be things that help me in my own work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments and encouragement, Jaleh, Bruce, and Megs. I agree that no words we write are ever entirely wasted.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's a lot of fun. I have a story that once it gets published (okay, if, but I have high hopes), I want to do a comparison of the first and last version because the changes were distinct and largely surrounding the need to spell things out a little more.
ReplyDeleteSo yes, I think it would make for a fascinating study.
That does sound cool, Margaret. Maybe we should each do one!
ReplyDeleteYeah, well, I need to sell the original first, so I think you'll be ahead of me on that one :).
ReplyDelete