The Big Reread Has Commenced #AmWriting #AmRereading #AmCringing

28 Apr 2018 50 Comments

by Ritu in #AmWriting, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Well, some told me to leave it ages, up to three-six months, before rereading my baby. Others said get right on it. By the time you are ready to reread from the start, it will have been a while since you began anyway.

#AmWriting new

Updated this too!

I decided to take the middle road, and it’s been around three weeks.

Yesterday, I took to my printout with pencils and post-its, and read the first few chapters…

Sonu Singh was at the ready to help me along.

And it really struck me, as I read, just how much my writing has come along since I started this project 18 years ago.

Sure the ideas are good (I think) and the characters are forming, but some of the writing!

Wow!

It’s clumsy and repetitive in places.

I didn’t know exactly how much I used the words actually and really in my manuscript, and that was the first three chapters!

But at least I’m looking at it with a more mature head now, and hopefully, I can rectify these issues.

I need to use this reread to find silly errors and plot holes and make copious notes about what needs rewriting… EEK!!!

And even though I’m not remotely at the stage where I will be ready to publish anything, I started wondering what the cover could look like.

#ProcrastiQueen – yes I believe that may be me!

This is what I came up with…

Mock Up cover

The bangles have some significance which you find out as you read the story…

I’ve been looking into the whole self vs. traditional publishing thing too, and researched agents… It’s a bit mad!

I’ve had quotes for editing/formatting too if I was to go down the ‘self’ route, and I have had some wonderful offers from great friends, to help along the way.

Once I do this mammoth reread and first change around, my next step will be beta readers.

I need to know if this is WOW! enough to even go down the agent/traditional route. Or if I get decent feedback, whether to push myself on the self-publishing route. Or if it is truly awful, and needs a lot more work!

This whole writing journey is a long and winding one, and I hope you are enjoying following it with me, Peeps! Your input has been invaluable so far!

In case you didn’t get it before, the prospective blurb is:

Aashi’s life was all set.
Or so she thought.
After finding out her fiancé was not the man she thought, she vows to put him, and her innocence behind her.
Accompanied by her brothers and best friend, she embarks upon an enlightening journey, where memories created and new relationships forged, have far-reaching effects.

I will also need to work on a synopsis too!!

This whole writing journey is a long and winding one, and I hope you are enjoying following it with me, Peeps! Your input has been invaluable so far!

50 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. Trackback: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Getting to Know You – Poet Ritu Bhathal | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life

  2. Tikeetha T
    Apr 30, 2018 @ 20:42:14

    I like it. I can’t wait to read it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Dorinda Duclos
    Apr 30, 2018 @ 03:00:58

    Your last hashtag made me laugh out loud! You got this. Can’t wait to read it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Don Massenzio
    Apr 29, 2018 @ 12:48:17

    I like the cover. Sometimes when I go back and read something that I’ve written, I am amazed that I don’t remember writing it. This is especially true with dialog. It’s as if the characters take on their own lives and speak and I just type what they say.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Aimer Boyz
    Apr 29, 2018 @ 03:50:48

    Your cover idea looks good. The bangles work. The colour catches the eye…and hopefully leads to a buy it click 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Karyn
    Apr 28, 2018 @ 21:33:00

    I just want to say, I love your ‘avatar’ (cartoon woman) you always use as ‘media’ in your posts. How did you get/find/do that?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. fancypaperblog
    Apr 28, 2018 @ 21:20:35

    This is very exciting Ritu.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Erika Kind
    Apr 28, 2018 @ 21:17:08

    Take your time and do it your way. Whatever others say are inputs but trust your gut feeling at each point. It is your book, it comes from you, and it will be and turn out great when you follow your instinct and pace 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. syl65
    Apr 28, 2018 @ 17:16:47

    Maintain your path Sister and it will all come together ( the long and writing road). 🤗

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. willowdot21
    Apr 28, 2018 @ 17:08:24

    Never mind “actually and really” Sis how many times have you written “innit” you can do this Hun 💜💝💖

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. OIKOS™-Redaktion
    Apr 28, 2018 @ 16:19:22

    Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. robbiesinspiration
    Apr 28, 2018 @ 15:22:10

    I am enjoying reading about your journey, Ritu. I am learning from it too. Charli Mills has helped me with my manuscript and her advice has been invaluable. I am busy with changes and rewrites now too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ritu
      Apr 28, 2018 @ 16:53:36

      I figure there are a lot of people out there in similar boats with no clue as to what to do… if I ask , the answers and suggestions can help many … and its showing just how much goes in to every book written! 😍

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. pranabaxom
    Apr 28, 2018 @ 15:02:17

    You “actually” started editing? ” Really”? But if you not drunk while writing, how can you be sober now while editing? Or you “thought” you were not drunk😃

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  14. Annette Rochelle Aben
    Apr 28, 2018 @ 13:30:32

    I admire your tenacity. (and your talent). I know you will nail this and that the path you take it exactly what YOU should do. Keep at it and before you know it, not only will you have a completed project, but the wisdom that comes along with it. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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