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More angst on the unfinished book

Bear with me here, as I'm nearly at a decision point with this project. Really, I am.

As I've reread and contemplated writing the finish, then going back and scrubbing and editing like crazy and generally attempting to update a piece I began so long ago, I've become exhausted. Repeatedly.

Last night, in a text exchange with Daughter, I explained I'd picked up the manuscript again and was seriously thinking of finishing it. And she replied, 'Mom, you should just start something new. That thing is almost 20 years old now, and you're a completely different person than you were when you started it. Just know that I look forward to a finished project out of you one day, and really, why not go for something more current and stop wasting time on the old stuff you'll practically have to rewrite anyway? '

Out of the mouths of babes, right?


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  1. Lemon GloriaAugust 11, 2011 at 12:25 PM

    That's a really interesting perspective. I wouldn't ever have thought of it that way...but it's something to give serious consideration. I suppose it's sort of the same, actually, with all the editing and re-writing. Maybe take out pieces you really like, and work around those? Would that make it less exhausting?

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  2. StevieAugust 12, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    LG- Rewriting and extensive editing of almost 150 pages does seem daunting. And I keep finding myself saying, 'I would so not set that up that way now' and 'I really need to smooth this out and add some depth to her and to him', and so on.

    I actually talked with my son about this, who's read the manuscript and responded w/great comments. He suggested pulling the cool ideas out, and simply creating a new story/characters around them.

    It's kind of the best of both options, you know?

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