Revision Vs Rewrite

As usual, I'm in the middle of one project or another. And as usual, I've gotten edits back on a prior project to complete. Except these are more than edits. I'm doing some major revisions.

Sigh.

I saw this coming. For some reason, this particular book gave me fits. I don't know why. I love the characters, the plot, and the world in which these people come together. But I had an itchy feeling while writing it, as if some part just didn't fit.

So now I'll work on revisions.

I've been through this before. Old stories that never saw the light of day will sometimes inspire me to set them free. But my writing today is very different from what it used to be a few years ago. What sounded so great back in 2008 now feels stale. As I read through older work, I'm always struck between wanting to revise and wanting to rewrite.

There is a huge difference. A revision is taking what's there and majorly moving it around. But it's still basically the same story. A rewrite is just that. A brand new book.

My current "edits" are actually a revision. But the book I'm currently working on is a rewrite. And honestly, the rewrite is easier. I don't have to play inside boundaries I've already created for myself. Instead, I just make up a new story as I go. But my revision adheres to what I already liked about the story and spruces it up. A lot.

So wish me luck. I'm off to grab some coffee, pray I have enough creamer to get me through the day, and then I'll type, type, type my sunny Monday away. (Man, I wish it was raining. Rainy days make the best writing days.)

Happy Monday.