Where Do We Go from Here?
The revisions to my Mississippi novel have reached the “listening to the computer read to me” stage. I’ve received wonderfully helpful feedback from Beta readers and spent 2 months implementing it. “Implementing” sounds so neutral, but I wrote another 20,000 words and revised the ones I already had on the page. Now a computer-generated voice is sending my words back to me.
The novel has 5 narrators living in the same time and place, which creates many challenges in coordinating their timelines. But, mainly, I spent these two months fleshing out the lives of these 5, very different narrators. Some readers liked one narrator and not the other; other readers felt the exact opposite. I took this for a good sign and wrote into the deficiencies noted both ways.
Then there’s the balancing of story time given to each narrator. And varying the scenes. And bumping what I’ve written up against the “talking isn’t something happening” rule (a rule of my own devising, but I’m sure others articulated it before me).
This stage is also when I read it with the eyes of someone who won’t like it. I imagine them writing a review zeroing in on what really gets on their nerves. Where am I being too didactic? Too predictable? Am I skimming over important moments? Have I left loose threads? Where are the “oh, please” moments? It’s hard to keep my mind on not liking what I’ve written, but I find it helpful.
As soon as this boringly uniform computer voice finishes reading the 96,000 words, the manuscript will go to a paid editor. Then the revision process will begin again. I cannot give you a timeline for this incredibly slow phase (listening to the first two chapters has taken two hours, and those are the most polished chapters.)
I don’t know why I’m doing all this work as I have low expectations a publisher will want this novel. It is very political. It’s about a lawsuit but not a legal thriller. It’s about race. One of the 5 narrators is Black, and I’m white (how could I write a Mississippi novel about race and not have a Black narrator?). A white narrator starts out unaware how racist he is. One of my readers said it was the best thing I’ve written, but if it sells I’ll be shocked. Delighted but shocked.
Even so, as always, it’s important to me to get it right. This is how I played competitive tennis as a girl: to be the best I could be, perfect my stroke, hit the tiniest edge of the white line while keeping the ball in play. Winning trophies thrilled me, but I refused to do it out of competitiveness.
Anyway, this is a time-consuming, boring phase of revision, but necessary. I’m doing it in a hotel room in Memphis while it rains from Hurricane Zeta. We hear our houses in NOLA and the Gulf Coast had yard damage from the storm, but the houses themselves are intact, thank you, Jesus. As soon power is restored, wee will leave here and go see for ourselves. In the meantime, enjoy these photos of Memphis.
Memphis Central Station Hotel, Mississippi novel, novel revision
Emma
I think it is right up there with your best writing ever!! (although the handmade book is in a category by itself as best!!). This novel is a timely story, and one all readers can identify with. I’m crossing fingers and toes.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you, Emma! That inspires me to keep going…with your comments and suggestions in mind. And you sending love to the Hart Women. <3
Joanne Corey
I’m glad you are safe and your houses and yards are mostly okay. Kudos for your patient work on revisions. 96,000 words! The thought of working on a manuscript that large is enough to give this poets hives! Good luck with everything and God bless us all this month with so much going on.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you! I spent today sweeping up the “rose petals” the hurricane baptized our house in NOLA with. Seriously, they were saturating the front and back yards. I walked up and thought, who has strewn our path with rose petals? They were from a tree behind us, papery rose blossoms shaken loose by Zeta.
Pat Morgan
I think it’s going to be a winner and will be watching for it (while knowing that this could take months). Good luck. Hope your homes are okay.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you, Pat! I’m so glad you think so. And, yes, so far the houses are okay. We lost two big trees at the beach house, but the NOLA house sailed through just fine.