Saturday, June 2, 2012

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR BOOK IS FINISHED?


Write.
Edit.
Set aside.
Read.
Cringe.
Rewrite.
Pull hair out.
How do you know when your book is finished?

I spent some time on this question posted yesterday by Rachelle Gardner on her website, www.rachellegardner.com. So far, I think I’ve done all she mentioned list above. I have written. I have edited. I have set aside the work to concentrate on another work. I have gone back to that work and reread. I have cringed at my mistakes, and I have done some rewriting. 

I’ve pulled hairs out also. Beards actually. 

Yet I don’t know if my book is finished.

The writing process comes easily to me. My fingers speed over my keyboard as I type in the words and my brain would start wishing my fingers could go faster. I hardly encounter those writer’s blocks except when I’m writing some description scenes. If I do encounter them, I create art in another form.

Rewriting, on the other hand is tougher. Here I am wearing two hats: the creator hat and the editor hat. Here I slain my misused words, including those phrases or sentence constructions I thought were awesome. I am hard on my characters. I cut short unnecessary dialogues. I make sure they stick to their traits, unless when they do something I cannot even stop them from doing. Sometimes they become unpredictable.

The rewriting process sometimes might be tricky. Sometimes I cut off sentences that needed no cutting at all. Other times I add sentences that are not relevant at all.

I just started a second rewrite of my book, The Road Taken, a YA, Urban Fantasy set in the Southeastern part of Nigeria. The book is part of a trilogy I hope to publish. I’m done with writing the second book and I’m writing the final book in the series. To balance my work and time, I write the final book in the morning – I’m more creative in the morning. Then I do the rewriting of The Road Taken in the evening or before I go to bed.

‘No man is an Island’

I love this quote by John Donne. It reminds me that I'm not alone in this world, and that other people are there to help. I know the importance of a Critique group, but finding one here in Nigeria is very hard. I’ve had only two friends who’ve looked over my work and given me good feedback. But then I always feel like it isn’t enough.

Six weeks ago I joined critters.org, an online critique group. It’s a dedicated site with dedicated writers, including published writers. I have found the site helpful because when I analyze other people’s work, it helps me in identifying the problems with my work. 

I received some critiques few weeks ago on a piece I had written. One of the critters did a very good analysis of my work, which made me remember the saying; ‘No man is an Island’

No man is an Island indeed.

Why that saying?

I had always looked at that piece with pride. But reading that critique on my work humbled me. I couldn’t help but wonder how to know when my book is really finished.

Let me know your thoughts on this. How do you know when your book is finished?

Remain creative and have a nice weekend, guys.

12 comments:

  1. I don't really know how to answer the question of knowing when your book is finished, mostly because I really don't know the answer myself. I've been struck through the editing process with the realization that - try as I might - there is _always_ something more I could do. But I do know that you're right in the quote "No man is an island". Sometimes artists and creators try to do all the work on their own. Yet we can't, ultimately, be so isolated and hope to have the art we would most want in the end. No book comes into the world without the work of many hands (I forget who said that, but it is so true). Good thoughts here, thank you.

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    1. Hi, Megan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I still try to find the right answer to the question. Most published authors would say, 'Your book is finished when it's in a reader's hand.' I agree 70% with that. But some times we hear published authors say they wish they could have better. I love that quote; no book comes into the world without the work of many hands. 100% true. But I'm gonna tweak it a little; no *good* book...

      Thanks for stopping by my blog.:-)

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  2. It's the classic artist's dilemma. When do you stop fiddling with it, and let your creation fly into the world on its own wings? There's a point of diminishing returns. Eventually - like any parent - you have to stand back, and let it go free.

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    1. Yeah! I agree with you, Nicky. We just have to let it go at some point or the book would forever be in it's manuscript form and no one gets to read it.


      Thanks for stopping by my blog:-)

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  3. I stop when I start cutting the good stuff.

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    1. Hi, Robyn. Nice words. I love your view on this. And I think I'd begin to apply it as I continue with my edits.

      Thanks! :)

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  4. A very good post.
    It is hard to know when your book is really finished. For me that day will come when I have that feeling,when I know that I did everything I could. And I believe this day will be after the 6th draft for DAZED. I am on 4th so I am getting closer.:)

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    1. Thanks, A. I think it's nice that you set a limit on the amount of edits you're doing on DAZED. I wish I could do so myself. Sometimes I look at my current draft, and then something keeps bugging me inside, saying to do another edit.

      Best of luck with DAZED. I pray you finish those drafts soon :)

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  5. there are times when you are done cutting and adding, and something tells you that you are not actually done, and you will come visiting again someday. Then there is a time when you are done triming, and that same thing tells you, but this time, that any coming back will make no differencem or worse still, some negative difference. That is when you are, perhaps not so done, yet as good as done.

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    1. It's true. Sometimes revisiting the work too much spoils it.

      Thanks for stopping by :)

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  6. Good idea to join a critique group, I think this is a major help!

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    1. Yeah! Critique groups help. I joined one sometime ago, but I haven't been active recently. I hope to return to activity.

      Thanks for stopping by :)

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