Escape the Revolution |
I even entered a contest and the judges were impressed but told me a twenty page synopsis was far too long. My story was too 'busy'. I had a lot of editing to do.
I read books on style and structure, took workshops, and attended Writers Conferences. I rode the subway in Washington, D.C. to research my time period (eighteenth century, French Revolution in England) at the Library of Congress. A writer's paradise, all those books!
Jefferson Reading Room, Library of Congress |
I submitted to agents, editors, and small presses: no one wanted this huge epic. One offered to read it over if I could cut it down to 70,000 words.
I learned to tighten my writing, delete characters (painful), move the action along, cut out unnecessary words, structure scenes: they all need a beginning and end, no rambling. And I made my story into two books. There was the perfect break. My heroine leaves England to find her mother in America, but her past will follow.
Hostage to the Revolution |
Thus, my two novels on the adventures of a displaced countess, running from revolutionaries in 1790, into the arms of a man who may have murdered his wife. Cornish taverns, evil rogues, a neglected child, a man of mystery, and a determined young woman who strives to remake her life.
To purchase my novels, and my other BWL books: BWL
Find out more about me and my novels on my website: Dianescottlewis
Diane Scott Lewis lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband and one naughty puppy.
Great post. My problem was the opposite. What became my first novel started out as a 5000 word short story. Keep writing
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet. My first three novels were huge. I'm much better now.
ReplyDeleteNew web site is looking good. Thanks for the great effort. library of heaven's path
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