Yep, I'm hacking Blood Bound to pieces. I had this brainstorming idea the other day to change it from adult fantasy to YOUNG ADULT fantasy, so have changed the age of the characters, tweaked the back story a little and now I have to cut it from 128,000 works to around 95,000.AM I INSANE?????
First of all, it's the first of a four book series and EVERYTHING I've put in this book leads to things that will happen either in this novel, or the three to come. You've heard of foreshadowing, right? Well, it is IMPORTANT STUFF.
So, here I sit, almost 1/4 of the way through the manuscript and I've only managed to cut about 2,000 words. EEEK!!!
That means I have a LOT more cutting to do and every scene I come to CAN'T be cut. I've whittled down dialogue, descriptions, narrative and even cut scenes, but there's NO WAY I will bring it under the 100,000 word mark. So now what? Will the YA industry toss it because it's over the word count? Probably, especially for a debut novel from a new author. They're not going to waste their money on an unknown and produce a book that is way too big.
UGH!!
I'm off to cut . . . Cut . . . CUT . . . CUT . . . and CUT!!
I think it's a great idea because in reality, you are adding to your demographic. How many parents read YA? A TON!!!
ReplyDeleteI do. I like to know what my kids are reading. I think you're doing the right thing and I bet it will be picked up fast because of it!
You go, girl!
Wow, that sounds seriously ambitious! Good luck with your trimming. Just thinking about that makes me want to crawl under my covers for a few days. I hope it goes better for you. :)
ReplyDeleteBeen there, done that and it's not a lot of fun. But...after I cut my novel it was much stronger and I sold it. So go for it, Christine. :0)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about my friend today. Her son has blond, curly hair. It was so pretty so didn't want to cut it but felt she should because it was getting long. The child is only 2 for heavens sake! Finally, she took him in for a hair cut and turned away so she couldn't see the golden locks fall to the floor.
ReplyDeleteWhen she looked again, there sat the cutest boy with short blond hair. The cut really helped him look better and a little older. Though it broke her heart his curls were gone, she had to admit the trim was much better for him.
That, my dear, is an analog for your trimming today. :)
I think it's hurting me almost as much as it hurts you, 'cause I like your story and I can't think of anything that you could cut out. But . . . I know you can do whatever you set your mind to and it will still be awesome. So, good luck to you and your trimming.
ReplyDeletetalk about a job to do. Eeesh.
ReplyDeleteBut, don't you write fantasy? YA Fantasy still has to be that short? I feel for ya. Either way, least 'not' finding anything 'easy' to cut should be a good sign of some nice solid writing? :D Loves