I am much happier with the finished products. I met all of my re-release deadlines and all books are back in the marketplace. Eighteen months is a long time to stall a career but I do not regret taking the action.
I learned a few things along the way, rewriting these books. Here is my short list:
- Most everything can be edited and made better.
- Time makes you look at your writing objectively.
- Stories often need more time to be told—don’t rush the process.
- Several passes through the same story add depth and layers—even though you think a story may be finished, it’s probably not.
- Editing is never really finished—although at some point you do need to say “It’s done.”
- A fresh eye is always good for the story (yours or someone else's!)
- Stories I loved before, I love even more now. With tweaks.
- Ten years ago, I was not the writer I thought I was.
- The magic comes with time and revisions--be patient.
I hope so! Writing is growth. Growth is writing.