Beautiful Books Linkup #3: Let's Talk Editing || Becca's Story ||

Hello! 

I am excited to particapate in this month's Beautiful Books Linkup.  

Now, I did't do NaNoWriMo (congrats to all who did!), but I did finish my first draft of "Into Thornwood".

(What do you think of that title? It's new, just trying it on. Thoughts please!)

So "Let's Talk Editing" is just what I needed. 

1. On a scale of 1 (worst) to 10 (best) how well do you think this book turned out?

As it is the first "real" story I've finished, I am quite pleased with it.

I'll give it a 10.  :)

( Maybe I am being too optimistic)

2. Have you ever rewritten or edited one of your books before? 

If so, what do you do to prepare yourself? If not, what’s your plan?

Nope, I never have before. 

I have read that one should take a break between the first draft and editing, but with my remarkable procrastination skills, I'm afraid I do not have that luxury. 

The deadline of the Five Enchanted Roses contest is the 31st of December, but that I even finished my story in time is a relief.

3. What’s your final wordcount? Do you plan to lengthen or trim your book?

Oh dear, yes that... my final word count is 21,625.

However, the max word count for the contest is 20,000 so... yes, lots of triming.
It is supposted to be a short story.

4. What are you most proud of? Plot, characters, or pacing?

Plot and characters for sure. 

I need to go through the story again to feel out the pacing; it seems a bit uneven.

 Hopefully at the end of edits I'll be proud of that too.  :)

5. What’s your favourite bit of prose or line from this novel?

“Please, you must understand. My existence is stagnate. Never changing, never shifting. 

I live, only in the sense that I am not yet dead. I am decaying in this prison. 

You, my dear, are a long awaited breath of fresh air.”

6. What aspect of your book needs the most work?

Hmm.. good question. 

Caprice seemed to be important in the begining of the story, but then she faded from the storyline.

 I need to balance that out and tie in an ending for her.

7. What aspect of your book is your favourite?

I like the relationships. I have brother/sister, sister/sister, father/daughter, prisoner/jailer.  :)

I especially like Cecile's realationship with the "Beast", I had fun writing that.

8. How are your characters? Well-rounded, or do they still need to be fleshed-out?

I hope they are well rounded.  :)
Everyone has a pretty distinct personallity, everyone has a goal, and I hope the reader will be able to connect with them as well as I can. 

9. If you had to do it over again, what would you change about the whole process?

I would have started a whole lot sooner. 

10. Did anything happen in your book that completely surprised you? Have any scenes or characters turned out differently to what you planned? Good or bad?

I'm not sure.... a lot of ideas came mid-writing, so after a while I wasn't surprised anymore.  :)

I did have a plan for Frank that he did not like, so that completely changed my ending. 

I think it worked out for the better though. 

11. What was the theme and message? Do you think it came across? If not, is there anything you could do to bring it out more?

I think Beauty and the Beast has a very clear theme and message. 

The outside of a person doesn't matter, it's what's inside the heart.

I did take the message and put the gospel in it; salvation is much like the tranformation of the Beast.  In edits, I'll need to streamline the message more. I'm afraid I get confusing sometimes.

12. Do you like writing with a deadline (like NaNoWriMo) or do you prefer to write-as-it-comes?

Without a deadline I don't think I would have finished this story. 

13. Comparative title time! What published books, movies, or TV shows are like your book? (Ex: Inkheart meets X-Men, etc.)

Hmmm.... 

Beauty and the Beast meets The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box. (The setting, not the plot.)
If you haven't seen it, here's the trailer:

It's a very fun movie.

14. How do you celebrate a finished novel?!

Having never done it before, I don't know. Maybe I should start a tradition. 
I just found Pop Rocks in the cupboard! There you have it.  :)

15. When people are done reading your book, what feeling do you want them to come away with?

For sure I want them to come away with a clear understanding of the gospel. 
I want them to feel hope, to look for the good in others. 
"Man sees the outward appearance, but God sees the heart."