A while back, I posted how I decided to re-write my new novel which I had previously re-written and re-vised enough. (or so I thought) But once I started getting some feedback from readers, I realized that I had made some mistakes, and regardless of how painful and time-consuming it would be, I needed to re-re-write the entire novel again!

That was a month ago that I decided to do that. So here I am, a month later with a completely different manuscript. I’m happy it only took me a month to rewrite it because it was quite extensive. Here’s what I changed:

• I added four brand new chapters.
• The length of the novel increased from 86,000 words to 99,000.
• The tone of the novel is much improved.
• I added backstory to all four main characters.
• I completely changed the ending.
• I overhauled the relationships in the story.
• I drastically changed wordings to make it more like me.
• I deleted huge passages.
• I improved silly dialogues.
• I basically gutted it. (and it needed it)

And while I didn’t necessarily enjoy doing all of the above, it’s what had to be done if I want to be a serious author. I’ve always told myself that I will not accept shortcuts and this novel was the first one which really tried my patience. But I’m happy I fought through it, and readers will be happy too. It’s much better. Even if a reader still doesn’t like it, it’s MUCH better. If they don’t like it now, they would have HATED it then.

It wasn’t a terrible novel before. It just wasn’t my novel. What I learned is this:

I have to take the readers into account. Yes, it’s my novel. I drive it. I create it. But when I’m too caught up in the “me” aspect, I can lose sight of my own voice. I can make my writing sound different from what people expected. That’s not always a good thing. Trying new things is one thing, but trying to be someone you’re not is completely different. I righted the ship.

Don’t rush. Don’t push out a product just to meet a deadline. Hey, we’re indie authors. We make our own deadlines. Don’t impose false deadlines which aren’t going to be helpful in the long run. The story is what’s important. The story should tell you what the deadline is.

Listen to your beta readers. I hate to say this because it sounds like I’m patting myself on the back. I’m not. I’m actually kicking myself. It would have been easy to get defensive with  my beta readers and tried to explain why I did such and such in my earlier drafts, but that wouldn’t have proved anything. Only that I’m stubborn and short-sighted.

Be humble. Take criticism. Learn. Improve. Strive.

These are words I have told myself to take to heart as an indie author.

Listen and learn.

I think I have, and my novel is much better for it.