My Revision Process for Manuscript #2
I started putting together manuscript #2 in June 2009, and then last month I blew it up. I added more recent poems. During the first go-round, I left out poems to avoid certain painful topics. But just like life, I can’t leave anything out. By leaving out poems about divorce, the first version seemed as if it was missing something. Then there was the "Misery Islands" long poem—I must have started it in September '09. It was ambitious, beginning with great sound and fury. At some point, backed away from it. Maybe I was too close to the breakup to really work on it.
So last month, I dove into these projects in earnest. (All those times I said I was working on the long poem or the manuscript—I wasn’t. Not really. Not like this.)
If you know nothing else about me, you know I am goal oriented. When Jennifer Jean and I decided to go on our writer’s retreat, I put a stake in the ground with a deadline. I started what is now the working copy of the manuscript.
Here are a few bullet points about my process, because I’m tired of paragraphs:
- This iteration has 55 poems/ 63 pages. That’s trimmed down from 77 poems/85 pages.
- I laid out all 77 poems on the floor and took out poems I didn’t want to include.
- Because I write about the same themes from different angles, I chose the best poem(s) on similar topic for inclusion.
- I’ll keep the others for future projects.
- On the second pass, I put them in their current order.
- I have two out of eight sections of the "Misery Islands" poem to finish.
- One-third of the poems, including "Misery," needs revision.
- No title for collection #2 as of yet.
Jennifer was my first reviewer. I needed her input to let me know if I was on the right track. I’ll take the next few weeks to rework then revise. They I’ll send it out for review to six or seven poets for the second round in August. Getting multiple critiques helped me immensely the first time around. I take the feedback that makes the most sense to incorporate into the next round. And then, I’ll pass it to a smaller group for feedback. This group will be a broader group of writers and non-writers. You know … readers! Finally, I hope, it will be ready to submit. No firm timelines here but I’d like to have it ready by October for submission.
There are no guarantees the second time around. I just hope the second collection conveys growth, and a certain strength of character. Don’t know why that’s important, but it is. And, I'm happy with the quality of work, and the depth and range of subject matter.
If you’re working on a manuscript, what is your process like? Do you have multiple readers before submission or do you go it along? How’s that working for you?
Comments
I'm glad they did, because in the time since then, I have written more poems, grown a bit more, and re-read and revised with more insight.
The manuscript was 50-something poems long. It is now 40-something poems long. Size doesn't matter (pardon the cliché). I want to have poems that I like in my book, I want to have a book I would have enjoyed reading.
If I have 40 good poems in a book, I'll be happy.
Following your suggestion, I spread my poems on my dining room floor and pondered them. Thought of organisation, theme. And I did find a suitable order (this was three years ago, about). I don't feel I should section the MSS; I'd just like to group some poems and have them follow one another, trying to keep some kinf of coherent flow to the book.
I need time. I need time to grow and read more and learn more and live more, so that I may reflect all these in my work.
I showed my MSS to two poets I admire. I know that they liked some of the poems therein, but I also know that I think some of them aren't "complete"...
The urge to have a book out is strong, but I need to bottle it long enough to write good poems. I think I will be ready with a MSS in 6 months to a year.
So far, I have only put together chapbook manuscripts, which are usually more focused since there are so few poems.
I have the goal of working on a full-length collection over the next year. I write mostly shorter poems, so for me the number of poems is significant as most houses want anywhere from 48-80 pages.
Thanks for the insight into your process - I look forward to reading more.
I like having a cohesive thread, and sections, but there's certainly nothing wrong with a collection (meaning: a grouping of poems not bound by themes or arcs).
I want a strong collection of poems—no weak spots, no transition poems to maintain the theme.
Nice to hear that you're not rushing to produce something you're happy with. And I’m sure once it’s out there, it will be picked up right away.
http://dianelockward.blogspot.com/2010/07/some-thoughts-about-poetry-book.html
I have no doubt that you'll find a publsiher when ready.
my 2nd manuscript really took a lot of turns as I tried to shape it. the version it is in now is actually the original overall order that I had, funny how i returned to it. I actually took it out of its original form because I was reluctant to have sections. I went back to the sections.
When i started to realize I might have a 2nd manuscript was when I noticed how many individual poems I had published. Once I had close to 50 that weren't in the first book I started trying to look for themes. It took a while but eventually I realized I had a good 4 solid sections that all seemed to work together.
I weeded through mine in much the same way you described, just looking at them and grouping them, letting go of ones that weren't as strong.
I had 3 people read the first version and then the more revise version only went to 1 or 2. I don't have as wide of a number of people that I would feel comfortable burdening a whole manuscript with.
The hardest decision for me was deciding how to proceed with the 2nd. I sent it to contests for a while but now I'm trying to decide if I want to keep doing that...I might have some news soon about it though..sooon :)
Good luck with yours!
Keeping our fingers crossed for your next book!