Because Andy Said So

Me: Hey, Chapter 2! You seem happy. Chapter 2: Yeah, I'm feeling pretty good. Very Doctor Who. Me: Doctor Who? Chapter 2: Yeah. Like I'm still called Chapter 2, and I have a few things in common with the chapter I used to be, but I'm an all new Chapter 2 who's craving fish sticks and custard. Me: I see. So what you're saying is you feel like you used to be David Tennant, but now you're Matt Smith? Chapter 2: Not exactly. People argue about which one of those was better with a lot of people siding with Tennant, whereas I'm obviously better than my last incarnation. But also sort of, yeah. Me: Well, I'm glad you like the new you. I do too. Do you have any concerns? Chapter 2: I can't seem to find my fez. Me: I'm sure it's around here somewhere. I'll let you know if I see it. I need to go work with Chapter 3 now. The current Chapter 3 is alright, but there needs to be a few scenes between what happens in it and the ending of you,...

Me: Chapter 1! Do you like the changes?  Chapter 1: I don't know... Me: Well, let's look at the scenes... Chapter 1: The first one is missing. Me: That wasn't really a scene. It was supplimental material that lacked suffecient oomph for an opening and didn't say anything we couldn't establish stronger with fewer words later. Chapter 1: I guess... I don't recognize what you're calling Scene 1 at all. Me: It's new. Chapter 1: You said this was a revision, not a rewrite? Me: It is! But not that scene. This scene is punchier, follows one of the main charecters and not his sister (what was up with that?), and clocks in with fewer words. Chapter 1: Good? I suppose... Scene 2 seems familiar, but not? Me: Scene 2 has the same synopsis as the old one. But I changed a detail that altered the entire tone, so it was easier to rewrite from scratch. Chapter 1: I guess that makes sense. What happened with Scene 3, though? It looks like you cut half of it on...

My Novel: So, you want to talk now? It's been how long? Me: In my defense, our conversations have been sparse because I've been working so hard on you. Novel: Yeah, yeah. Whatever. What do you want now? Me: I wanted to know how you're feeling. The daft is finished, so it seemed like a good time to ask. Novel: What does it matter that the draft is finished, Andy? We both know you're just going to leap into rewriting me. Me: No. I'm taking the next fortnight to focus on getting the garage clear of boxes so cars can park in it again. Novel: No, you're not. Me: Okay, fine. I'm not. But how are you feeling? Because I think these revisions aren't going to be another complete rewrite. Novel: Sure they won't. Excuse me, but I have a dating sim to play. Me: Oh. Okay. See you at work tomorrow? Novel: I doubt I'll be able to avoid it.

Novel: Hey, Andy. Are we alright? I feel like maybe you're trying to break up with me. Do you even still like me? Me: Oh, Novel! I'm so, so sorry I've been neglecting you. I still love you. I'm just drowning in stress from other parts of my life. Novel: So you haven't been avoiding me? You've just been busy? Me: Yeah. I hate that I made you feel like you're not important to me. You are super important. It's just there were painters all over the place, then an entire two-car garage full of random stuff was delivered. I don't even want most of it. But I have to open every box, because they all have a few items I want to keep in them. Novel: That sounds tiring. Me: It really is. We didn't get to downsize much when things went into storage, because the very same week my moving schedule had me start rehoming things back in 2020 was the week everything shut down. I didn't want to throw away perfectly good things just because I didn...

Me: Hey, Novel. Are you okay? Novel: You know? I really don't think I am. Me: Want to talk to me about it? Novel: Do I want to talk to you about how you're destroying me? Me: I'm not trying to destroy you. I'm trying to make you better. Novel: How about we start with talking about how you told me you were going to revise me, then opened a blank document. How is that revision? How are you not just replacing me? Me: It's still you, Novel! Yes, there's a lot of rewriting, but it's refining what came before even if the words are different. I'm replacing your words, not you. I'm keeping the look and feel of you, the heart of you, the themes of you... Novel: It doesn't feel that way. Have you even seen what you did with my outline? You hacked half of it away. Half. YOU MURDERED HALF MY CHAPTERS! Me: Okay. I did do that. But the chapters you have can be longer now. Act I is down to four chapters, but those four chapters take up twenty three ...

Me: I think we're done for now, Chapter 1! 1: Yeah, I think so. The stuff you came back to add today was good, I felt. You changed a little more than I was expecting yesterday, but it's cool. 2: I have a question though. Me: It's not really time for our briefing, Chapter 2. 2: Yeah, I know. But I'm really confused about something. Me: Okay. What is it? 2: I thought you were REVISING me. But you appear to be completely rewriting me? So far I contain five and half thousand words, none of which were in the original manuscript. Me: Well... Okay, that's fair. I pretty much am rewriting your content. The things I wanted to tweak changed the scenes we did today enough it felt easier to do that than not. 2: Uh huh. And the next scene is going to be the same, isn't it? Me: It is. 2: So in what way is this project a revision and not Yet Another Rewrite? Me: I'm going to keep more of most scenes. It's just that your scenes do a lot of introducing and ex...

Me: Hey, Acts! How are you feeling. Act III: Tired. Act II: Bloated. Act I: Incomplete. Me: Okay. Those are all reasonable.  Me: III, you'll have some time to rest before we get around to even plotting your revisions.   Me: II, I already have a list of things to trim from you.   Me: And Act I, I have SO many notes about you. A lot of things to flesh out, but also some stuff to cut. I think you'll feel better after the makeover. Act I: Should I be nervous? Me: No, you should be excited! Act I: And my chapters? Me: Uh... Welllllll... They're in for a lot of change. There's going to be merging and cutting and new scenes. And you're getting two chapters from Act II that I realized should have been considered Act I from the get-go. Act II: Um. What? Me: Yeah, so remember you felt bloated? I actually agree with that assessment. There's a lot of trimming in store for you and very little expansion. Although I also mismarked your ending and you get the start ...