Rewriting History

[PlugInMatty]

Hi all,

 

I've recently taken a story offline with the intention of revising it and reposting at a later date.

 

However, after sitting down on Sunday night and picking apart the chapters I'd already posted in eFiction, I've come to the realisation that I'll need to change a fairly significant plot element in order to 'tidy up' the story and make it flow smoothly to the end.

 

Keeping that in mind, do you think it's acceptable for an author to revise a work that's already been posted and read by hundreds/thousands of readers? A lot of our success as writers hinges on the 'suspension of disbelief' in our readers, so is it acceptable to take a set of characters/scenarios that the reader is already familiar with, and switch the details around in order to continue the story? Obviously, first-time readers won't know the difference when I begin re-posting the story later on, but if one of my previous readers came back to the revised story and suddenly realised 'oh, that didn't happen in the original story', would it completely ruin the reading experience for them?

 

My fear is, messing with the plot will 'jar' the reader out of the flow of the story and make them suddenly realise 'wait, this is all make-believe', and stop reading.

 

So yeah, I guess my question is, if you started reading a story and the author went back to change crucial details, would it completely take away your enjoyment as a reader?

 

All thoughts welcome.

[hh5]

Hey look at Star Wars ... those new bits Lucas added surely did change the story and the flow that the orignal fans know of the story. But to the newbies its a fresh experience.

 

His reasons to add those bits is that he wasn't happy about how the first story was written or made.

 

- - -

 

Keep a copy of your original.

 

It doesn't hurt to have your beta reader take a read and see if there is a change thats liked or not.

 

But again ... its still your decision to write a story your happy about.

 

Lucas puts out both editions of SW so he does keep both types of fans happy

[Nephylim]

I absolutely agree. It's your story and you know what's best for it. It's like having a child. Some people might not agree with the way you bring them up but it's your shot, your call.

 

Do whatever you want and I'll read it because you're a good writer and that's why people read you. If you are making the story better then wooo hooo

[Cia]

Another bit of agreement with hh5 and Nephy. Your story is yours. Whether you are writing it for the first time or the fifth it's your vision and your world. If you don't write it for you then it's not going to be something you can be proud of or enjoy. Readers go hang, sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

[Rilbur]

Just remember...

 

Han shot first!

[Mark Arbour]

I've been grappling with just this issue as I've gone back and read through some of my previous stories. I really think this is an individual decision. It's you're right to do as an author, just as it's the right of your readers not to like it. For what it's worth, here's the conclusion I came to. I decided that making any major plot changes wasn't allowed. I've already played out the lives of my characters, and I'm not going to just spin them off and play them again in a different way. What I am doing is fixing any stupid grammar or spelling errors, trying to repair scenes that may have been unclear, and enhancing segments where the description wasn't expansive enough or the interaction was too brief. I've also tried to look out for those "oops" moments, where a guy is suddenly 6'1 in one story then shrinks to 5'9 in another (haven't found that yet) or had blue eyes in one story and green eyes in another (I have found that one).

[rec]

One way to handling the rewrite issue -- assuming the first version is complete -- is to use the term redux, as in Apocalypse Now Redux, a term used in the movie business to designate a remix and / or a new interpretation. That is, both the original and the Redux versions would be available -- for example, Predator and Predator Redux, to use Mark Arbour's story. The reader would know that the new and improved (perhaps) version is available and that changes have been made to the older version.

[Greedya]

One way to handling the rewrite issue -- assuming the first version is complete -- is to use the term redux,

 

I am tempted to write "Harry Potter redux" lol. But this would be a misleading name to readers, maybe? I mean for fan fiction.

[Kavrik]

I think what you do with your story is entirely the choice of the author. I know lots of people do huge rewrites of their work and I think that writing in and of itself nurtures a kind of perfectionism. If something is bothering you about your story, change it up. I know I'd love to read it and then let you know in a review if I thought it was working.

[Tipdin]

Authors, whether famous, infamous, or obscure do re-writes all the time, it's quite common.