Major story revision

[Mark Paren]

I wrote a story (Luminosity) with an abandoned sequel several years ago. Looking at it now I realize there are serious structure flaws and generally weak prose. Is there a way to cleanly edit the story. I’m concerned that the current comments, reactions, and recommendations may not match when I’m finished with the revisions. Do you have any advice on how this might be done.

[Topher Lydon]

I labelled one of mine REVISION 2025 at the top of each chapter I revised. You'll find most people will get it once you do what you have to do  Good luck

[Jason Rimbaud]

I constantly go back and revise my story chapters and I don't mention it to anyone. The important part is the story, how many people read the comments vs just read the words you shared. 

[E K Stokes]

You can unpublish the original story and publish the revised version as a new story - Add Story

The consequences of doing this:

• you lose all old comments, but they are irrelevant anyway,
• you lose any chance of becoming a promoted author, promising author, or any other author status.

That's my best understanding of things, so I would think long and hard about what to do and maybe speak to a gayauthors site person for official advice - don't do anything you might regret later, The site has very strict policies!

[Mark Paren]

47 minutes ago, E K Stokes said:

You can unpublish the original story and publish the revised version as a new story - Add Story

The consequences of doing this:

• you lose all old comments, but they are irrelevant anyway,
• you lose any chance of becoming a promoted author, promising author, or any other author status.

That's my best understanding of things, so I would think long and hard about what to do and maybe speak to a gayauthors site person for official advice - don't do anything you might regret later, The site has very strict policies!

I don’t know what “promoted author, promising author, or any other author status” are but I would hate to confuse readers thinking they were reading a new story and finding a rewritten older version. I’ll think about it. Thanks for the suggestion.

[chris191070]

27 minutes ago, Mark Paren said:

I don’t know what “promoted author, promising author, or any other author status” are but I would hate to confuse readers thinking they were reading a new story and finding a rewritten older version. I’ll think about it. Thanks for the suggestion.

You could always post the newer version with a title saying 2026 version 

[ReaderPaul]

10 minutes ago, chris191070 said:

You could always post the newer version with a title saying 2026 version 

@chris191070 is correct.  I have seen that done by some authors here, and that sometimes has caused me to read BOTH versions of a story.  Usually, the second version is an improvement, and the contrasts and variations can be fascinating.  That would be my suggestion, as well.

Edited May 17 by ReaderPaul
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