Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Re-write Quandary

This is topic Re-write Quandary in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

I was going to post this in the new Re-write discussion zone, but figured Dakota might not like it

so I created a special place all its own.

The first Hatrack Re-write Challenge was about the "Three Billy Goats Gruff". After several months of editing, re-writing and procrastination, I'm nearing the fateful day when I will finally put my little story in an envelope and send it off to the wolves.

Before I do that, I have a major issue. I've gotten a lot of feed-back regarding my opening, basically it could/should be removed entirely and the story should start with what is essentially part 2.

My quandary is this:
If this was just another story, it wouldn't really matter where I chose to start it. But this is a re-write and a big part of me wants to stay as close to the source story as possible.

The action of the "Three Billy Goats Gruff" begins with the dilema of the goats and then moves to the bridge and the individual confrontations with the troll.

Given my POV, I don't really need to include "the goats dilema", but I feel a sense of attachment to it.

So how important is it to stay true to the source material when doing a re-write?

At what point should you quit worrying about the source and just worry about the product? You know, "Suck it up princess..."

Any advice on looking at this sans emotion and with a modicum of objectivity?

Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :

I think you met the requirements of the challenge to stay true to the original, when you submitted to the challenge. I see no reason to hold yourself to that when you submit to 3rd parties, unless you are prsenting it to THEM as a rewrite.

Don't hamstring yourself.

Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :

I don't see a problem with detracting from the original. I see the rewrite as more inspirational than anything else. take it and run with it. Especially for third parties

Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :

I like good stories and true advertising. If your story is "a retelling of the Billy Goats Gruff" and has a different plot line and no goats, I'll get cranky. If it's "based on the Billy Goats Gruff," I just want to see that it does have some connection. Go wild.

Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :

ditto. If you really, really love it, you could try to rewrite to make the beginning essential, but I think you're probably better off forgetting your inspiration story and focussing on what makes this one rock.

Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :

You could have posted this in the discussion zone! I would never get mad with you Robyn!

BUT, I do agree with the above. The purpose of the rewrite is to hopefully inspire folks to get writing.

Now that you're selling, keep a copy of the whole for yourself, but market the one that will succeed among the wolves.

Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :

I'm coming into this discussion late, but I wanted to say that I agree with what's been said so far.

As for objectivity, the only way I've done it with my re-writes is to put them in a drawer and ignore them for a month. Then, pull them out and read them like you would any story: edit, re-write, delete what doesn't work, add anything that helps build the story. It's what I did to my Headless Horseman story and by doing that I realized that it was a much bigger tale than I originally thought.

So after I finish my dragon novel, I'm going to work on the rough draft of my Headless Horseman novel.