Nothing like submitting a manuscript to my editor – and then having an idea that turns my novel upside down in a good way. That nagging “how can I do this?” question that bothered me the entire time I wrote my story? Answered – but only after I’ve received my editor’s letter and I’m about to start my second round edits.

What’s a writer to do?

Well, this writer calls her editor and says, “I had this idea … ”

And after we talk … and my editor talks with her boss … I get the go-ahead to make the change. I do an abbreviated HaPpY dAnCe with my walking buddy, Mary, who is also my brainstorming partner.

Only after all this does reality set in.

That one change – as good as it is – is going to require a lot of work. My manuscript has become a virtual word quilt. My job? Take my “quilt” apart, piece by piece. After I do that, I have to decide which pieces (scenes), get to stay in the story and which ones are tossed back into the scrap pile (my deleted scenes Word document). Every scene I don’t use means I’ll be rewriting brand new scenes.

Gulp.

My Book Therapy founder Susan May Warren likes to challenge us to go and write something brilliant. Doing so means we don’t quit when we realize the hard work ahead of us is more challenging than we ever imagined.

Here’s how I’m conquering my more-extensive-than-I-imagined rewrite:
1. Reminding myself that all this work is improving my story. There is a reason for this rewrite. I’ve fixed something that bothered not only me, but also bothered my editor. The changes are already strengthening my story and making it more interesting.
2. Heeding the advice of my mentor. Author Rachel Hauck spoke the truth to me straight up: You’re going to have to write more new scenes then you think. Don’t hang on to what you’ve already written. Be willing to let it go for the sake of your story.
3. Reviewing the overall flow of my story. I went through my manuscript chapter by chapter and marked:
a. what chapters needed to be moved forward
b. what scenes needed to be deleted (probably)
c. what scenes I could save (hopefully)
d. what scenes changed location geographically because of changes in the story
4. Saving all deleted scenes. I usually do this when I’m writing, but this time I’m organized about the process. I’m labeling each scene or chapter I delete. I can use them for blog posts when my book releases next year, or I can use them as special newsletter content – but only if I can remember where I filed them.

Most of all, I’m being patient and prayerful about the process. But patience and prayer are required no matter where I am in the writing process.