Astonished and almost embarrassed–yes, yes, yes. And after four years and numerous rejections, I would have never thought I’d still feel passionate about this novel, and I hadn’t realized that I did until you mentioned it. So thank you!

Thank you, Louise! I’ve been savoring your comment these last few days, wanting it to last as long as possible. Cutting all those pages was worth it to be pinned above your desk. I love thinking about being there : )
xo

And I want you to read it, Cali! One of these days, hopefully. Thank you!

I did something like this a few weeks ago but it was only a paragraph starting a story. Similar in that it was backstory, I’d always thought it critical, never even considered cutting it… but had moved it around a bit over the few years since drafting the story. In my case it was a suggestion from a reader and I was astonished and then almost embarrassed to realize I could cut it with no harm. Not nearly so hard as so many pages, though, plus the story of how your central characters came together in the first place. I don’t know that I’d ever be able to see, all by my lonesome, that I should cut so much material. Congrats and godspeed!

PS, It’s so inspiring to feel your passion for this novel as you do the final revision.

Sophfronia, you know I didn’t throw those pages away! They are happily sleeping on my hard drive. But I had no idea publishers were interested in deleted content–that is fascinating. Thank you, thank you for your comment–it is encouraging in so many ways : ) Great to see you at AWP. xo

Exactly. To kill a darling, you have to be able to identify one. And I saw these scenes as necessary to the story. Fun to hear from you, Dave!

I appreciate your support, Karen! It didn’t feel freeing when I did it, but it did after the fact. I’ve never cut that much before so good thing to learn.

whoops. I AM looking forward . . .