We authors are a different bunch. I’m sure you’ve noticed. And when it comes to writers of fiction, there’s even more diversity. It would be impossible to put us all into one mold, one grouping, or one category. The expression, “one size fits all”, would do us an injustice. We’re all unique and as such write in different genres.
My topic is about change – revision. Why bother changing a manuscript in the first place? Well, the obvious answer is to make a good draft even better. Any experienced editor will tell you that it takes a number of drafts, along with several revisions, to come up with the final product.
My first translation project (draft), The Prussian Lieutenant, based on Karl May’s colportage work (The Hussar’s Love), was over 150,000 words. A doorstop indeed. My editor balked at the length, wondering if I was writing another “War and Peace”, Tolstoy’s epic that was also first published serially, then in its entirety in 1869.
Well, as a translator, I want to be faithful to the original work. Karl May, a prolific writer, passed away in 1912. Even if I had wanted to consult with him, it was no longer an option. Thus, under existing laws his copyright no longer applied, and his published works fell into what is known as the Public Domain. Fortunately, I had access to the files, assembled under the auspices of Project Gutenberg, a non-profit organization that offers a vibrant and growing collection of the world’s great literature.
The trick was to keep the storyline intact, without eliminating important scenes or characters. In the process, I’ve tightened up much of the wordy narrative and eliminated repetitive dialogue. What was published in German in the 1950s initially as a four-part series, has since morphed into a six-part epic, each volume pared down to a more palatable length.
Did I mention that my editor first balked at the sheer monstrosity of the first draft? Well, after much collaboration and hard work, we pared it down to 131,400 words. But then I added my translation notes (explaining idioms and out-of-date expressions), coupled with an excerpt from The Marabout’s Secret, and presto, you have @136,000 words. Incidentally, The Marabout’s Secret first draft also came in over 150,00 words. In like manner, I’ve pared it down to 131,000 words. The third installment, Buried Secrets, is a much more enjoyable 113,000 words.
Believe me, it was no small feat. The reward is that the finished product appeals to the modern book aficionado. Research has proven that today’s average fiction reader, faced with so many entertainment options, will think twice before delving into a long-winded novel, penned by an unknown author. Certain classics, like Dumas’ The Three Musketeers or the lengthy The Count of Monte Cristo, still resonate with readers 150 years after their publication, but those are exceptions.
Check out the first book, The Prussian Lieutenant, on your favourite platform.
Happy reading everyone.
