Today The Tyee features an article by Richard Warnica about Edeet Ravel, who revised her novel well after it was printed:
But publishing is also about letting go and moving ahead. Just as we let go of control about how we’re seen, what people write about us, and in some cases how the book looks (cover, blurbs, paper etc) so we have to let go in terms of rewrites. I read a novel recently I thought was perfect, and I met the author in Paris at a festival, and she told me that recording the book on CD was frustrating for her because she wanted to make changes but wasn’t allowed. But you also reach a point of fatigue with a novel — which is another reason you need time to set it aside and return to it. There are days towards the end of the editing process where you think, if I have to look at a single page of this novel one more time I’m going to be sick.
Ravel posted the new ending and an explanation of her changes on her website, which has a pretty great URL.
John Fowles also revised his 1965 books The Magus in 1977. It was already critically acclaimed as well as a bestseller before the revision. I don’t think he changed the ending, though.
Ever met Jasper Fforde?
The author of The Eyre Affair and similar adventures of literary character Thursday Next publishes web updates on his work.
Here’s the initial page:
http://www.jasperfforde.com/special2.html
Now a sample update:
http://www.jasperfforde.com/upgrade/upgdtn42.1.html
If ever I publish a novel I will insist that it be published between indistinguishable covers but in two versions with different endings, a la DVD.
Reminds me of George Lucas and his endless and mostly pointless fiddling with the first set of Star Wars movies. Maybe I’d excuse it more if the later ones had been better.