Angela Dorsey’s Blog
Step Six in Writing Your Book
FINALLY, I am doing the last step you will need to finish your book. Sorry to those of you who have been patiently waiting.
The sixth step in writing your book is the REWRITE! To say rewrite is a little bit optimistic though - more accurately, it would be rewrites. In the rewrites, you read over your book and change the things that you notice are wrong.
What to check for?
You check the spelling and grammar. One tip, don’t trust the spell checker. Horse and hoarse sound the same and are both spelled correctly, but it would sound pretty funny to say ”My hoarse didn’t eat his oats this morning.”
You check that things are said in the most effective way. For example, one thing you can do is change common words to be more vibrant. Instead of saying, “The horse ran through the forest,” you can say “The brilliant chestnut careened between the dark trunks.” It gives much more atmosphere to your book.
Check your dialogue by speaking it aloud to make sure your characters are speaking naturally.
Check for inconsistencies. Is the chair blue in one scene, and then yellow in another?
And when you are reading through your book, stop whenever something just seems WRONG. It is very important to figure out what’s wrong with these sections and fix them.
And then when you’re reread and rewritten your book. You do it again. And again, and again, until you know you can’t write it any better.
Here is what I do whenever I write a book.
1. After I finish the first draft, I rewrite the entire book at least two or three more times on the computer.
2. I print up a copy and rewrite it one or two more times.
3. I send it to an editor to edit it for me. My editor is Ev and she is fabulous! Within a few days, she gets back to me with notes on everything that she noticed that were both right and wrong with the book. She gives me suggestions for the things that need changed.
4. I rewrite the book on the computer again, and then, if I feel it needs it, I either rewrite the entire thing again or I just rewrite spots of it.
5. I print up the book again and read it aloud to myself. When you read a book out loud, you will notice even more things wrong with it.
6. I send it to the Norwegian publisher, Eli, and she usually gets back to me within a couple of weeks with a list of things that she wants me to change.
7. I make those changes and rewrite the book at least once more, and possibly (like with Mystic Tide) have to start over at #1 again!
8. I eventually get an email from Bobbie, the PONY editor from the USA, and she has more edits for me. She usually does them though, and I look over her changes. However, I still do one more complete rewrite of the book as I check the changes.
9. And then, finally, it gets made into a book, and you guys get to read it.
Whew, what a lot of work!!! It makes me tired just thinking of it!
47 Responses to “Step Six in Writing Your Book”
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June 29th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Thanks so much for posting this. All that rewriting…whew! I’m starting my rewriting this very second
June 29th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Wow, I never knew writing a book was so much work!
June 29th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
The rewriting is a lot of work, but its so necessary. You can be sure that every book published has been rewritten a lot, and I’d even go so far as to say that no book is good (even though the idea might be good) until it has been edited and rewritten numerous times.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:47 am
Thanks! I wrote a book, and hope to get it published along with some short stories. Could you PLEEESE reccommend some publishing houses that would publish my book?
June 30th, 2008 at 10:11 am
I wish I could, Mirriam, but I don’t know enough about your book to know which publishing house might be interested. I’d have to read it first, and I don’t have time for that - sorry!
However, here is something that I do. Go to the bookstore and find books that are similar to yours as far as audience goes. Then submit to those publishers.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Mirriam, is your book about horses?
June 30th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Okay, thanks! i was thinking about Candelwicke Publishing….It’s a fantasy book, mine.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Good luck with publishing your book! I’m trying again!
I’m working on a book, and I am taking all the time in the world! I’m going to literally try and spend years on it! Since I’m in no rush!
June 30th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
That’s what I did with my first book too, Brittany. I actually learned a lot about writing by rewriting my first book many times.
July 1st, 2008 at 7:34 am
So did I - about the rewriting and first book, I mean. I just finished another one last night! I LOVE this one the best. Good luck with your books everyone
July 1st, 2008 at 9:05 am
I have won first place for writing contests the last two months on www.girlshorseclub.com under the pen name Angelica, (
) and I have two stories in the finals: The Unicorn Dare, (which has more points than any other story so far,) and Unicorn Valley (which has a lot, too.) I hope I win again! 
July 1st, 2008 at 10:40 am
Congratulations, Mirriam! That’s wonderful!
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:19 am
Thanks, Angela!
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:46 am
Good luck Mirriam!
Also good luck to everyone else writing a book! 
July 7th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Good luck everyone! Is anyone here a member of a writers’ club? I’ve been looking to join one but I can’t find a reputable one.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Congratulations Mirriam!
July 8th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Mirriam- I joined Girls Horse Club too! It’s really cool!
July 10th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Hi everyone. I’ve written three books now. Several people have read the summary to each and have said that they like it alot. But I would like to know what you all think! Here is the summary to one of them:
Flood of the White Stallion
*His mane and tail were dripping wet and yet his coat looked dry. His coat almost looked as if it were glowing. The white stallion was staring right at me as I was staring at him. I leaned in the saddle in order to get a better look. That is when I noticed his eyes. They wern’t black, brown, or even blue. I’m not sure they were a specific color at all. I could see a river in them. A torrent of water rushing foward.
And then it was surrounding me, rising quickly. Water was almost touching Crystal’s knees now, and it was still rising. I looked around for higher ground but I knew all too well that sheer rock surrounded us. The only way out of Sheer Drop Canyon is the downhill path, and it was already sealed with water. Crystal and I were trapped.*
Fourteen year-old, Nicole Greyston’s parents have owned the White Stallion Hotel for two years now. The wild Wyoming Mountains are a big change from the endless deserts of Texas, but Nikki is more than thrilled with the White Stallion Hotel, especially sisnce there are horses there. Things at the hotel are running smoothily. That is, until strange sightings of a mysterious white horse are reported. A horse that doesn’t belong to the hotel, or any other ranch for that matter. Nikki is far too curious to ignore the unknown creature, so she decides to find the stallion. Little does she know, she will have to battle dangerous flash floods, treacherous waters. Not to mention save a ghost horse. And who is the mysterious man who keeps telling Nikki that she has traveled back in time to 1969? Nikki must solve the mystery of the white stallion…or die trying.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
That sounds like a really cool story, Amanda. Are you going to get is published? If you do, let me know and I’ll be the first one to buy it!
July 11th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I guess a lot of people are drawn to white stallions. I wrote a book about one too (I’ve written five books in all). He’s a pure white Friesian with green eyes, and he lives in the ocean.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I agree with Gabrielle. It is a great story idea. Scary and thrilling, yet it has heart too.
July 12th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
TO EVERYONE WHO’S WRITTEN/WRITING A BOOK
In a book about writing that I read, it said you should get scond opinions about your book. Since you know your book and wrote it and love it, it’s hard to see where there might be things to fix, which is where the second opinion comes in handy. If anyone here wants to swap books, read, and comment on each other’s, let me know! I don’t know how we can get them to each other but we’ll figure something out.
July 12th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Here are the summaries of my books (Goodbye, Danzar isn’t finished yet):
FIREFLY DANCER
“Luciernaga Danzar,” her nameplate read. She was a fine-boned, flaming chestnut mare with long, slender legs. Her head was elegantly dished with a tapering muzzle and large, expressive brown eyes that, to me, were full of hopelessness. A gleaming stripe ran down her face. She was beautiful.
I held out a hand to her but she turned away, her eyes almost reproachful. “She’s like this all the time,” Sally said softly, wiggling her fingers at the mare. “She never really gets ridden; she’s too boring even for the beginners. Sometimes Mr. Fletcher lets me take her out on the cross-country and then she’s so full of life. When I put her back, she lies down and won’t get up for days.”
I felt tears sting my eyes. “Danzar,” I whispered, “Come on, girl.” The elegant mare ignored me, her head low…
“You don’t have to be alone anymore,” I whispered. “I choose you.”
When Vanessa’s first and only horse dies, Vanessa can’t shake the feeling that it’s all her fault and she doesn’t deserve another horse. In fact, Vanessa is ready to give up horse ownership for good. So when she meets the elusive, blood red horse Danzar, it’s okay with Vanessa that Danzar doesn’t even seem to like her. At first. When someone threatens not only Danzar, but Vanessa and her little brother as well, Vanessa discovers that she and the mare share a bond unlike any other.
JOINED AT THE HEART
I pulled away from Jones and went slowly down the aisle to Danzar’s stall. I knew it was empty, of course. I couldn’t say how but I’d known. That’s why I’d given her two hugs the previous evening.
But the shock of seeing the empty stall, with the golden straw lit up by the sun coming in her window, knocked the wind out of me.
For a long time I stared at it silently. Where was she? Where was my horse? I could feel hysterical sobs rising up in my throat. Why couldn’t all these people go away? I felt like a goldfish.
Then I blindly felt for the latch, pulled the door open, and stepped inside. I had to hold onto the wall so I wouldn’t just pitch headfirst into the straw and cry my eyes out. Somewhere in the back of my head I was aware of one of the police officer’s saying that I might be destroying clues but I just stared through tear filled eyes at this empty stall, where I’d hugged Danzar and promised to see her in the morning less than twelve hours ago.
Two words totally change Vanessa’s life: Danzar’s gone. Her beautiful horse, who’s already escaped death once, has disappeared. And right now when they were being trained by Olympic medallist James Benson, is the worst time ever. Things can’t get any worse – right? When Vanessa’s classmate Shawn’s horse, Flame, disappears, Vanessa can’t help but wonder if the uncanny resemblance between the two horses is a clue. And what about the strange sound Vanessa keeps hearing, almost like a horse’s heartbeat?
GOODBYE, DANZAR
“I’m coming,” I said, rolling my eyes. I held the puppy tightly with one hand and then looked down for the boat. Bad idea. The swirling water seemed murkier, muddier, and angrier from up here.
“Vanessa, get down right now!” Shawn yelled.
“I’m coming,” I mumbled. I started down for the lowest branch.
“Vana, get down! Just jump!” Was Jyan’s voice almost hysterical or was it just me? I looked down at my friends… and saw it. A huge tree branch was flying down the river of water at top speed, heading straight towards me.
“Oh, no.” I felt like I was paralyzed but I was moving anyway. I half jumped half fell out of the tree. My hands grabbed onto the boat sides. The puppy yelped as he tumbled headfirst into it. The water was pulling at me, nearly dragging me under. It was in my eyes and my nose and I couldn’t breathe.
I could hear Jyan, Sally, Nicci, Laurie, and Shawn all yelling. I could feel the boat vibrating as they tried to pull me in. Someone’s hand grabbed mine and I got halfway into the boat.
Everything seemed to be in slow motion. The puppy was huddled under the bench, whimpering. There was blood on his ear. Laurie and Nicci were both yanking on one of my arms. Sally had me around my rib cage and was pulling. Jyan had my other arm. Shawn was trying to keep the boat from capsizing and pull me in at the same time.
My eyes were opened and above water when the tree limb hit me. There was impact, then pain. I held onto the boat for all I was worth.
Then, darkness.
When Vanessa climbed a tree during a flood to save a puppy’s life, she had no idea she’d pay for it. With a broken back, Vanessa might not be able to walk again, must less ride. But then she hears her parents whispering about selling Danzar, and her desperate attempt to walk again ends in disaster. Then the unthinkable happens. Vanessa’s parents send her away to a special rehabiliation school in another state, and behind her back they sell her horse. Will Vanessa ever get Danzar back? Or will a terrible barn fire and Danzar’s mistrust end their partnership forever?
SAVING RAJAK
He raised his head as I came up. “Hello, Rajak,” I said softly. “How’d your day go?” He almost seemed to smile. I leaned over the door to touch him but he jumped back abruptly, startling me. I banged my elbow on the stall door and glanced quickly up the aisle to see if Aunt Tina had heard.
The light in her office was still on, and she didn’t appear. I turned back to Rajak, who looked terrified at the noise. “I’m sorry, Rajak,” I whispered. “C’mere, boy, don’t make me go home without touching you one more time.”
He didn’t move a muscle but his dark eyes were fixed on me. “I’m really, really sorry. C’mon, it wasn’t that loud. I’m not usually this loud and clumsy.” I leaned against the stall and he moved back nervously, pressing himself against the farthest wall. I swallowed back my disappointment.
“Okay, boy. I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early. You’re not mad at me, are you?” I backed away, hoping he’d come forward. But he stayed pressed against the wall stubbornly. Disgusted with myself, I turned and walked back down the hall. He’d learn to trust me, I promised myself. Rajak needed a friend, and I was probably his best hope.
The Friesian-Quarter horse stallion was unlike any other horse Cassidy had ever seen at the horse rescue center. Hurt by the loss of her favorite horse, Cassidy falls in love with the enigmatic Sharajakna. Abused and beaten by his previous owners, Rajak shows all of the mistrust that’s expected. Even after he’s been kindly treated, the dark horse is still suspicious. Or pretends to be. With a big stallion that’s as playful as a pony and can do a character switch better than Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Cassidy doesn’t know if he can be saved.
GABRIELLE’S CHANCE
Chance tossed his head and pawed the ground with his hoof. He was so eager to start that I began to get worried. Since when did he like show jumping? There’d certainly been no promise of a treat afterwards, which was just about the only thing that made him jump. What was going on?
The buzzer went off.
I felt rather than saw that something was wrong. Chance was running, his head down and ‘on the bit’, something he hated. Michaela should have been giving him more freedom.
She gathered him too soon on the first jump but Chance’s jumping curve was so high and so far, he made it anyway.
The second jump was a near disaster. At the last second, Michaela gathered the reins, giving him virtually no room to stretch his neck. Chance jerked his head forward. His back hooves were less than an inch away from the top pole of the jump, a jump he could have cleared by a foot.
Chance’s landing was jerky and I could almost feel the pain that shot up his legs. His hooves were too far beneath him and he stumbled for a minute, trying to get them in the proper place.
“What is she doing?” I heard someone say.
Those were my sentiments exactly. I chewed anxiously on my fingernail as they approached the third jump. Michaela still wasn’t giving him enough freedom.
The takeoff was terrible and Chance landed safely on his feet by the skin of his teeth. His bewilderment was plain. What was his rider doing? I wanted to jump up and scream at Michaela to get her act together.
So far Michaela’s luck was holding up but how much longer could Chance escape injury riding like that?
The fourth jump’s takeoff forced Chance to do a cat leap and his legs nearly buckled when he touched down. Michaela jerked up the reins, getting him back into his canter. Just the sight of it made my own mouth hurt so how much worse could it be for Chance?
Take A Chance & Do It, the irrepressible colt that Gabrielle has trained, ridden, and cared for since his birth, hates showjumping. But to help support their failing farm, he has to do it, even though Gabrielle hates it as much as he does. With the bills piling up, Gabrielle’s father does the worst thing possible: sells half the shares in Chance to a wealthy man who’s trained horses in just about every discipline. So why is Mr. Gordon purposely holding Chance back? Worse, why is he letting such a terrible rider ride him? Then Gabrielle discovers that Mr. Gordon is planning to injure and maybe even kill Chance so his own horse can win the next show. If Cassie can’t to Chance in time, she may never see her horse again.
A SACRED PROMISE
Ghost was majestic. He reminded me of what I’d thought a unicorn would look like. He was tall, probably anywhere between eighteen and twenty hands, with a regal head and smooth, straight conformation. Ghost’s mane was a curtain of snow-white hair that cascaded over his shoulder down to his hocks. His tail was the same length. Even his hooves were white.
Ghost looked first at Minx, then Spurt, and then looked over at me. I was startled by the intensity of his bright, blue eyes and I shrank back. Ghost’s body tensed. I could see every muscle beneath his coat bunching together, tight as a drum. Too late, I realized he was going to charge.
With a haunting, echoing scream, Ghost galloped towards Joey and me.
Rising majestically from a storming ocean under a full moon, the pure white Friesian stallion Ghost is the pride of Warsaw Valley. Angel’s father, a photographer, has been sent there to photograph the elusive horse and he brings Angel with him. There, Angel meets Kevin, who’d like nothing more to capture and subdue Ghost. Drawn to the stallion by the terrible sorrow he seems to carry, Angel can’t let that happen. Unknown to Angel, Ghost carries a secret about a horrific accident that happened a long time ago, and if Angel’s not stopped in time, history will repeat itself.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Amanda, I read your story, the Unicorn Valley, and I voted for you. I like the Unicorn Dare but I LOVE the Unicorn Valley. Good luck on winning!
July 13th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
These are some awesome stories, Gabrielle. I really enjoyed the blurbs you wrote. How many of these books have you written? I think you’re just like me - too many great ideas and not enough time to write them all. Am I right?
July 14th, 2008 at 10:04 am
That’s exactly how I am Angela! I have tons and tons of ideas- but- there aren’t enough hours in a day!
July 14th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
All of them are written except for “Goodbye, Dancer.” I have a million more ideas floating through my head and it’s going to take me a lifetime to write them all!
July 15th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Here are the summaries to my other two stories. (It’s a series so there will be more)
SEC0 AGUA RANCH
The Seco Agua Ranch is about a horse-crazy girl, Sierra Garcia, and her horse, Diablo. They live in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, on the outskirts of the small town of NalGarle. Join horse and rider in the first book of this thrilling series, as Sierra and Diablo experience adventure after adventure.
****************************************
Mystery of the Gold Mines…
Sierra glanced at where she had tethered Diablo. His saddle and bridle still lay where had left them but Diablo was nowhere to be seen. A terrifying fear engulfed Sierra’s being as the events of yesterday came back to her. Someone had tried to steal Diablo, but had failed. Sierra couldn’t help but think that whoever had tried to take Diablo yesterday was having better luck today. “Diablo!” Sierra yelled in a state of panic. “Diablo come back!”
* * *
Thirteen year-old, Sierra Garcia lives with her mother in the small town of NalGarle, on Seco Agua Ranch. Sierra’s father died in a mining accident when Sierra was only five. Now the NalGarle Gold Mines lay abandoned on the Garcia’s property. The mines have been closed for eight years sisnce the government declared it unsafe. However, when strange things start to happen, and Sierra’s beloved Diablo disappears, she is led on a dangerous journey into the old mines. Sierra has so many unanswered questions. Why would anyone want Diablo? Who is the mysterious man claiming to be Sierra’s father? Why does one of Sierra’s horses trusts this man so much? And why is one of the ranch hands always so mysterious? Can Sierra solve the mystery of the gold mines…or will she be the victim of a horrible fate?
*******************************************
Convict on the Loose…
The NalGarle Gold mines are back up and running after the recent discovery of gold. School is out and thirteen year-old Sierra Garcia, and her horse, Diablo, have the entire summer spread before them. Sierra plans on relaxing a bit and going on long, lazy trail rides with her best friend, Catrina. However, Sierra’s plans are soon ruined, when she hears that Judfoe, a psychopathic ex-ranch hand who was convicted on many charges, escaped from his mental institution. The police think he’s miles awayby now but Sierra is sure that he isn’t. In fact, she believes he is creeping around the ranch watching her and plotting revenge. Sierra’s parents start taking things seriously when mining supplies start disappearing, threatening notes appear in mysterious places, large sums of money are stolen, and sabatoge takes place. But the police still won’t take things seriously. Can Sierra figure out what’s going on in time to save her family…and the horses…?
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So what do you guys think?
July 15th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
These sound good too, Amanda! Lots of excitement. Have you written them yet?
July 16th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Great ideas, Amanda. By the way, I love the name Sierra.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
The first one is finished, but I still have to make a few corrections and final touches, and the other one I am still working on.
And I love the name Sierra too! It’s my favorate name along with, Miranda.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Hey, everyone. I haven’t been on in the longest time and I missed you all.
I’m writing a story, thanks to Angela’s instructions. I’m clueless when it comes to writing.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I missed you, Steph! Glad you’re back! And you’re NOT clueless when it comes to writing!!!
July 17th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Thanks Angela!
I’m auditioning for Camp Rock 2 pretty soon. I hope it goes well… 
July 17th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
What’s Camp Rock 2?
July 17th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Camp Rock is the first in the series of Disney Channel movies. They both will have a super popular band called the Jonas Brothers. Camp Rock 2 is going to be filmed in Canada, which is part of the reason why I want a part.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
It sounds great! Good luck, Stephanie!
July 17th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Thanks Angela!
July 18th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Stephenie, do you live in Canada or do you want to go to Canada?
July 18th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I’m considering self-publishing one of my books. I know that’s a huge undertaking and I’m a little nervous. Mostly I’m worried about the illustrations I want to have, especially the cover. Does anyone have any suggestions?
July 19th, 2008 at 10:14 am
It is a huge undertaking, Gabrielle, and very expensive too. Plus, you need to work very hard at selling them if you self publish. Its a very complex business. I’ve considered it a time or two myself, but in the end, decided that I didn’t have enough money and time to do it right.
About finding an illustrator, look through some books at the bookstore. When you find an artist you like, you can write down their name and then look them up on the internet. They’ll probably have some way to contact them there.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I want to visit Canada, because it’s so beautiful.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Thank you
July 19th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I agree, Steph. It is beautiful up here. I love Canada.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:37 am
OH MY GOSH STEPH! CAMP ROCK 2?!!!! How COOL!!! I wish I could audition for movies, everyone says I’m an excellent actor, but I only do plays and such- I’ve never done the real thing. Wow Stephanie, you have to tell us how that goes!
August 13th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I just got to be in my first movie - I am the face of a ghost in a door window in a ten minute movie! I didn’t think I looked that scary, but I guess the producer/writer thought I was perfect for the part (the producer/writer is my daughter, Maria). I can’t wait to see the movie and I hope to be able to put a clip of it on here so you can see it if you’d like.
August 15th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Cool! Can’t wait!