Revisions

[derrickchapman]

Aside fromchanges you made to subsequent editions of Glorianna, how much revision should an author make to his work after the first edition is published? I know typos and minor gaffes need correction, but at what point do you (authors) cut the cord and leave it alone? I can't help feeling that I'd rather read an entirely new work from you than a re-write of previous work.

I ask humbly as a completely unpublished author.

[Michael Moorcock]

Gloriana's a case in point, because I was worried about it containing an implicit message that rape could be positive. Of course, I didn't believe that, but I could see how the book could be used to justify rape, especially as I also heard from a reader on the old site that she was raped by someone identifying with Elric! I can't control how bad people use my books, of course, but I can do my best to make sure that bad people don't do bad things justified through my books. This has always been a problem for me. I rewrote The Steel Tsar because I knew the end was hasty and not properly done, because at the time I wrote it my domestic circumstances were pretty hairy and it was hard to concentrate on the book. Generally, however, I don't do much rewriting, nor do I think it's a good idea. Minor revisions are usually done for consistency of plot or consistency between series, usually when they're pointed out to me by a reader.