Peggy Arthur

By Peggy Arthur

Greetings readers, writers, and everyone in between!

There’s a quiet truth about writing that doesn’t get talked about enough: sometimes the real work begins after the words are already on the page.

Right now, I’m deep in a heavy rewrite. Specifically, the chapter after the prologue. Otherwise known as Chapter 2. A chapter I’ve written more times than I can count. A chapter that, if I’m being honest, I didn’t want to touch again.

And for a while… I didn’t.

I procrastinated longer than I probably “should” have. But here’s the thing. I’m not beating myself up about it. I don’t see that time as wasted anymore. I see it as necessary. I needed distance. I needed rest. I needed to come back to the work with the kind of energy and intention it actually deserves.

And now? That’s exactly what I’m doing.

Before I go further, let me define what I mean by a heavy rewrite. Let’s be real, not all edits are created equal.

A heavy rewrite isn’t just line edits or tightening prose. It’s structural. It’s foundational. It often means reworking entire scenes, shifting character motivations, rewriting dialogue, adjusting pacing, and sometimes rebuilding the emotional core of a chapter from the ground up. In some cases, it can mean keeping only 20–40% of the original material and reimagining the rest. That’s a lot reimagining y’all.

This level of reshaping is especially common in fantasy. 

Fantasy authors, in particular, tend to go through deeper and more layered revision cycles than many other genres. Between world-building, magic systems, lore, and character arcs, there are simply more moving parts to align. It’s not unusual for fantasy writers to:

– Rewrite early chapters 3–5 times before the story fully “locks in”

– Spend 60–70% of their total writing time in revision rather than drafting

– Rework opening chapters the most, since they carry the burden of introducing the world, tone, and stakes all at once

And that’s exactly where I am. On the path of refining not just what happens, but how it feels, how it flows, and how it sets up everything that follows.

This rewrite feels different. I’m not rushing to just get through the chapter. I’m taking my time. I’m sitting with it. I’m asking more of it and more of myself. I’m pushing for depth, for clarity, for emotional truth. I’m allowing the story to unfold the way it needs to, not the way I initially forced it to.

More than anything, I’m trying to fall in love with each chapter as I write it.

Because I believe that if I truly love what I’m creating. I’m fully invested, fully present knowing that the vibration of love will transfer to the reader. They’ll feel it in the pacing, in the tension, in the characters. They’ll know this story was cared for. 

That doesn’t mean it’s easy.

I’ve spent countless hours on this chapter. Writing. Rewriting. Reading supporting materials. Digging deeper to fully unpack what this part of the story needs to do. There have been moments of anxiety, doubt, and real hesitation. Moments where I questioned if I was overworking it. Or worse, if I still wasn’t getting it right.

But I kept going.

I also had the opportunity to speak with my editor this past Friday, and I genuinely enjoyed that one-on-one time—flushing out my thoughts, ideas, and the questions that always seem to surface in the middle of the process. That conversation gave me a renewed sense of confidence in the framework I’m building and how to move forward.

What stood out most is that her suggestions closely aligned with what I was already doing. I’ve been reading through the resources she provided, then returning to the manuscript to implement what I can, continuing to write, and then circling back to another resource. Layering insight as I go. Hearing her affirm that approach mattered. It reminded me that I’m not as far off as I sometimes think.

She also introduced (or rather reinforced) a layered approach to revision. Something I’m actively using now. Instead of trying to perfect everything at once, I’m allowing the chapter to evolve in passes: structure, then depth, then emotional resonance, and so on. It feels more sustainable. More intentional.

I’ll report back on how that process unfolds in my next blog post.

And that, more than anything, is what I’m proud of.

Not perfection. Not speed. Not even the finished chapter (though I’m close). I’m proud that I continued to show up for the work. Even when it felt heavy. Even when I wasn’t sure. Even when I had every reason to step away again.

This is what the middle of the creative journey looks like. It’s not always inspired or pretty. Sometimes it’s slow, repetitive, and deeply internal. But it’s also where growth happens. Where the story sharpens. Where you, as a creator, evolve.

🌿 Join the Conversation

So I’m curious—

Have you ever found yourself here before?

Stuck between drafts, wrestling with the same piece of work, unsure how to move forward?

What helped you push through?

I’d love to hear from you.

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