"Surprise!"
Last March, I wrote a Demon Baby column about acting surprised. It is a skill Ninja Mothers must have. Along with eyes on the back of my head.
But now, I am convinced it is a skill writers must possess.
Yesterday afternoon, at the end of a completely and utterly horrid day, I got my edits on Magickeepers II. Unlike my last editor, who would draft a fairly lengthy overarching letter, this editor puts it all in the comments section of Track Changes. I am about to start my fourth draft, but this one with these extensive comments.
Yesterday, I opened the document. I can't say it was a horror show. In fact, each comment had merit, and I would say most of them were smaller fixes (except, yet again, my lasy chapter, which needs to be flashier). I had hopefully repaired some of the issues with the book on Draft #3.
But I quickly closed the file. Because opening a file like that isn't for a Day from Hell. It's for a day when there's a bit of peace and quiet, when you can actually breathe, when you can "be" with the edits (my Buddhist approach, for blog regulars).
And then . . . from someplace, you must muster this enthusiasm. "Surprise!" You have never seen these characters before. You are stunned and awed by every plot turn. Really? No. But I think an important quality for writers is that ability to call up a fresh eye and fresh enthusiasm for a project.
I can't quantify, over the years, the times I have met writers who say, "I just can't go over the thing again." And sometimes, that's purely a function of how many times they HAVE gone over it. But sometimes--and again, too many times to quantify--they "know" there are still some "minor" issues but they just can't face diving in again.
There is something to this business about the ability to, indeed, go back in. I don't know, in Olympic-level sports, how a skater, for example, can skate the same program for a year, or two, and when the spotlight flashes on them, manage to dig out the smile and think, "This is it" and then nail the routine.
So, not today . . . but tomorrow, I am planning on doing just that. On re-reading my words for the thousandth time and acting surprised. I plan on being delighted by each edit, and fixing, with enthusiasm, those little broken places.
I'm not sure how I can call that up. But I do. And it's a skill, just like all the rest of writing.
Thoughts?
20 comments:
It's a skill I had to learn as a drummer in nightclub bands, playing the same songs five nights a week. You have to muster some enthusiasm and make it seem fresh. Same with the 4th (or 10th!) draft of a manuscript.
I think, as an unpublished author, there's a lot to consider before submitting queries, etc. The other side of the fence is something that, at times, holds me back.
Does being ready for the "greener grass" come naturally, or am I the only one who shudders over the thought of an editor's comments?
Jude:
Exactly. It's hard. I think recognizing that some days may not be the best ones to even attempt it helps . . . .
E
Kath:
True story . . . my first book, I think I had about five edits. Not kidding. My editor just loved it as is.
The first time I got a BIG revision letter, I wanted to vomit. And I couldn't understand how even the STRUCTURE could change.
Now, I roll with it. Not always easy, but I understand that my editor is trained to find my blind spots.
E
I think that it is great that you agree with most of the comments. I imagine it would be even harder to wrestle with edits that you didn't agree with.
Has an editor ever asked you to change things in a way that you couldn't stomach?
Heather:
No. But I had one (who has since quit the biz) who was so imperious and would ask for these stupid, petty changes--then change her mind--then change it back--then change her mind again. Rumor was she had a drug habit, which frankly wouldn't have surprised me. But in the end, I figured she was so wacky whether I changed it or not, she wouldn't notice. So I did my own thing.
E
I recently had to reread my first book for a full request. I (almost) was annoyed at the request because I knew I had to dive in and see it all again, face the flaws within. Fortunately, 6 years later from the first draft, it pretty well says what I want to say how I want to say it.
There's a certain relief in recognizing that. I don't think of it as "the best I can do"--too judgmental-- but that I told the story as close to the way I wanted as I was able.
But I think I first learned real revision at the hands of short story editors (of which I am one) and my critique group, some of whom are also editors. You get four copies of a chapter with four versions of what's wrong with it for four years and the idea of a revision letter doesn't scare me any more.
It probably should, though. :)
Starbucks:
I definitely should have mentioned that. Yes, "everything I needed to know about revising my work I learned from my critique group."
LOL!
E
Yep, this is somethuing I'm still learning and will probably be learning for the next oh, decade or so.
teenage angst may be the issue here, but I also think it's just the act of getting used to the concept of, "I'm going to read and write this until it feels right and looks right and is right...or close to as I can get", that's been a hard thing for me to swallow. I dispell so much heart and energy for months, and then I have to do it all over again? Not fair? Possibly. But tuff kitten paws, that's part of the process.
Hopefully I can learn to love the rereading and revision steps as much as I do the writing and brain storming.
I think it IS a skill, and an acquired one. It takes practice and I think it really does involve taking an deep breath and putting your brain into a certain "space" that can try and see the work with fresh eyes. And I absolutely agree that on some days you just don't have the mindset or energy for it.
JT:
I spit out my coffee. "Tuff kitten paws." LOL!!!!
E
Mark:
It's something I've learned to do over time. Maybe it takes a "separateness" from the work. When you start out writing, I think you are so INVESTED in your work. A lot of writers, for instance, start out in their teen years with journals, and then short stories with very vested parts of themselves in them. Over time, you learn to both own your writing and to be separate from it, I think.
E
Oh yeah. I'm with Jude. It's a skill I learned playing the piano. With reading, it's harder. I kick and scream and procrastinate for at least an hour. Often it needs coffee. But then, finally, I slip into the story and read it all again.
It's probably the hardest part of the job for me. It is rather surprising that I get into it and it works. But when I'm done, the thought of reading it again still makes me nauseous. That sets in about halfway through writing it, LOL, because I have a bad memory, and I have to re-read from the beginning nearly three or four times a week, starting at about 5K words and all the way to the end.
When you're editing for the 4th time do you ever re-create something? As in decide that some scene doesn't sound just right and then completely re-write it or is that a big no since the editors have all been through the manuscript and don't want anything "new" thrown in.
Doing the same thing over and over again is always tough, but if I wonder if knowing you're so close makes the difference.
I mean knowing that this is hopefully the last time you have to go over it. Kinda like the last mile in a marathon. The last bit is so tough and grueling but when you can see the finish line, you get a small surge of energy.
Good luck tomorrow with the edits! I know you'll do great!
FWIW, your "horror show" comment made me laugh out loud.
I hope today's a better day to be with these thoughts from your editor. I really like the Buddhist approach in life. It's grounding.
{hugs}
:-)
Natasha:
I used to hate the rewrite/edit stage. Now, I honestly love it. It's somehow reapproaching it . . . seeing if I can improve it. Love it.
E
Richmond:
I always save the old version "just in case." And I have cut whole scenes and chapters and added new ones and I don't recall editors ever being upset--because then, they too are going to see it "fresh." So I guess all around it's trying new apporaches and a fresh eye.
E
Nadine:
I do think knowing I'm close gives it an air of excitement. :-)
E
Chris:
Well, avoiding horror shows in editing is a plus. LOL!
E
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