Compulsive, Convulsive, Psychotic Rewriting

[bosstweed]

Last week I read a great little article by T.M. Wright about rewriting. In it he discusses his own compulsion to rewrite stories (and other pieces), arguing it springs from a desire to perfect the imperfectible. He has some interesting things to say about a topic that usually seems to come down to Glorious First Drafts versus Gloriously

Comments

[trailofstars]

I haven't had a chance to read the article yet (I'm at work), but I think the question of how much rewriting is too much is one of those that every writer struggles with. In my teens, I went through phases of intense re-writing, followed by phases of never re-writing. Now I think I've struck a balance, but it's a tough question with my novel, because I find myself wanting to re-write it too much, and losing the energy that made it work in the first place (and slowing myself down). It's a learning experience, that's for sure.

[bosstweed]

Yeah, loss of energy is a big concern for me. I've currently shelved any and all "new" writing in favor of completing the two stories I have in various stages of drafting. I both want to keep the energy, insofar as I can still access it, and to be able to finish what I start, new work-wise. Lately I've had too many starts that died because I had to put them on hold for X or Y for a few days... that turned into a week...