Word Choice

[eluper]

I am deep in the middle of a major revision of my fifth novel (no, I’m not going to tell you what it’s about... sorry). For this pass, I made the mistake of printing out this 70,000-word monster. There are so many edits and additions that keying in changes has become a monumental task.

But everything happens for a reason, doesn’t it?

In this case,

Comments

[wordsrmylife]

Well said. I completely agree! I was talking about this with my copyediting class this very day. Namely, we were talking about sloppy copy-zero draft-rough draft, and how it simply is giving us material to work with. I find it so much more freeing to think of the rough draft that way, and then to use revision as the process of bringing shape, form, and style to that rough material.

Sounds like your project continues to go swimingly. Exciting, that.

[eluper]

I love that idea in theory and I have been struggling with it for many years. However, I have the tendency to revise as I go as well. It's a painstaking process for me, but I'm not an outliner. Revising as I go helps me process my thoughts and figure out what will happen next.

[lizamartz]

At one point in my life I got into reading the heavy duty classics. "Look Homeward Angel" by Thomas Wolf was a book I read a twice. First for the story, second to marvel at Wolf's ability to make each sentence read like a line of poetry.

You do the same thing, Eric - in a much more entertaining manner - which is one of the many reasons your work shines. Keep working your magic!

[elisabethx]

I have SUCH terrible memories of running The Big Apple (from the blacktop, down the length of the entire field to the track, around the track, up the opposite side of the field, back to the starting point) in junior high that your metaphor sent just a smidge of a shiver down my spine. But I have to admit--it's apt!! Head for that Gatorade, Eric!

[eluper]

Will do, E! I'm taking a few days off and then it's back in for another round of revisions.

[ext_467212]

I like this blog so much, mainly because this week I realized I'm finally at the point where I can think of a first draft as Just a Beginning, Nothing More. What a relief. Wrote a first draft for one project, and had such a good time I wrote another one, for the next project. Yes, they'll need work, but that's fine. The ideas are saved on something more than little scraps of paper all piled up, and that counts for something.

[eluper]

Save those scraps of paper, Pat. And keep telling yourself they will be worth tons of money someday, that a bunch of people will someday be discussing how valuable those scraps are on a future episode of Antiques Roadshow. Whatever keeps you in the saddle and motivated!