Once I'm into it, and fully in editorial fixit mode, I'll be fine. Grumpy, but fine. But right now all I can think is "I'm crap, I'm crap, I'm crap."
(mind you, very few of the comments are off-base. I may not agree with them, but I can see the logic. But the frustration level right now is high, and I have not yet chosen the editorial hills I want to die on [and EBear, you should register that phrase before more of us adopt it!]).
For me, I've come to realise that my writing is like a game of pass the parcel. Do you guys know that one? A goody is wrapped in multiple layers of wrapping paper, and it's passed around a circle to music and when the music stops whoever's holding the parcel takes off a layer and at some point, one lucky person gets the goody.
So I love revision because I'm playing pass the parcel with my brain, in that each go through removes another lay of obfuscation and uncertainty, and gives me more clarity to see to the goody inside the layers of dross.
Of course, there are times when I despair that it takes me so long to get through all the layers. Seems I'm very good at hiding the point from myself! But it's the process of discovery that keeps me engaged and interested in the project.
Yes, when the blindingly obvious mis-steps are pointed out to me by someone else I too feel like I'm crap ... but I'm not, and neither are you!
In many ways, the true hell of writing for me is getting the first draft done. After that it's fun.
So I love revision because I'm playing pass the parcel with my brain, in that each go through removes another lay of obfuscation and uncertainty, and gives me more clarity to see to the goody inside the layers of dross.
Yeah, an excellent way of describing it. I actually enjoy the process of fixing -- I'm just cranky at seeing so clearly where I didn't get it right in the first place. But then I remind myself that I trust my editor for a reason, because she will not spare me my own mistakes, but points them out in gentle tones and won't let me go play until I fix them.
I don't always agree with my various editors, but when I trust them, the book is always better for it. Of course, they do have to earn tht trust, first. Four editors to-date, novel-wise, and I'm averaging a pretty good ratio...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-11-12 04:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-12 01:33 pm (UTC)Once I'm into it, and fully in editorial fixit mode, I'll be fine. Grumpy, but fine. But right now all I can think is "I'm crap, I'm crap, I'm crap."
(mind you, very few of the comments are off-base. I may not agree with them, but I can see the logic. But the frustration level right now is high, and I have not yet chosen the editorial hills I want to die on [and EBear, you should register that phrase before more of us adopt it!]).
no subject
Date: 2005-11-12 01:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-12 09:15 pm (UTC)So I love revision because I'm playing pass the parcel with my brain, in that each go through removes another lay of obfuscation and uncertainty, and gives me more clarity to see to the goody inside the layers of dross.
Of course, there are times when I despair that it takes me so long to get through all the layers. Seems I'm very good at hiding the point from myself! But it's the process of discovery that keeps me engaged and interested in the project.
Yes, when the blindingly obvious mis-steps are pointed out to me by someone else I too feel like I'm crap ... but I'm not, and neither are you!
In many ways, the true hell of writing for me is getting the first draft done. After that it's fun.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-12 09:48 pm (UTC)Yeah, an excellent way of describing it. I actually enjoy the process of fixing -- I'm just cranky at seeing so clearly where I didn't get it right in the first place. But then I remind myself that I trust my editor for a reason, because she will not spare me my own mistakes, but points them out in gentle tones and won't let me go play until I fix them.
I don't always agree with my various editors, but when I trust them, the book is always better for it. Of course, they do have to earn tht trust, first. Four editors to-date, novel-wise, and I'm averaging a pretty good ratio...
no subject
Date: 2005-11-12 03:40 pm (UTC)