So many bloggers have waxed eloquent about the joys of the revision process that I spent some time last night figuring out why I hate it so much.
I don’t hate sitting down first thing in the morning with a cup of tea, a pen, and the chapter I typed up the day before. I don’t consider those revisions. At that stage it’s just a matter of smoothing out language, moving things around a bit, taking a first look at the rough product of my previous day’s creation and making it prettier. That can be pleasant.
What I hate are those crucial, end-of-the-book kind of revisions. At that stage, the pressure is on. It’s time to fill in all the blanks I skipped (frequently I literally type BLANK), figure out some way to finish those scenes I left hanging, find just the right words for those expressions of emotions that wouldn’t quite gel before. It’s time to plug those plot holes I didn’t see, provide a motivation I’ve suddenly realized is lacking or at least weak. Everything I’ve put off dealing with either because it required me to invest days of research finding some niggling little fact, or because figuring out how to make it work was just too hard, must now be dealt with. The time for putting off is past. Worse, at this point I’m usually under a gun with my deadline barreling down on me. And with it comes the inevitable fear: What if I can’t pull it off? What if I can’t make this book work? What if I’m just not good enough? It’s a hideously stressful time. I don’t sleep well, and it goes on for weeks.
I really, really wish I enjoyed revisions. But I don’t think I ever will. Now I understand why.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
59 comments:
I had some of those kinds of issues with "Cold in the Light" because it was a pretty complicated book, but not so much with the Taleran novels. I remember that I didn't enjoy those problems either so I sense where you are coming from. When I say I like revisions I usually mean the "make it pretty" kind.
My first drafts lookl like that too. And I'm just about as happy about fixing them up...
Another "me, too". Like you, I try to do the revision as I go, checking over the previous day's work and tweaking rather than rewriting.
I've recently being doing the kind of revision I least like -- taking bits out at the publisher's request, not because they're gratuitous, but mainly because he has a fear of what librarians might object to -- "regardless of whether or not anybody has complained we are issuing books for the public library market and I am sure the average librarian is well aware of the fact there is nothing to stop children borrowing these books."
Aaargh!! The publisher has already taken similar material from myself and other writers and it's out there on the library shelves. It's saddening that the responsibility should be regarded as the publisher's/author's if parents allow their children to borrow adult books from libraries.
It also makes for revision work of a kind I just DON'T LIKE.
Do you think it might have more to do with the time constraints than the actual revisions themselves????
Thanks to author.
Hello all!
Thanks to author.
actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.
Magnific!
Please write anything else!
A flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries.
A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.
I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it.
actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.
Build a watch in 179 easy steps - by C. Forsberg.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
When there's a will, I want to be in it.
All generalizations are false, including this one.
Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
Good job!
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
Clap on! , Clap off! clap@#&$NO CARRIER
What is a free gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
A flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries.
Ever notice how fast Windows runs? Neither did I.
What is a free gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
Clap on! , Clap off! clap@#&$NO CARRIER
Ever notice how fast Windows runs? Neither did I.
Ever notice how fast Windows runs? Neither did I.
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
Build a watch in 179 easy steps - by C. Forsberg.
Build a watch in 179 easy steps - by C. Forsberg.
Save the whales, collect the whole set
Beam me aboard, Scotty..... Sure. Will a 2x10 do?
A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.
Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!
Save the whales, collect the whole set
The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
Ever notice how fast Windows runs? Neither did I.
Energizer Bunny Arrested! Charged with battery.
Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
Calvin, we will not have an anatomically correct snowman!
Beam me aboard, Scotty..... Sure. Will a 2x10 do?
When there's a will, I want to be in it.
Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
Beam me aboard, Scotty..... Sure. Will a 2x10 do?
Hello all!
C++ should have been called B
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
Thanks to author.
nike air max 90
ralph lauren uk
canada goose jackets
bottega veneta
prada outlet
mlb jerseys
fitflops sale
coach factory outlet
michael kors handbags outlet
oakley sunglasses
zzzzz2018.5.2
100% safe with us We Offer all types of Finance loans for immediate respond application
We provide personal loans Business Loans for debt consolidation, bad credit loans, unsecured loans, loans for bad credit and instant secured loans with cheap rates Do you have a firm or company that need loan to start up a business or need, personal loan, Debt consolidation? We will
provide you with loan to meet your needs.
Note: We offer the following loans to individuals-
*Commercial Loans.
*Personal Loans.
*Business Loans.
*Investments Loans.
*Development Loans.
*Acquisition Loans .
*Construction loans.
*Business Loans And many More:
and many more at 2% interest rate. For more information contact us. Email: email: abdullahibrahimlender@gmail.com
whatspp Number +918929490461
Mr Abdullah Ibrahim
Post a Comment