Most beginning writers hate the writing/word choice type of editing. I do. Because, you know, I don't have a passion for sentence structure or epiphanies about typos.
But you know, the first and second drafts were a great time, and it's all worthless if the prose itself is garbled gobbledygook. It's no fun to read boring stuff. So you need to remember in this dark slog that it will be over soon and the sweet bliss of being finished is on the horizon.
Power through. Pay attention. And most of all, keep focused. It will be over sooner if you concentrate on editing without distractions. I guarantee you, this part will be over. Just work as hard as you can to get the thing perfect.
Dawson
There are empirical elements to good writing that cannot be ignored in either the drafting or editing process.
ReplyDeleteKeep trudging through it, but don't diminish the importance of syntax and word choice because it seems to be a "physical" aspect of writing. Head and heart must co-exist, and in a truly gifted author, neither have to be, or can be summoned independently of the other. But this is talent. One does not have to be talented to be creative, you know.
Agreed--if I thought editing were unimportant I wouldn't do it, thank goodness I know for a fact it's one of the most important parts of writing.
ReplyDeleteHi Dawson,
ReplyDeleteI expect to see a copy of it submitted to Sac Book Review when you are done.
Hey,
ReplyDeleteI sent a copy to Sac Book Review earlier this year...did they ever post a review?
Dawson
Yup. When you send books out for review, its best to include contact information or a press kit about the book, yourself and contact information.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, people might review your book and not have an easy way to let you know, and get stuck having to google you and leave anonymous comments on your blog.
Its also good when writing a book to get someone other than yourself (and who isn't related to you or friends with you) to read, comment on and edit your book. You won't see the mistake 12 times in a row because you wrote it, but an independent editor will.