Editing

[ivyblossom]

So tonight treehavn asks me when I'll be done my manuscript so she can read it, and I say soon, maybe a couple of weeks or so (like I haven't been saying that since December), and she asks me if it's three books or just one.
"Oh it's just one," I say. "I've only written the one."

So I've been working on the same manuscript for the last year and a half, and you know the weird thing about that is that I'm not bored. To be honest I was bored at first. I don't think I loved my story at the beginning the way I love it now. What I've learned is that you don't get to be half-assed about this. You can have bad days, or bad months, or bad edits, but you have to be prepared to go back and fix them. So I think I did a few edits through this thing that didn't even count. I shouldn't even have bothered. Because I wasn't committed to doing it, so it came out half-assed. And what's the point, then?

I'm perfectly happy to keep on editing this manuscript, and as bonibaru says I'm probably editing it to keep myself from having to submit it anywhere. While that may be part of it, mostly I think I can actually see how to make it better, and how can I not do that? How can I submit something that isn't something I'm reasonably proud of?

I say this after having tackled two chapters recently that needed a lot of work; one I completely rewrote from scratch, and the other I am twisting around so much that it fundamentally alters the tone of the story. The first time through I was keeping a lot of the cards to myself, thinking I could throw them out at the reader as exciting bits of the plot later on. Now I'm laying all my cards flat out on the table, and partly I think this may be because I've come to love this story so much.

I used to be in a rush. But not anymore. I have come to love the editing process. Thank you blackholly. Thank you.

Comments

[treehavn.livejournal.com]

I'm going to drug you and steal your laptop. There I will find your manuscript and your het porn collection(!).

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[treehavn.livejournal.com]

she asks me if it's three books or just one

I would like to add that I followed up that question with "so what kind of root is root beer made from?" providing that I am a genius, and possibly distracted at that moment in time.

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[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

Don't let her lie to you ... she's got half of the second book written already, she just is in denial about it.

If we gang up on her, we can make her finish it and then we can read it. Muahahahahaha.

[joyouschild.livejournal.com]

Half the book? *tsch* I've seen the outline. I think she's go the whole thing finished and it's sitting in a box under her bed.

She's only teasing us because she is an evil sadistic wench.

[snooks-ranting.livejournal.com]

I have come to love the editing process.

Snicker. I knew you'd convert!

I'm so very psyched that you're pleased with your new edits.

Big hug and a loud smooch.

[arcly.livejournal.com]

So much love for you and the editing and the whole damn trilogy, and the massive amounts of work you've put into it all. So much love! Keep going. It'll be worth it. <3<3<3

[ordencodex.livejournal.com]

The editing process is a lovely, lovely thing that makes sure things come out well in the end. :D Glad you've learned to love it.

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[humdrumtown.livejournal.com]

grrr your icon...if only it were possible to molest icons that have HP and placebo lyrics.

sorry for the random comment.

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[ordencodex.livejournal.com]

*beams* You like? Thank you!

And it's true. *drools over Placebo*