I am powering through a third revision of LIZZIE AND THE STOLEN BABY for my editor, Ann Rider at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. I love revision. I finish a draft, close the file, and leave it to simmer in the depths of my computer. I wait, work on other stories, and eventually open the file again. When I re-read my story, I begin to see where the story flavors clash, an ingredient is missing, or whether I've added too much spice. So I begin the story again.
It wasn't always that way. In my early writing days, I thought revision meant "tinkering." After all, I'd spent hours putting those words down so they must be good right? I'd fret over the exact combination of words in a sentence without stepping back and looking at the story in totality. I had pretty words, and eloquent phrases, and intriguing ideas - and stories that didn't hold together. It took a while for me to learn the skill of "fierce" revision (as author Pat Schmatz calls it). Beginning again, starting a story from scratch, is daunting. But you know your story and your characters and, unless you hit select and delete, your previous draft is saved somewhere, so go for it.
I'm on a very tight deadline for LIZZIE and am making some BIG changes (removing characters, moving chapters, changing the sequence of events) which makes me nervous, but I trust that Ann has seen things I didn't and that her suggestions are worth exploring. Revision is fun for me - but in this instance, the added challenge of meeting the deadline blocked me and for a while I couldn't make the changed timelines in the story work. Fortunately, I had a secret weapon - my routine morning walks.
I used to be a runner, but now I'm a walker. Every morning, rain, shine or snow (I live in Minnesota after all), I walk outside. The slower pace gives me time to observe, reflect, and think. Ideas spark other ideas. Often, a story problem that seemed insurmountable, is solved on one of my morning walks. If I think I'll forget the solution, or a particularly juicy phrase, I record it on my iPhone as I walk (causing sideways glances from the other walkers). When I get to my desk I'm refreshed and eager to write, instead of fearful and worried.
I have two weeks left to meet my deadline. I'll walk, and think, and rewrite and the work will get done and my story will be stronger. If you're struggling through a revision, try walking (or running). What have you got to lose? If you don't solve your story problems, at least you'll have had some exercise.
It wasn't always that way. In my early writing days, I thought revision meant "tinkering." After all, I'd spent hours putting those words down so they must be good right? I'd fret over the exact combination of words in a sentence without stepping back and looking at the story in totality. I had pretty words, and eloquent phrases, and intriguing ideas - and stories that didn't hold together. It took a while for me to learn the skill of "fierce" revision (as author Pat Schmatz calls it). Beginning again, starting a story from scratch, is daunting. But you know your story and your characters and, unless you hit select and delete, your previous draft is saved somewhere, so go for it.
I'm on a very tight deadline for LIZZIE and am making some BIG changes (removing characters, moving chapters, changing the sequence of events) which makes me nervous, but I trust that Ann has seen things I didn't and that her suggestions are worth exploring. Revision is fun for me - but in this instance, the added challenge of meeting the deadline blocked me and for a while I couldn't make the changed timelines in the story work. Fortunately, I had a secret weapon - my routine morning walks.
I used to be a runner, but now I'm a walker. Every morning, rain, shine or snow (I live in Minnesota after all), I walk outside. The slower pace gives me time to observe, reflect, and think. Ideas spark other ideas. Often, a story problem that seemed insurmountable, is solved on one of my morning walks. If I think I'll forget the solution, or a particularly juicy phrase, I record it on my iPhone as I walk (causing sideways glances from the other walkers). When I get to my desk I'm refreshed and eager to write, instead of fearful and worried.
I have two weeks left to meet my deadline. I'll walk, and think, and rewrite and the work will get done and my story will be stronger. If you're struggling through a revision, try walking (or running). What have you got to lose? If you don't solve your story problems, at least you'll have had some exercise.
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