The Easy Part of Writing...
Today is my dad’s birthday.
Today I have a finished novel ready for its final read
through. My dad always liked this part
and it stings not to get to share it with him. One of the greatest compliments
I ever got was when my dad read my first masterpiece
and called me and asked, “I’ve always wondered…where do you come up with this stuff?”
That’s the easy part, I answered. The hard part is the
polish. And the dreaded query.
“You’ll get that." He said it like it was a done deal. "You’re really overlooking just how hard it
is for some people to create. I mean I come up with what I think are great
story ideas, but to try and put them down on paper in a sensible, interesting
way is… for me at least… impossible. You
should be proud of that.”
My dad wasn’t one to hand out compliments like candy, so
when he added, “I have always held the highest respect for writers. You guys
build worlds from nothing but an idea and that just amazes me.”
Publication can't feel half as good. With pride I
explained to him my process and he listened, really listened like I was some
sort of pro.
I told him I get an idea then I think... what if this…then what
if that…then like a sentence with just a subject and a verb…I add the other
parts… the interesting parts...and for me, this is the best part…I let the protagonist grow naturally in a sort of love fest where I allow myself to go anywhere I want to go. I usually end up
with a structurally unfit and horribly written rough draft.
Then I set it aside
and edit something else.
Then when I barely
remember what I vomited during the first round, I go back through with my logic
cap on. Usually half the words get the chop. A plot line is drawn. Then, like a
puzzle with just its outside edges, I fit the smaller
pieces…the foreshadowing, the red herrings, the subplots, and
the setting.
Then it goes to the beta readers. I choose only the really
kind and supportive sort of readers because harsh criticism at the stage really
stinks. Then they come back with what
they read…someone in chapter 2 disappeared…her hair went from red to gold…they really liked so and so, give them a bigger part…and so on. I take their notes
and their feedback and go back to the drawing board.
Then out it goes to
my writer friends who kindly do the line edits. What I thought was done comes
back with oodles of highlights like an unfortunate kid with yellow measles.
Rewrite again. Let it set till it’s cold again, then reread and rewrite. Send it out to agents and editors and when I'm lucky, get some feedback...then do more rewrites.
Still no bites? Get fed up, scrap old project, write something new and the process starts all over.
It’s that simple.
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