Edit. Procrastinate. Edit. part 1

On By MiriahIn Writing Path1 Comment
photo of my cat, Snowflake - the ultimate procrastination role model
Snowflake has procrastination down to a fine art.

If there’s one thing that  drives me to procrastinate, it’s editing. It can even drive me to write another blog entry. Oh yes, I really should be editing that last piece, but first I’ll need a cup of coffee, then I’ll just start a load of washing, and I’d better check my email… You get the idea.

When I first started writing, I thought editing was about correcting spelling and grammar errors.  But no, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. A very small tip, one that will fit in my cup of iced coffee.

Writing the story is the fun part. Some writers, including me, talk about turning off our “internal editor”. For me, (I won’t try to speak for other writers) that’s the part of my brain that wants to make every sentence perfect the first time I write it. One skill I got out of completing NaNoWriMo was learning to turn down the inner editor’s voice. She’s allowed to add notes (“need better verb”, “more description”) but otherwise I know that if I let her interfere, I’ll get bogged down in one sentence and I won’t finish the story.

I love that feeling I get after finishing a first draft. I just want to submit it right away. But now I know better. I send it to my first reader, who happens to be my mother. I recommend recruiting a first reader, someone to read that first draft. Preferably this would be someone who loves you unconditionally (just in case the story is complete cr*p), who will agree with how absolutely wonderful you think it is. Once your ego is soothed, put that story aside for at least a few days.

Why not start editing that first draft right away? Because at this point I’m in love with that story. It’s my baby. I don’t have the perspective I need to see its flaws from the point of view of an editor, or even a savvy reader. I have a couple stories that I think – from my admittedly biased point of view – would have been good candidates for particular markets. But I blew it because I submitted them before they were ready.

(To be continued)

Just Keep Writing

On By MiriahIn Writing Path6 Comments
flower drawn by Miriah's daughter
flower drawn by Miriah’s daughter

My intention is to write a series of posts about what it’s like to be a beginning writer, aspiring to “author-hood” and trying to get that first story published. Eventually I hope it becomes a series of posts about getting that second and third story published, but now I’m getting ahead of myself.

One thing I’ve found is that it is far too easy to get distracted or intimidated by the white screen of a new Word document, or a blank page… or a new blog sitting there for over a week without an initial entry. Waiting for inspiration or for an end to “writers block” is just another form of procrastination (in my opinion). I feel it’s important to just keep writing.

I try to write something every day. It may be pure cr*p, or it may be brilliant (at least from my point of view), but I keep writing. Because when I take time to write I am informing my brain that this is important to me. This is the part where we are having fun.

I’ve been reading a book, “Creating Short Fiction” by Damon Knight. It was recommended to me by a new friend: Christy, pen name Folly Blaine. It’s a quick read, but also I find myself going back to re-read a passage and just sit and think about it. In particular, the section on engaging and collaborating with one’s creative unconscious self was meaningful to me. Mr. Knight even named the creative part of his brain (I haven’t tried this yet). So I’m making a greater effort to nurture my creative self.

For instance, if I have an idea rumbling around in my head, I write it down. That tells my creative brain the idea is important, and clears my analytical brain to move on and think about something else. I also pay attention to when my right brain is active and ready to work. Personally, I’ve found that mid-morning and late at night are the times when my unconscious mind is the most productive. If at all possible I write in the mornings, and sometimes I get up in the middle of the night to write.  (Now I know why I often have trouble sleeping.)

I celebrate the tiny accomplishments. I finished a story, yay! I submitted a story, yay! My Dream Catcher story was “passed on to the next round of consideration” (this news came a week ago) Yipee!!!

And now I’ve posted my first blog entry. Yes!

Just keep writing!

Miriah