After 18 hours of editing since Saturday, I am so ready for a WIP update. Last night, I spent four hours removing or replacing three words (in general, not JUST three words): Look, head, and get. Let me tell you, it feels good after you're finished with that type of editing. In the middle, however, you start to wonder just how good an author you are if you keep using the same five words over and over. And then you worry about your sanity.
But good news, author-friends! I have reached the light at the end of the tunnel. Only a few little tweaks and an out loud reading stand between me and my test audience (aka my brilliant friends who agreed to read my work).
It's an exciting time. And a scary one. Before others read a WIP, it's secret, it's private, and it's personal. Then someone reads it. And even though I worry about this before someone reads it, my worries grow. Is it funny where I think it's funny? Does it hold together? Will people read it because it draws them in, or are they reading it because they are my friend?
But this novel, I'm taking a pill. A chill pill. I live my life in an almost constant state of self-consciousness. Not with this novel. I wrote it because I wanted to. I like it, and that's what matters most right now. I've never been so happy that I followed my gut.
So, here's to everyone's WIP! May your novels shine and may you be proud of what you've written.
I feel ya, sistah. Last night I spent several hours with another writing friend-- chopping and rearranging. Tried to balance my use of adverbs and 'ing' verbs to 'ed' verbs. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteBut I love my novel too. I have a lot of faith in it and it's a story that felt good to write.
It's all worth it--right? (;
http://jostorm.blogspot.com/
Oooh adverbs. I need to look for those as well. The list of things to do during revision seems to never end :)
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