So, here's my latest conundrum. What do you do when you're writing along at a good pace -- the story's flowing from your brain down your arms and out of your fingertips to the keyboard at just the right pace so that you can keep up -- but you know you've got things that you've got to go back and correct or enhance in some way?
I feel like I've got to get the story out of my head and on to the page (or saved in my computer), so that I don't lose track of the path that I'm on. But at the same time, I worry that I'm making so many mistakes or creating so many holes or inconsistencies as I go that it's going to be a fiasco to edit it after I get to the end of the story.
It's just another one of those writing conundrums that makes it hard for me to focus on things like work, especially when I'm on deadline for an article that's due and it's not the best time for my mind to wander.
Here's another dilemma. Until today, it had been a while since I worked on my first book -- the finished one. Today, for the first time in a couple of weeks, I opened the document and read a chapter, but I'm still only about four-sevenths of the way through editing it (precise enough for you?). I got to a point where I was just kind of sick of it. I needed a break from Marc and Emily for a while.
I think what I need to do, when I finally get to the end, is have someone else read it. So far, only one other person besides me has read it. I need more outside input. But who will be my next victim? Who would be willing to read it? Whose opinion do I respect enough that I won't be offended by their criticism, because I know they mean well? Another conundrum.
Mandy--Nice blog! Re your problem--I totally understand. You have to go with the flow to get those ideas down. That is something you can't ignore. But, if you're like me, you're obsessively editing at the same time, which may cause a problem if you lose an idea. Try highlighting areas you know you want to revisit. Keep a pad of paper beside you and write down page numbers and key words that will jog your memory for those rewrites. But, have faith that as a professional writer, your editing expertise will kick in and you'll recognize if something needs work any time you read it.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm unavailable right now (too many irons in the fire), you can find trustworthy Beta readers on absolutewrite.com, but you have to plan on beta-ing yourself in return.
Yeah, I'm at the point with my first book where more eyes besides mine and my friend Jenn need to look at it. Once I get through with this last edit, I'm going to workshop it somehow. I'll try absolutewrite.com.
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