Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Revision Blues
So I've finally finished the rough draft of FoxBook. I am going into the first round of revisions now, which is overwhelming. I know it's necessary, and I know it's probably not as terrible as I seem to think it's going to be. But I also feel like the joy of creation isn't there anymore. There's not that sense of "Oh man, I wonder where this scene will lead me!"
How do I move beyond that? How do I make the task of virtually rewriting at least half this book exciting?
Any advice would be appreciated. In the meantime, it's back tithe slog, I guess.
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Revisions are painful because it's like...
ReplyDeleteYou go from creating something to cutting it apart and making it into some weird, crazy Frankencreature, hoping and praying that when you put it back together, it will still have life, still breathe.
I think I have learned my lesson fully this time around:
-Write the first draft first. Do not DARE revise until the first draft is done.
-There is a difference between tooling and retooling a chapter/scene, and revising. Tooling and retooling = still creating. Revising = careful surgery.
Here is the beauty of revision, though: YOU FINALLY HAVE THE FULL SCOPE OF THE PIECE. Now it's possible to play God, to go back and insert tiny details and add subtle layers that you otherwise couldn't before.
Think of it as, the first draft is the raw material. The revisions will work towards making it the sleek, beautiful beast it is meant to be.
I BELIEVE IN YOU YOU CAN DO THIS THING. We will both get back on track. :D