It’s that time again! Yes, revision season has hit my little writing world yet again. Wait, you say, you just finished doing revisions. Yes, but those were my revisions. Now I’m working on my Berkley Prime Crime editor’s revisions for my Memphis Barbeque book.
And there’s a little phenomenon I’ve noticed during the several books I’ve worked on an editor with. I’ll share it with you:
I open the email attachment. I must be alone for this process. The reason is that…
I start cussing. Loudly. %##!!!! What was I thinking!? I did this, too? *&^!!! Look—I did it again, here! ()^%$. (Yes, Generation Xers are fluent in the lost art of the expletive.)
I question myself. What was I doing when I read this section over? Was I revising, then I had to kiss someone’s boo-boo, then I just accidentally skipped this part? Did the oven timer go off at an inopportune moment? Did I suffer a mild stroke?
The requested global revisions give me brain freeze. What? I need to add what? I need to fix what recurring reference ? Uhhhhhh…..
Panic sets in. I run off some excess energy by scrubbing various parts of my house for twenty minutes.
Then the tide turns….
Relief. Oh wait. Most of these revisions are dialogue tags (added, since I so dislike them that I try not to use them.) Or they’re minor word substitutions. Or they’re formatting issues.
Common sense. The global revisions? They completely make sense. And…I have a great idea how to work them in!
I get some paper.
Planning. If I do this, then the text will be really smooth. Let me look through the manuscript and see where I can work this idea in. Oh look–the perfect place to fit it in!
Communication. I email my editor back (and she’s really not expecting to hear from me until Tuesday.) Hey, I got this idea about this problem! What do you think about this….?
I turn into a six-year old again. Okay, this is my idea: we could pretend that this happens. Then this happens. Or, if you’d like, we could pretend that this happens, instead! What do you want to pretend?
I start to work right away.
Rinse and repeat. :)
I just went through the first revisions of my next book. It’s especially tough when it’s a reissue, because it’s a case of a different opinion, right? I mean, the book was published. It was edited. It got good reviews. How can it need fixing?
And then after the requisite stomping and chocolate, I go back and see that most of the comments make sense, even if it does mean ripping out two or three entire chapters, rewriting them, and trying to work in the few critical points that were lost in the discarded chapter.
(As a matter of fact, I vented about this on my blog the other day. Must be one of those blogosphere synchronicity things.)
The revision process can be so stressful, although it’s worth it. I always have to distance myself from my work when I revise, because my characters and the story are really a part of me. Thanks for laying it all out :).
Me, too. Have you eavesdropped at my desk? Especially the panic part. And the turning into a six-year old again.
Whenever I get critical (in a critique sort of way) comments, I make it a point of not responding until I’ve had some time to think about it. A little time and distance makes things seem brighter.
Also, I make it a point of never kissing boo-boos when I’m writing. I tell my kids to either deal with it, or call 911.
LOL – I was SO there with you reading this post. We ALL go through it, dear – relax. (wink)
The Old Silly
I cheerfully admit that when I open that email attachment from my editor my first words are not pretty. Generally within 10 minutes I’m having quite a forceful conversation with the computer. But as I take a breath I usually realize that her comments make sense. Curses.
Elspeth
You are good, girl. I go through the same process. “What? You want what? No way….Well, maybe. Okay, I can see that….” It just takes me longer than 20 minutes to do a turnaround. And when I do see the light, my house is still dirty.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Oh, this is fun – when it is someone else´s work that is being criticized.
I have been quite touchy, and even though I think I have improved lately, I also need some time before I can see that other people´s critical remarks may be helpful.
Terry–Chocolate always helps! :) I like the term ‘blogosphere synchronicity.’ It’s funny when we all end up on the same page sometimes.
Marvin–A universal writer experience!
Margot–The distance isn’t too hard for me…but the irritation with myself is really hard to overcome.
Helen–It’s amazing what 20 minutes of frenzied scrubbing can accomplish!
Carol–Oh good! You too? Good to know I’m not alone.
Alan–You are a man with a great deal of sense!
I think my boo-boo kissing days are starting to draw to a close. My 8 year old spurned me the other day. Wonder if I’ll end up missing it? –Nah! :)
I’m not at the stage where I have an editor yet, but I think my reactions will echo yours! I’ve revised my novel many, many times. But I know if it is to be published, I will probably need to do a few more. Thanks for sharing :)
Okay. So I’m looking at a chapter I really, really love and realize it’s just not advancing the story line. Sob. wail. weep. moan.
Can I relate? Boy howdy.
Oh my. I can’t tell you how many times I rewrote my first. Too many…in fact I’m now so sick of the manuscript that as yet I have not applied agent suggestions, but I do have some great ideas…. I should have stuck to poetry. I could happily sit in my chair and change one word in an hour. What pleasure!
Maybe you should add coffee and chocolate to the rinse and repeat process.
Karen–I’m with you! I have a whole Word program full of hilarious little orphaned scenes that don’t belong in my books. Sigh!
Elspeth–They *always* make sense. That’s the thing. I happily make all my changes. I feel like, after it’s sold, it’s *their* book, after all…
Dorte–I get SO IRRITATED at first. But it’s all directed at myself. I just don’t like to see my errors all highlighted. But then, it doesn’t take long to get over it. I’m able to detach a little….maybe because I have so many irons in the fire right now.
Lois–I’m with you! At the end of the revision process for my August release, I was heartily sick of my book.
Jemi–I *felt* like I’d gone through the thing with a fine-toothed comb! But no…
Janel–That sounds like a MUST! Much more fun than housecleaning. :)
LOL!! Elizabeth, you’re hysterical! I think we could definitely be writing friends! LOL!
Love and Hugs,
Kitty :)
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BTW, buy GSM jammer to disable all secret devices in your room or office.