We were on I-40 on Sunday, driving back to Charlotte from my research trip to Memphis when my husband drove up on a completely-stopped line of cars on the interstate. Obviously, there’d been a wreck or some sort of accident. We’d already been on the road about 7 hours at this point and I got it into my head that I was not going to sit in that line.
“Exit right here!” I said in an urgent voice.
“But we don’t know where that exit goes,” answered my husband in a very reasonable tone.
“It’ll be okay,” I said. “If we get stuck in that pile of traffic then both kids will have to go to the bathroom and I will, too.”
Soooo…..we got off on this exit. We drove along the curvy rural highway, through a tiny downtown, some beautiful rolling countryside, past a scary-looking redneck grinning at us from a ditch, and then—up a mountain. And up a mountain. We then saw a little sign that said we were at 4500 ft. My husband looked over at me. I gave a weak smile. “Mr. Toad’s wild ride,” he said. “But it’s pretty,” I said stubbornly, as the time we’d spent on our little bypass neared an hour.
This was followed by my sudden realization we were at Looking Glass Falls near Brevard, NC (no, that wasn’t exactly on our way home.) I dragged the half-asleep children and my very patient husband (who was rapidly getting more exasperated with me, though) out of the car to take pictures of them in front of the waterfalls…it was almost 8:30 p.m. and pretty dark then, but I got the shot, by golly.
Yes, I am becoming the stereotype of the crazy writer.
The above story illustrates the sad fact that I’m hard-headed. It’s very difficult to change my mind about anything. Except my writing. I’ve learned not to mind about not getting my way when going through revisions. I’ve gotten over it.
Here’s why I’ve gotten over being hard-headed about revisions:
The editors and my agent care about my book possibly even more than I do. Yes, I do love my books. But my editor and agent are industry professionals who really care about the project their names are associated with. After all, it’s their job on the line if they take on a series of substandard books.
In my experience, the revision requests are handled very professionally. The first round of revisions I received for Pretty is as Pretty dies was in early fall last year. The wording of the requested revisions was very polite: “Would I consider changing…?” And it was all done in writing, which is my favorite way of doing business.
Their suggestions made my book better. Every time. After all, they read more than I do. Sometimes I could not figure out why the heck they wanted me to make a change. I rewrote the scene with the change to see what I thought and every time I was amazed at how much better it read.
This is a commercial endeavor. I know we’re all artists. But as soon as I came to the realization that these books have got to be able to sell or else no one is going to get an opportunity to read them, I was totally on board.
Being open to others’ revisions has made me a better writer. Now if I can only get over my stubbornness in the other areas of my life…
This is such important advice. Never get married to your words! Because they will change, for one reason or another.
I’m off for vacation for a week! Ciao!
I fear I had a reputation as being “argumentative” with my first critique group (although I SWEAR I was still learning and wanted to know WHY they thought what they did. My question was always, “Did I write it wrong or did you read it wrong?”)
At any rate, one of them said, “What are you going to say when an editor tells you to change something?”
My reply, “Right away!”
And my editors have all been very gracious, and have never demanded. They’ve suggested, asked, and always involved me in the process.
I’m struggling with revisions now for a WIP. Will they make the book better, or worse? Who the heck knows? Everything’s so subjective, I guess in the end you have to go with what YOU believe is best.
And thanks, Labanan, for teaching me a new word: shunpiker. I’ll have to try to work that into my next draft of something. Or maybe I’ll just call my wife that.
Dearest Elizabeth,
Your adventurous spirit is one of the things that probably makes you such a wonderful writer. As for revisions, I learned a long time ago not to become attached to my own words, so I willingly make suggested changes. But I always keep a copy of the original writing…just in case.
Karen
I think it will be easier to listen to an editor or publisher’s revision advice. Sometimes, when like me, and you’ve let MANY people try to help with the revision process it gets difficult to know who to listen to.
But I am so with you on the hard headed in other areas of life thing…sigh…
This can be a tough area. I wrote what I wrote because I like it that way. If not, I wouldna wrote it that way…if you follow *that* wild ride. Problem is, I’m too close to see what works and what doesn’t. This is especially true after about 3,000 readings and revisions. In fact, so many trips through the document reinforces my belief that I’m right. After all, how could I have missed it 3000 times???
But, we all know that, in the end, the suggested change is almost always better. It’s just hard to get there sometimes. I should add that acceptance is harder for big changes…things like, move Chapter One to Chapter Nine and cut Chapter Five. WHAT?? No way! That’s major surgery…an amputation. Too much good stuff there. And, if I rearrange all that, then, it’s a different story. Then, it’s your book. Again, I just have to get over that and get back on the Interstate. Not always easy.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
I look forward to this process! I like what you have to say about it and I also like your shunpiking ways. Yep – you’re like all of my family – a shunpiker and that is a damn good thing to be.
Jan
Marybeth–I really don’t give my ms to many people to read anymore…just a couple. Too many different opinions. And then there’s my stubbornness thing. :)
Galen–Actually, I thought my post might prove fairly controversial. I’ve had a good experience with revisions, and others might not have. It really is tough to embrace changes.
Labanan–Glad someone likes my stubbornness. :) I think my family would rather me ditch it.
Alexis–True. And journalism might have made us more accepting to editing. Have a great vacation!
In a way, this side trip of yours reveals you to be trusting and adventurous. When your editors say, change this, you trust their judgment. When you say, exit here, you trust your instincts that wherever this road takes you, it will be better than sitting in a hot car on the highway. And blindly taking an editor’s word that something needs to be rewritten is indeed like exiting the laid out path and going on an adventure to see where you end up.
I’m glad you made it home safely – and you have a wonderful memory in picture to show for it.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Some of the changes the publisher’s editor suggested were obvious to me. One, however, made me panic and think I can’t do that! Somehow I managed it and I was really happy with the result.
Helen–Thanks so much for your comment and for coming up with a much-nicer explanation of my behavior on the highway. :) You’re right–I’d much rather keep moving than sit still.
Terry–Glad to hear your revision process has been similar to my own good one. I’ve felt very involved in the process, too.
Jane–I had to change my ending for “Pretty is” and it freaked me out at first. But I like it much better and it ties into an earlier theme in the book.
Alan–I’m sure the end-product will be amazing. And I like shunpiker too! These words from Nova Scotia are too cool.
Karen–You’re sweet! Thanks. I keep a copy of the original, too–just in case. :)
I can SO relate to this post. I used to fight with my editor but eventually I realized she was right. All the time. Now I’m a good boy and do the rewrites and revisions whenever and wherever she asks. It’s for the betterment of the book. Always.
The Old Silly
Marvin–Isn’t it amazing how much better they can make it? I thought I might have some folks chiming in about how their agent or editor ruined their book, but no one has had a negative experience with it…
Just a quick note to say that I really enjoyed your side trip!!!!
Grin.
~Cleo
I have a brilliant editor who has taught me more than I thought I already knew (I know, that sentence makes no sense, but I know what I meant). Anyway, she’s a gem, and I know I owe her a lot. Anything she tells me to do, I do it.
I am scared of what the future holds for my WiP. I am sure I will benefit greatly from an editor, and do what they recommend. I will be a little reluctant to cut chapters, especially after sweating over them for so long :)