A couple of days ago, I was busily clearing out the weeds and grass that encroached on the kids’ sandbox in the backyard. “What are you doing?” asked my son.
I frowned at him in confusion. It was pretty obvious what I was doing—I had yard clothes on, ugly gloves, and was yanking up weeds by their roots. “I’m weeding around the sandbox. Then I’m thinking about putting flat pavers around it to help keep the grass and weeds out. I’m going to get some hanging baskets of flowers to put on the fence here, too.”
I kept working and he said, “Mom? Do you think Sister and I still need a sandbox?” He said it hesitantly like he didn’t really want to burst my bubble. I sat back on my heels. Oh! The 13 year old doesn’t need a sandbox. Why didn’t I realize this? “Well, but Sister does,” I said. “She’s just eight.”
“But for how long, Mom? Maybe you shouldn’t put too much time in it.” He looked sadly at me as if he were telling me the truth about Santa. Children grow up, Mom. Don’t turn the sandbox into a major landscaping project.
It got me thinking about my different manuscripts and the times I couldn’t see the forest for the trees.
Especially for the first couple of books, there were so many times where I was picking apart the grammar, spelling, the pace, the style, my voice—but didn’t look at whether the plot worked.
The Big Picture:
Is the plot logical?
Are there plot holes?
Is there enough conflict?
Is it boring?
Had I obviously manipulated the plot at any point?
Is the story good?
How do you alternate between looking at the big picture and the smaller ones?
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Please join me tomorrow when author Stephen D. Rogers will be guest posting on “Making a Long Story Short.”
Elizabeth – It is soeasy to get lost in the trees, and not see the forest. I do that with my own writing, and I always regret it. What I’ve found works is what you’ve often mentioned – write the story first, in draft form. Just write the story, with a good plot and strong characters. Then, go back and make the story better. Then, work on grammar and such. Drafting is one of the most effective ways to make sure the forest looks good while you’re pruning the trees.
I’m with Marvin. I do big picture evaluation and line-edit type stuff on two completely separate reads. Otherwise, I would give short shrift to one or the other. (Weeding? What’s weeding?)
I guess that falls under the old saying, “Can’t see the forest for the trees.” Enjoyed the post.
You could always plant cactus in the sandbox.
Very good question. I think the plot has to come first, because good grammar won’t entice a reader. But often I find I’m enthralled with a scene and don’t see that it’s not advancing the plot. I save that for the editing process.
Excellent subject today. As an editor I first look at the “small picture” picking apart the grammar, spelling, sentence and paragraph structure, time, plot, setting, and character consistency (or not), etc. But then on the second read through I step back and look at the “big picture” – does it make sense? Are there obvious holes in or vagueness to or illogical aspects to the plot? Is the order of events right? Do I BELIEVE this? That sort of thing.
And believe me, it is easier to “big picture” judge someone else’s book than your own. I always hire an editor to go over my own work rather than trust my ability to self edit my ms all the way to polished and ready for submissions.
Marvin D Wilson
My editor was the one who really helped me see the big picture. Together, we uncovered the theme of my memoir. From there it was easier to “weed” out the parts that weren’t needed and “plant” the ones that were. Excellent post today, as always, Elizabeth.
Karen
Yep! I love this story – it is hard to swing with the change. I have an old novel that I am going to go back to. I realize that I’ve left it alone too long – mouldering away and it is exactly that focal length that is the problem (photographer talk I know.) I will have a look at the big picture before I pick it to death. Thanks for the reminder!
It’s tough to see the big picture in our own work. Of course we like it – WE wrote it! That’s why test readers are crucial – they notice those things.
And your son is a very wise young man.
It IS easy to be so busy concentrating on the myriad of details involved in writing and editing that one loses focus on the big picture. I think this is where a second (or third) pair of dispassionate eyes are needed. Sometimes we all need to take a breath and take a step back.
By the way, when you’re finished weeding, I’ve got a garden that could use some…
Your son is a very wise man. Yes, we get so caught up in getting something done, we forget if we need to do it in the first place.
But when it comes to your work, it is almost impossible to big picture it. At least, I am never able to do so :-(
That’s a good point. We could be spending too much energy in the wrong area and missing what really needs our attention.
Oh, did you feel a pang of, What you’re growing up and don’t need a sandbox? I mourned giving away the Veggie Tales videos.
Those questions are really important and I usually ask them throughout my book. If, even subconsciously, I can’t answer them, usually, I stop writing it until I come up with good reasons.
ann
What a clever son :D
And it IS important to step back from your story and try to see what other readers would see, just like it is important to consider who is YOUR reader and who you are NOT writing for.
I don´t believe my stories are perfect in every way, but when readers tell me that I have “left space for the reader to work out what’s going on”, I know I have achieved exactly what I wanted.
I love the way your mind works. Does it always go to writing? It seems to. And thank goodness since all of us benefit!
Helen
Straight From Hel
That is a lovely tale, your son was thoughtful to break it to you gently.
I blogged about my ms today and I think it ties in with your post.
I found out a few things during edit session. It was all for the good, the trees looked good after a bit of pruning. :)
Thanks so much for another insightful post, Elizabeth! Great reminder!
Great points! I think I do spend too much time picking apart the little things when the plot is what holds it all together. I want a strong plot and characters that steal the show!
Marvin–You’re making a very good case for a freelance editor. I think you’re right–a test reader can catch it quicker and easier than the author.
Jan–Since you’ve left it for so long, you should have a REALLY good perspective on it. It’ll almost be like reading someone else’s book–which is really the BEST way to find this kind of stuff.
Margot–I think you’ve got it downpat. Make the story better first. Then do another draft of corrections after that.
Diane–Test readers really are key, aren’t they? It is hard to catch the story stuff.
Alan–Weeding is something I do about six months too late. :)
Rayna–It is hard. I’ve gotten to the point where I can distance myself from my writing (otherwise the review period post-release stings too much), but I still trip up over story stuff. My mom is my first reader and does a good job catching things like that.
Mason–A cactus garden! That would work. I obviously need to do some repurposing…
Mary–I felt a real pang. I thought for a minute he was going to start playing in the sandbox just to make me feel better. :)
Ann–If I come to a point where I’m not sure where I’m going with the plot, I’ve got to stop myself. The editing later would be too much of a bear.
Helen–Thanks! :) It’s kind of a warped mind…only works on the writing wavelength!
Glynis–It still made me sad, but at least he was gentle about it! :) Thanks for the heads-up on your blog…coming over.
Lyn–Thanks for coming by!
Terry–I know what you mean–we’re so careful with checking every little thing that we can forget about the big things!
I guess I look at the big picture first and detail stuff second.
And if you remove the sandbox, what will all the stray cats in the neighborhood do?
Oh this story is so sad – they grow up too fast. You’re so right – great analogy – sometimes we don’t look at the book picture or vice versa. Right now in my first draft I’m focusing on the big picture. Later I’ll go back and put more focus on the details.
That’s so funny. But it’s a terribly poignant analogy. It’s one reason I recently shelved my darling manuscript and am moving on to another project.
What a great story! From the mouths of babes indeed!
Karen–I think that’s another example of when a freelance editor comes in really handy!
Alex–I’m pretending stray cats can’t get over the fence! Or under the fence. Or, possibly, through the fence…
Elspeth–It can be hard to get that distance, but the first readers definitely help.
I don’t think I’ll EVER get done weeding my yard! :)
Mary–I think that’s probably the best order of events…get the major issues fixed first before the smaller ones.
Stephanie–Then you can come back to it later with fresh eyes and probably rework it much more easily!
Heather–Thanks!
Dorte–Very good point. If we don’t know our audience, then it’s hard to please them.
Tamika–I do too! :)
Funny. My novels I’ve written thus far I’ve started with forest and woven in trees, but I am thinking right now with my first that I don’t have quite ENOUGH trees (or rather, the WRONG trees) so the readers are maybe seeing a different forest than I am (how does this happen.
The mystery thing goes backward though–constructed of pieces, as well as I can tell, so I am hoping to learn from the process.
However the EDIT–big picture first, trees after. Because the big picture rewritten will introduce NEW things that need to be small picture edited…
Great post. While I’m producing the first draft of the novel, I’m keeping my head down and focusing on getting everything out. Once it’s completed, I’ll step back and take a look at the big picture. Not to say I don’t worry about it – I just know that right now the only thing I should really be trying to deal with is getting the whole thing out of my brain and finishing the tale.
Hart–I know what you mean–important to be on the same page with our readers with our forests!
I definitely think that mysteries are component-oriented…different sections that need to go in. Questioning of suspects, clues, red herrings–so maybe the big picture of each component needs to be looked at. Does it do its job?
B–Just get it OUT there….absolutely. Throw it on the page. Don’t stop. If you hesitate too long, it’s easier to give up on the project. Editing comes later, for sure!
I dive into the big picture first. It does tend to get pulled apart at the seam with the little pictures (details, grammar, pace).
All in all I think you have a very bright son. (Hugs)Indigo
Indigo–Good way of putting it…they pull at us, don’t they? And they’re important, too…just not as important as the BIG stuff. :)
I still like sandboxes :)
It’s impossible not to lose sight of the big picture when there are so many technical details vying for a writer’s attention. I outline a bit to make sure my plot is good before I start, but I rely on my co-writer husband to spot holes and illogic when they creep up. He’s always reminding me to keep up my threat and gives me the “you’re an idiot” look when he finds I’ve written something non-sensical. I’m going to read my latest 30K words to him this weekend, and I’m sure I’ll be very busy next week patching all the gaping holes he finds.
Lorel–You’re lucky! Having a good co-writer is perfect. With his perspective, he can see the big picture problems a lot better!