Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Tweaking

Do you ever have one of those days where you start to write something, get halfway through, and decide it is crap and delete it? Yea I have been having a lot of those lately. Some of it is blog posts, some of it is story work, some of it is letters to people I am trying to talk to. I just can't seem to get anything out and like it.

I have deleted three blog posts this morning alone. The other day I wrote nearly 8000 words on a story and kept none of it. Of course it was only about a 2000 word section which I completely rewrote four times, but still I had nothing to show for it in the end. The words all seem clumsy and ill fitting.

Writing is like any other creative activity when it comes down to it. It takes a lot of work and practice to get it right. When you are cooking something for the first time often you have to tweak a recipe to make it taste right. Sometimes it takes two or three tries to get it right. When you are sewing you make mock ups of your design and will sometimes go through two or three before you even attempt the final product, which inevitably needs to be altered.

Writing is the same way. That is why you have drafts and why you edit constantly. have I ever mentioned that I hate editing. I can't think of it as editing or my brain rebels against the process. I don't have a word for it. Maybe reworking or tweaking. I like those words. My brain didn't seize at the thought of them so we will go with that for now.

Now I have completely lost my train of thought. I was doing so good too. I need to find a place without distractions so I can get something accomplished. Seeing as that will probably never happen, I will just need to learn to ignore the world or be doomed.

4 comments:

  1. Even though the editing is time consuming and painful that's where you learn everything you need to know. Keep at it! You're only making yourself a better writer.

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  2.  I know, that is why I keep slogging through it. I just have to trick myself into doing it sometimes.

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  3. Catherine ChambersJuly 11, 2012 at 11:47 AM

    Thank you, Megan, for drilling a tiny hole into my brain to tell the story of my life :P so true. 

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  4.  I think it sort of reflects on most anyone who is a writer.

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