For those of us writing something right now
Hi, all. Thought I’d take a break from the manuscript I’m writing right now with the Olympics playing in the background so I know when to pause in the middle of a sentence and go watch skiing and skating (don’t really care about the bobsled–sorry, bobsled fans), and with Lost being recorded on another channel because there’s just too much great TV on tonight–
And anyway, I thought you might appreciate this Writers’ Public Service Announcement:
One of my favorite authors, Dick Francis, died recently. And I finally got around to reading the very nice obituary for him in the New York Times. I don’t know if any of you have read Dick Francis’s wonderful horse racing-themed thrillers, but they were spectacular. Fast-paced, gritty, smart, witty, and always chock full of information about the lives of jockeys, horse trainers, stable owners, etc. I love to be educated along with my entertainment.
So Mr. Francis was definitely a writer I admired. And that’s why I doubly and triply appreciate this gem from the obit about how he wrote:
“My ‘first draft’ is IT,” Mr. Francis revealed in his autobiography, noting that he never rewrote. “I’ve tried once or twice, but I haven’t the mental stamina and I feel all the time that although what I’m attempting may be different, it won’t be better and may very well be worse, because my heart isn’t in it. (Emphasis mine.)
I’ve reread that line several times in the last few days, because it’s really good–and timely–advice. I don’t know about you guys, but there have definitely been times when I have worked a piece of writing to death and rewritten all the life out of it. Yes, my revisions made it different, but they didn’t make it better. So I’m trying to keep my hands off my own work as much as possible, and let it be free.
Will I still tweak things here and there? Of course. But it’s the endless reworking that kills good and natural writing, in my opinion. And in Mr. Francis’s, apparently.
And if you need any further words of wisdom on that, let me direct you to one of my favorite posts by Meg Cabot, Don’t Be a Book Licker!
Whoops, women’s ski cross is on now. Let the mayhem begin. Bye!
Interesting! And proof yet again that there’s no one way to write compelling fiction; ultimately there’s only your way, and you as the writer have to find it.
Once again you convict me for never getting out of the first chapter. Thank you, I needed that.
I always know my edits are DONE when I start making things WORSE because I’ve lost all perspective. This is an interesting take and certainly one that would get me off the hook way sooner.
Yeah, Joanne, exactly. You really can see it and feel it, huh? Truly overworking the dough.
Elizabeth, glad I can help in any way!
Don, what said is The Truth. For sure.