Get OVER that hump (Wednesday)
I hate re-writing. Hate. However, like cleaning the toilet, it has to be done. The language has to be scrubbed, disinfected (?) and polished because no one likes to look at a dirty toilet – I mean – no one likes to read sloppy writing. Stupid analogy aside, it is a chance for the writer to take an objective look at her work without throwing up…or weeping. But maybe that is just me.
Since I dislike re-working a piece of writing, I have found all kinds of ways to trick myself into doing it. (If someone figures out a way to clean the toilet - but not really clean the toilet - without resorting to child labor, I expect email.) One really good way – especially when the physical act of writing makes me want to cry a little – ok, a lot – is to print out a section of the work as it is and cut the paper so paragraphs, even sentences, are severed from context. Then randomly rearrange them.
The ideas, descriptions and even dialogue take on new meaning, has different impact, when it is messed with and rearranged. I always see my writing in an entirely different light when I do this and it gets me over that hump.
Now. About that toilet…
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Hump Day, re-writing, re-working, cleaning, writing help
March 29th, 2007 at 12:53 am
see thats the other thing I haven’t done. (aside from editing) is re-reading it. I went through it twice fixing a ton stuff and re-writing what needs to be. (which I can tell you makes you cry!) but reading it without fixing, just reading it as someone else might… thats hard. You can be your own worse critic and I want to enjoy the moment thats say I wrote it! I dont want to reread it and hate the thing!
March 29th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Re-writing is often the worst part of producing something of value, etc. I beat myself about the head and shoulders when re-reading blog posts, for crying out loud…literally.
I hear you, though. It is tough.