You must fall in love with editing and rewriting or with your editor if you want what you write to be a good read for others. There really is no way around this. You can choose to improve your skills or you can choose to find a freelance editor you trust and work well with.
Some new writers don’t realize that what they’ve written needs more than words spelled correctly. They write it, read through it once, and consider it done. They may even think, “Maybe someone needs to look at it just in case I missed a comma or two.” Here’s another quote you might wish to take to heart:
When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing.
Enrique Jardiel Poncela
. . . Or, it’s at least a fair number of hours spent on revisions. It’s rare that I don’t spend several hours revising a 600-word (or less) article I’ve written, after I’ve put it aside overnight. The more you do this, the better and somewhat faster you become; but a fact is a good job takes as long as it takes.
A few words about editing: we usually write to either entertain or inform. To even consider becoming a writer, we have to feel passionate about what we choose to share with others. This means in some way, we write from our heart. This is why our egos might feel bruised if an editor suggests we change something (or lots of somethings) about what we’ve written and poured ourselves into. With publishers, if you don’t follow their suggestions, they may drop your contract. If you self-publish, you have total control over everything; but you really do want to make sure you offer a quality product.
I helped one client with a non-fiction book that ended up being nearly 400 pages long. He felt it was ready to go to the formatter, though he understood I needed to read through it with my editor’s cap on. He said, “I read it in about four hours, so it shouldn’t take you longer than that to work on it.”
Well, it took 43 hours to go through that draft and make all the (necessary) changes. The total number of hours it took to get it to publish-ready copy might astonish you, so I won’t tell you (he added new content until the day before it went to print). Consider this: When was the last time you read a comprehensive 400-page book in 4 hours, or 6? And, that didn’t involve looking at it for ways you could or needed to improve it.
I can’t fault him for this assumption. It’s tempting to read narcissistically (in love with what you’ve written and yourself for writing it) rather than as an editor would and must. This is why I recommend putting your piece aside for at least a day before you read it again. Sometimes what thrilled you when you wrote it causes you to cringe when you read it. It’s also called evolving; and you and what you write evolve together.
Once you write and publish your first creative or professional work, you’ll begin to appreciate this part of the writing process because your goal will be to do the most excellent job you can with your material.
An editor’s role, and this includes you as the writer, is to focus attention on content from the perspective of readers and the writer. When I work on behalf of a client (and their readers) I can’t afford to speed through it the way my client did. Since you’re serious about your writing career neither can you.
Joyce Shafer is a writer and life coach. When you get Write, Get Published, and Promote: An Easy e-Guide for New and Aspiring Writers direct from her, get the free pdf of How to Have What You Really Want: An Easy Guide That Can Take You to the Next Level in Any Area of Your Life. Ctrl + click on link
http://www.freewebs.com/writegetpublishedandpromote
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
I’ve Started to Write (or Finished); Now What?
Whatever you were writing, you’ve completed it. Are you really, actually, finally done? Not if you haven’t done this.
When I interact with new writers, they often have the misconception that because they’ve created something with a beginning, middle, and ending they’re done. They’re ready to publish and get out there. Not quite.
You’ll enjoy the writing process, or at least understand it better, if you realize there are more steps involved than just completing your pride and joy. They include
· Use the spell-check feature and go through your document to see where the program underlines errors that need your attention. Remember that spell-checking is handy, but not perfect.
· Print out a double-spaced copy.
· Sit down with the print copy, a pencil, and an eraser.
· Read it aloud. Yup, that’s what I said.
· Be prepared to make notes to move text; delete paragraphs you wept over as you typed them because they were lyrical, profound, deeply moving, brilliant (save them in case they really are and can be used in something else); rewrite entire sections; make notes of areas that need expansion.
· Make the changes to your computer document.
· Walk away for a day or two or a week.
· Repeat steps above until your copy flows and I mean flows.
New writers tend not to believe me when I tell them writing isn’t the most challenging (or rewarding) part of a project . . . editing is.
Some writers feel fairly or extremely confident in the technical side of the art so usually do their own editing and rewriting. They then rely on either someone they know who’s equally skilled to proofread what they’ve written or pay a proofreader to go through it before they publish it. After you work on a piece for a while, especially a longer while, you stop seeing certain glitches. It happens to everyone.
Never underestimate how important proofreading is, real proofreading, not re-reading what you’ve written. If you can write but don’t have a clue about punctuation, grammar, formatting dialogue, and so forth, and you don’t care to learn, be prepared to pay a proofreader/editor to handle this for you.
Important note for new writers: Resist the temptation to edit everything you write before you move to the next paragraph, section, or chapter. I’m serious. We can become so enthralled by the fact we’re actually writing, we repeatedly go back over what we’ve written and edit, and edit some more, and . . . we never make progress.
Article partially excerpted from, “Write, Get Published, and Promote: An Easy e-Guide for New and Aspiring Writers” by Joyce Shafer (download available at http://lulu.com/content/2805803). Get a discount at http://www.freewebs.com/writegetpublishedandpromote.
When I interact with new writers, they often have the misconception that because they’ve created something with a beginning, middle, and ending they’re done. They’re ready to publish and get out there. Not quite.
You’ll enjoy the writing process, or at least understand it better, if you realize there are more steps involved than just completing your pride and joy. They include
· Use the spell-check feature and go through your document to see where the program underlines errors that need your attention. Remember that spell-checking is handy, but not perfect.
· Print out a double-spaced copy.
· Sit down with the print copy, a pencil, and an eraser.
· Read it aloud. Yup, that’s what I said.
· Be prepared to make notes to move text; delete paragraphs you wept over as you typed them because they were lyrical, profound, deeply moving, brilliant (save them in case they really are and can be used in something else); rewrite entire sections; make notes of areas that need expansion.
· Make the changes to your computer document.
· Walk away for a day or two or a week.
· Repeat steps above until your copy flows and I mean flows.
New writers tend not to believe me when I tell them writing isn’t the most challenging (or rewarding) part of a project . . . editing is.
Some writers feel fairly or extremely confident in the technical side of the art so usually do their own editing and rewriting. They then rely on either someone they know who’s equally skilled to proofread what they’ve written or pay a proofreader to go through it before they publish it. After you work on a piece for a while, especially a longer while, you stop seeing certain glitches. It happens to everyone.
Never underestimate how important proofreading is, real proofreading, not re-reading what you’ve written. If you can write but don’t have a clue about punctuation, grammar, formatting dialogue, and so forth, and you don’t care to learn, be prepared to pay a proofreader/editor to handle this for you.
Important note for new writers: Resist the temptation to edit everything you write before you move to the next paragraph, section, or chapter. I’m serious. We can become so enthralled by the fact we’re actually writing, we repeatedly go back over what we’ve written and edit, and edit some more, and . . . we never make progress.
Article partially excerpted from, “Write, Get Published, and Promote: An Easy e-Guide for New and Aspiring Writers” by Joyce Shafer (download available at http://lulu.com/content/2805803). Get a discount at http://www.freewebs.com/writegetpublishedandpromote.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Whack a Few Writing Myths
There’s all kinds of advice on how to write including
· You must write every day.
· Write in the same designated spot at the same time every day.
· Write for at least one hour every day.
· Get up early several mornings or every morning to write.
· You must have complete silence.
· You must eat only blue M&Ms or no blue M&Ms, I forget which.
These bits of advice are not etched in stone I’m relieved to tell you. I choose to be intentional and passionate about writing, not monastic. I’ve written at all times of the day and night, and not every day (well, I do count emails which are excellent practice); on my sofa, at my desk, standing up on the subway; for five minutes and for ten hours at a stretch; with jackhammers and leaf-blowers making a racket outside my window (and a neighbor learning to play drums); and I don’t like losing sleep.
One problem with trying to follow a “One Way” rule is that, more than likely, it’s not the most appropriate way for you. If you don’t follow the rule(s), you get into self-judgment. Then you’re so busy thinking and feeling bad about yourself, you’re not taking the action that will create your desired outcome. If you’re committed to writing, nothing and no one will stop you.
If you don’t know how to get started, start anywhere. Seriously. For fiction, if you have the ending, start there. The beginning and middle will come to you. If you’re writing non-fiction, make a list of what you plan to cover. You can write about any item on your list when you feel inspired to do it, or any section or chapter you want to focus on.
Coaching questions:
If you haven’t started, what’s stopping you?
What might you do to take the first step?
What’s the next step after the first? And the next?
Would it be nice if you were a published writer or do you intend to become one no matter what?
Exercise: Write a page about anything, even if all you write is, “This is stupid. I don’t know what to write. If I knew what to write, I’d be writing.” This will ignite your ability to just get going.
Article partially excerpted from, “Write, Get Published, and Promote: An Easy e-Guide for New and Aspiring Writers” by Joyce Shafer (author/freelance services for writers). Get a discount at http://www.freewebs.com/writegetpublishedandpromote.
· You must write every day.
· Write in the same designated spot at the same time every day.
· Write for at least one hour every day.
· Get up early several mornings or every morning to write.
· You must have complete silence.
· You must eat only blue M&Ms or no blue M&Ms, I forget which.
These bits of advice are not etched in stone I’m relieved to tell you. I choose to be intentional and passionate about writing, not monastic. I’ve written at all times of the day and night, and not every day (well, I do count emails which are excellent practice); on my sofa, at my desk, standing up on the subway; for five minutes and for ten hours at a stretch; with jackhammers and leaf-blowers making a racket outside my window (and a neighbor learning to play drums); and I don’t like losing sleep.
One problem with trying to follow a “One Way” rule is that, more than likely, it’s not the most appropriate way for you. If you don’t follow the rule(s), you get into self-judgment. Then you’re so busy thinking and feeling bad about yourself, you’re not taking the action that will create your desired outcome. If you’re committed to writing, nothing and no one will stop you.
If you don’t know how to get started, start anywhere. Seriously. For fiction, if you have the ending, start there. The beginning and middle will come to you. If you’re writing non-fiction, make a list of what you plan to cover. You can write about any item on your list when you feel inspired to do it, or any section or chapter you want to focus on.
Coaching questions:
If you haven’t started, what’s stopping you?
What might you do to take the first step?
What’s the next step after the first? And the next?
Would it be nice if you were a published writer or do you intend to become one no matter what?
Exercise: Write a page about anything, even if all you write is, “This is stupid. I don’t know what to write. If I knew what to write, I’d be writing.” This will ignite your ability to just get going.
Article partially excerpted from, “Write, Get Published, and Promote: An Easy e-Guide for New and Aspiring Writers” by Joyce Shafer (author/freelance services for writers). Get a discount at http://www.freewebs.com/writegetpublishedandpromote.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Writing Tips
Motivate Your Writer Within
“You don’t have to get it right you just have to get it going.” – Mike Litman
I’m a huge fan of this quote, and believe new or aspiring (and even experienced) writers can benefit by repeating it as often as needed. Wherever you are on your path as a writer, there’s a temptation to believe you have to write “it” right, right from the start or you can’t start; or if you start without doing it right, you’re not writing right. Yikes.
Take a deep breath, release it, and hear this loud and clear: This is not realistic thinking.
Know that if your passion to be a writer is in place
Creativity can be nurtured. If you look at any writer with a long list of books in print, read their last one then read their first one and you’ll see how their writing evolved over time.
You can either develop your writing skills or find an editor/rewriter who helps you create the book you want to put your name on.
If you believe writing doesn’t fit into your schedule, look at your schedule. If there’s anything you ever wanted to get done, you probably found a way to do it. Just as the joke about eating an elephant gets done one bite as a time (Note: I am not in favor of doing any harm to elephants), the way anything gets written is one word at a time.
Don’t hesitate to read and analyze something similar to what you intend to write or have started to write. You can turn to resource books or online, no-cost e-newsletters for writers. It’s not necessary to swamp yourself with information, but you can spend some time glancing at books and articles to carefully select several that will provide more of what you need to know right now. There’s a wealth of information and services all around you to nurture and motivate you to live the writer’s life you desire and choose.
Accept that once you complete the writing stage, you have to enter the edit and rewrite stage. One of the worst things you can ever do is either publish or submit what you’ve written in its first draft form. Maybe Rex Stout was able to submit manuscripts to his publisher that were ready to go with no further editing, but I’d be willing to bet cash that they didn’t flow out of his fingertips in final, publish-ready form.
If you’ve been holding off on starting to write or feel blocked, keep the quote at the top handy and repeat it as many times as you need to. Then kick yourself into gear. Fall in love with the process of being a writer, not just the image or the response you get when you tell people you’re writing a book. Eventually, they’re going to want to see a result. So do you.
Happy Writing!
Learn more about “Write, Get Published, and Promote: An Easy e-Guide for New and Aspiring Writers” (see special discount) at http://www.freewebs.com/writegetpublishedandpromote. Joyce Shafer is an author; article writer; and offers freelance critiques, proofreading, editing, and rewriting services for writers (http://www.freewebs.com/editmybookandmore).
“You don’t have to get it right you just have to get it going.” – Mike Litman
I’m a huge fan of this quote, and believe new or aspiring (and even experienced) writers can benefit by repeating it as often as needed. Wherever you are on your path as a writer, there’s a temptation to believe you have to write “it” right, right from the start or you can’t start; or if you start without doing it right, you’re not writing right. Yikes.
Take a deep breath, release it, and hear this loud and clear: This is not realistic thinking.
Know that if your passion to be a writer is in place
Creativity can be nurtured. If you look at any writer with a long list of books in print, read their last one then read their first one and you’ll see how their writing evolved over time.
You can either develop your writing skills or find an editor/rewriter who helps you create the book you want to put your name on.
If you believe writing doesn’t fit into your schedule, look at your schedule. If there’s anything you ever wanted to get done, you probably found a way to do it. Just as the joke about eating an elephant gets done one bite as a time (Note: I am not in favor of doing any harm to elephants), the way anything gets written is one word at a time.
Don’t hesitate to read and analyze something similar to what you intend to write or have started to write. You can turn to resource books or online, no-cost e-newsletters for writers. It’s not necessary to swamp yourself with information, but you can spend some time glancing at books and articles to carefully select several that will provide more of what you need to know right now. There’s a wealth of information and services all around you to nurture and motivate you to live the writer’s life you desire and choose.
Accept that once you complete the writing stage, you have to enter the edit and rewrite stage. One of the worst things you can ever do is either publish or submit what you’ve written in its first draft form. Maybe Rex Stout was able to submit manuscripts to his publisher that were ready to go with no further editing, but I’d be willing to bet cash that they didn’t flow out of his fingertips in final, publish-ready form.
If you’ve been holding off on starting to write or feel blocked, keep the quote at the top handy and repeat it as many times as you need to. Then kick yourself into gear. Fall in love with the process of being a writer, not just the image or the response you get when you tell people you’re writing a book. Eventually, they’re going to want to see a result. So do you.
Happy Writing!
Learn more about “Write, Get Published, and Promote: An Easy e-Guide for New and Aspiring Writers” (see special discount) at http://www.freewebs.com/writegetpublishedandpromote. Joyce Shafer is an author; article writer; and offers freelance critiques, proofreading, editing, and rewriting services for writers (http://www.freewebs.com/editmybookandmore).
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
