Thursday, February 21, 2013

Writing and Editing Can Really Make You Crazy

I have been pretty busy lately.

I don't remember feeling this busy since I was participating in NaNoWriMo and I attempted to write an entire novel in one month. Was it hard? Yes! But it was so worth it.

My book is done.... well, at least the thought process anyway. The story is down. The editing phase has just begun.

The editing phase is making me crazy!!!
It isn't that I don't like editing. I can edit other people's stuff without a problem. I can pick out typos and missing words like the page isn't in black and white. I wrote for a newspaper. We had to find the typos and fix them before it went to print.

However, when it is your work... it is so much harder.

I am close to this story. The story is inside me. I know all the characters right down to the color they painted their toenails (even if that was a detail I didn't reveal!).

However, what important details have I left out? I question the timing. I question some of the characters actions? Does it make sense? Would a person act this way in real life?

Now I have caught a few errors... some that are obvious and a few that are easily missed.

The fact that I keep mixing up coach and couch makes me laugh.

How I mixed up the characters names at random times gives me a headache.

But mostly, this is just exhausting work!

And then I wonder... will I ever think it is good enough? Is this author cold feet setting in?

It isn't that I don't want people to read it, but it scares the crap out of me. What if people don't like it? What if there are spots that are too graphic (you know - the steamy sex scenes that I really wasn't comfortable writing but was necessary for the book!) What if the timing doesn't make sense? What if people don't like my characters?

Either way, I am pushing through. I have a goal. I want to have the book Mother's Day out to beta readers by March 1st.  I have another 10 chapters to edit and about a week to do it in.

If I made it through NaNoWriMo I should be able to make it through this!

11 comments:

  1. You go! I'm dragging draggginggggggg

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  2. I am with Julie and dragging my feet on this. I have read through about 3/4 of it, but feel like I may actually want add a chapter or two for more effect. Not sure, but either way nowhere near ready yet to realize mine. But I am going to live through you right now!! :)

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  3. All work and no play makes mad woman something something....

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  4. Stacy - If you wouldn't spend weekends at the Grand Canyon, you'd be done already! lol Remind me to always envision pigtails as a predecessor to insanity. Why does the male version of this picture keep saying, "Norman Bates" to me? : ) In my novel, that's been going on for over a decade now due to rewrites and such, I wrote a love scene from a woman's point of view. One of the toughest things I ever wrote. Keep pushing forward with the editing! Am waiting the final result!

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  5. I can't wait to read your book so get to it and get er done! :)

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  6. Following via GFC and Google+ from Bloppy Bloggers FB group. :)

    Diana @ NannyToMommy
    http://www.nannytomommy.com

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  7. I feel your pain. I pick up and put down my own "completed" manuscript in an effort to edit it and feel good about it. It has been going on for several YEARS. Amazing the excuses we can find... keep it up!

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  8. I can't wait to read it .....I'm so crap at editing just my own blogs, yet if I read anyone elses with a typo or grammatical error in it it sticks out like dogs you know what. Strange. x

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  9. You go! Sorry I didn't see this post right of way...I'm following more and more and it's getting harder and harder to keep up, but I try to always keep up with my core group of Bloppys. hehe.
    That said, I'm glad for my nano experience. It taught me that I don't like writing fiction. I have my story and I don't like it. I'll keep it for sure, but I don't want to work on it.
    Why? Because it actually inspired me to work on my memoir. I have 150 pages and counting and have not edited it in two years. But now, that damned thing must get published because I have ideas for the next one, LOL. :D You're inspiring me to plow through.

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  10. I'll buy it. You are an awesome writer. I don't say that about too many people. Plus, you did NaNoWriMo. Which to me is akin to bootcamp.

    I'll have a sixpack before I complete a book in a month.

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  11. You go girl! Editing is not easy. I only managed to edit two chapters of my book and stopped. I'm scrapping the story and starting again. Not because it's garbage - it was a good story, it just didn't have enough meat in it. It was too predictable. And I'm fine with that - that's how we learn. I'm glad you're sticking to your editing...1 March is an insane date, but I know you can do it! Go, go, go! :)

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