Saturday, March 13, 2010

Are you a lover or a fighter?


Can I admit here that I honestly love the editing process? I love going through and finding my mistakes. I love reading other people's ms and finding theirs too. I can't wait to get my corrected pages back in the mail and going through it, re-creating.

I know that sounds sick, and to be honest, I am . . . a little. I can accept that. I love the puzzle of finding and fixing. I love overcoming the obstacles of a difficult fix.

I was going through my sequel and came to a scene that I thought might be better if I changed it just a bit. It was so fun to create something new where I'd had something else completely different. I'm amazed that it's coming from me, from my brain. I still can't believe it. I love these characters and their cooky experiences. I can't wait to write book three.

My editor has given me the advice to be careful when writing a sequel before your first book is done, and I am totally aware that some things may have to be changed, but to be honest, I don't think those changes will be too drastic. At least I'm hoping not, although, I suppose it doesn't really matter since I love creating new scenes!

So, tell me. What do you think of the editing process? Do you love it? Like it? Pull your hair out contemplating it, or are you like me? A sick, sick writer who loves a good filleting over the hot fires of revision.

7 comments:

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I'm like you for sure. The fiercer the editor the better I like it. Are we sadists? or masochists? Or maybe we just really love to see our work improve beyond what we ever could have imagined!

Anonymous said...

I've only recently become a fan of editing. Once I realized what truly came out of it (not the horrid destruction of all my treasured darlings), I began to appreciate that editing is an art of its own. =]

Melissa Cunningham said...

Karen, I think you're right in that I love seeing my book improve so much. I love the challenge of being the one who makes it better. Kristine gives great tips, advice and direction, but knowing it has to be me that makes it happen is thrilling.

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

Karen and I have talked about this before. I love revising! The first draft is the hardest for me, and I don't like it. Once that's done, it's all fun and games!

Kimberly Job said...

I LOVE editing! Probably because I'm more practical than creative.

Mel Chesley said...

I'll have to get back to you on that one. Not exactly sure just yet. I love finding other people's errors. I can't ever seem to find my own because I am so stuck in the process and know how it should be as opposed to how it actually is.

Kathi Oram Peterson said...

Editing is where the fun begins! The story is roughed out, now the carving and shaping come into play. I'm with you. I love the editing part. But, hey, I love the creating phase as well. What can I say? I'm glad I happened upon your blog. Much luck with your book!