At any rate, I've been slaving over this book long enough to experience the many different emotions of a writer editing their book. Today, I'd like to highlight the stages I've gone through in the past five months that I've been editing this baby. Mostly the negative ones. (How's that for inspiring?)
Editing H-E-Double Hockey Sticks
It always starts like this:
So confident. So pumped. You are going to make that novel SHINE!It doesn't take long for it to start feeling like this:
You're working day after day, with no dent in sight. You're starting to wonder just how long this is going to take.There are days when you feel like you're dealing with a spoiled child.
Please be good. Pretty please? I'll give you whatever you want!Then there are days when it feels more like this:
And this:
But don't worry. No matter how bad it gets, there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
It doesn't last forever. At some point, you will finish. (Right? Right?)
17 comments:
Um.. no comment about the light at the end of the tunnel. :) I'm still in the spoiled child phase.
(Come on, please? Please?)
HAHA. Well, as long as I have awesomely amusing photoshop Fridays to read and keep me in a good mood, editing can't get too bad.
But know you aren't alone!
One day. . .one day. . .
Ah, the H-E-double hockey sticks of editing. LOL Can I tell you that I love your photoshop fridays? They are awesome. The "spoiled child" phase. Ha! (I'm so there).
WTF Ren (haha)....I'm pretty sure you forgot one pic...you holding an ak47 slaughtering your "inner editor" :) Thats what should be happening next!!! For serious. Cheers!!! Oh and ps - Can't wait to see yous guys :)
Miriam-Yes, it's amazing what brats these stories can be sometimes. :)
Amanda-Thanks :) I just need to laugh about it all sometimes, otherwise I'd go crazy.
Kasie-Glad I could amuse you. :)
Becca-Well . . . I'll add that picture if that moment ever comes. (*sigh*)
So Glam's last post included a youtube clip about the dangers of driving with your phone. I haven't watched it yet because I'm afraid it will scare me from driving ever. Only she warned her readers that it was coming.
This post came with no warnings. Now I am scared to edit...ever.
There is a light, Ren! Hang in there. For me, it was always about half way through. But that was funny though—I've soooo been there.
Oh my gosh you make me laugh, Renee. I wish you lived closer so I could get you and Natalie in the same room with me whenever I'm down. That would just rock.
The "Dude" is what got me. I'm still giggling. Hehehe.
Poor Jessie. Wow. This was a scary post, Ren. You should have a warning at the beginning, especially if you put the AK-47 picture at the end. Hah!
Jessie-hehe, sorry about that. After I put up this post I did wonder if it came across as whiny or too gloom and doom.
How about this, next week I'll do a Photoshop Friday highlighting the good moments. (Just as soon as I think of some. . . .)
(kidding)
(kind of . . .)
Natalie-With at least four other entire manuscript edits under my belt, I sure hope I'm past the halfway mark. I acutally did see the light a long time ago, but it's getting dimmer. However that works. :)
Jessie-hehe, sorry about that. After I put up this post I did wonder if it came across as whiny or too gloom and doom.
How about this, next week I'll do a Photoshop Friday highlighting the good moments. (Just as soon as I think of some. . . .)
(kidding)
(kind of . . .)
Natalie-With at least four other entire manuscript edits under my belt, I sure hope I'm past the halfway mark. I acutally did see the light a long time ago, but it's getting dimmer. However that works. :)
Whoa, I just missed you Michelle. (And why did my post duplicate?)
Yeah, heh, I guess I'm exhausted with editing right now. Of course, the maelstrom pic, and the angry seamonster were intentionally over the top. Though . . . I can't say I haven't felt very close to that from time to time. :)
I like that the books is pictured as a Kraken. Nice.
Yikes. Getting scared. I have to revise a book soon (not for a few more weeks) but I KNOW I am in for lots of OH CRAP!
Shelley
Sara-Yeah, that's pretty much how I'm feeling about my story lately. It's kind of sad. :)
Shelly-Don't worry! Maybe it's just me. Really. I have an overly perfectionist personality about writing. But hey, if you find yourself feeling that way, you know where to come to commiserate. :)
I suppose I should focus on writing the last 80% of my book first before I put too much energy into dreading the editing bit. However, good moments in editing is a great idea, but whatever you photoshop, warnings or not, I will have to read it. I'm hooked.
I love the juxtaposition of the word 'Booya!' coming out of the mouths of Civil Waresque looking troops. hahahahahha. You have such a way with words...I mean pictures... I mean word-pictures...whatever, you know what I mean. :) Hang in there. And, I like Becca's idea for the addition to the sequence.
Well-said. I think you nailed every writer's frustration and inner psychosis.
We're all in good company.
Nice blog you have here.
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