Comments on: Even Talent Requires Revision

By: Alice

Alice — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:54:52 +0000

“Easier said than done.”

That’s the truth. Revision is, to me, the most intimidating part of writing a novel. I can’t wait just one month to do it. A lifetime, maybe, but not one month. I’ve only ever finished one story, revision and all.

And it was a 20,000 word fan fic.

I’d like to note, though, that it was a very recent accomplishment. It’s actually pretty encouraging. Maybe revision isn’t all that scary…

By: PreciseEdit

PreciseEdit — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:52:37 +0000

One of my favorite quotes, by one of my favorite authors:

“It is perfectly okay to write garbage – as long as you edit brilliantly.” — C. J. Cherryh

Here’s another:

“Books aren’t written, they’re rewritten.”– Michael Crichton

What’s the point? Editing, not writing, makes a book great.

(Now, where did I put my red pen?)

By: zack kushner

zack kushner — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:02:38 +0000

I find this advice very heartening as I plod along on my first draft. I’ve been feeling everything is “do do do” as I charge from one plot point to the next. Discovering that’s the normal process is a relief.

I sure hope mine doesn’t take 10 drafts or I’ll be writing it until I’m 80.

By: Jared Stein

Jared Stein — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:45:25 +0000

Yes, let’s accept the weightiness of the lump of clay, even as we pack new clods onto it. Though it’s something we lug around every day, we know it can be reformed and resculpted every day, and each time we do it’s burden is lessened.

The preceding paragraph, for instance…

By: Lindsay Price

Lindsay Price — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:52:30 +0000

Absolutely, absolutely.

I tell students that the first draft is the ‘do’ draft. You do what you have to do to get it done. Ideas out of the brain and on the page. Then the next draft is the ‘think’ draft. Why do characters do what they do? Why does the story bend this way? Why, why, why.

There’s no piece of writing that can’t benefit from a little thinking..