Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Right Now

Right now, I'm staring at my computer screen and trying to ignore the papers on my left. AKA: My edits.

Right now, I'm in a sticky spot, where lots of little changes add up to big ones.

Right now, I'd rather nap, blog, or cook than rework this chapter. But I still would rather edit than clean, so I'm not completely hopeless.

Right now, I'm wondering why editing had to be so hard, and why there has to be so much of it, and why I can't enjoy it like some of my other writing friends do. Also, why I complain so much when I ultimately like writing stories. BUT. The editing. It will never be my favorite.

Right now, I know that's okay, and that I'll keep going anyway.

Right now, I want to say that I'm grateful for all of you, and for everything you've said about my recent blog slump. I want to say that I'm not going anywhere, but that things will be changing. I don't know what all those changes will be, but there's likely to be a makeover at the very least. Because a fresh look always helps.

Right now, despite struggles, I'm so happy.

Right now, I'm listening to "Joy To World" by Three Dog Night.

Right now, I'm going to rework this chapter, because it's my actual job. And that is a wonderful miracle.

21 comments:

  1. "Right now, I'm listening to "Joy To World" by Three Dog Night. "
    For some reason I expected that right now you were listening to Van Halen's "Right Now"

    Edits are a bit painful for me too - I feel your agony. But you can push through and the result will be absolutely amazing ^_^

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  2. Don't feel bad about not liking the edit process; I don't enjoy it, either. My first thought was to notice that my editor had written on the MS in pencil and wonder where I'd stashed my big eraser. :-D

    As you say, it's a job, and a blessing because you're getting paid to do exactly what you want to. The story will survive, and you'll find a way to make it awesome, because there's nothing else it can be.

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  3. Hang in there, Natalie, we're cheering for you!

    Jeremiah was a bullfrog.

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  4. *LIKE!*

    Right now, I'm expending more energy wanting to avoid a project than it would take to actually work on it. Your post is a shot in the arm for me. :)

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  5. That song makes me think of my childhood. My dad's a big Three Dog Night fan. Good luck with your edits!

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  6. I hate editing too. Doesn't it make you cringe when you look over the bad writing you did in the rough draft.

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  7. So glad you're happy! And kudos to you for recognizing the need to make a blogging change to stay in your happy place.

    Good luck on your edits!! I can't wait to read the novel one day.:D

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  8. Editing is always rough for me too ... hang in there! Glad you're feeling a little bit better!

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  9. Keep at it, Natalie. You'll get there.

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  10. It is a wonderful miracle!!!! I love that. I feel happy FOR you. And I think editing will always stink. It's great cause it makes your book better but actually doing it . . . meh.

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  11. Amen to makeovers. I rework my blog every so often, and I rearrange my furniture frequently. Sometimes you just need to shake things up a bit. And I'm about to start working on my book this evening too, so virtual chocolate chip cookies for everyone! :D

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  12. Good luck with the edits! And yay for them being an actual job. :) That's got to be a great feeling.

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  13. Right now, I'm up two hours past my bedtime because of a panic attack that threw off my whole evening...

    As for editing, it's like working out. I like to have edited, not to edit.

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  15. This is random. But I was watching Tv the other day and the guy said "transparent". And it occured to me that he could have said "invisible".
    And then it reminded me of your book.
    The super power looks like invisibility. but you choose to title the novel Transparent and...that's all. =)

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  16. Ugh. I hate the BIG edits. I really like nit-picking though. But I can't get to the nit-picking until the big edits are made. I hate those so, so much!

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  17. Editing is hard, especially because it typically requires you to let go of lines or entire passages that you like in order to make room for everything else. I started a first draft of an entirely new story just so I could put off editing the other story that I was working on.

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  18. I hear ya. Just finished the last of my major edits...for this round! Eeps. Now onto the last little dangly bits, which aren't that bad. Keep it up!

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  19. Great post. Love the music choice, by the way. Sometimes we all need a fresh, new look at things.

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  20. Ah, editing. I know. My biggest bitch is continuity. Insert a needed scene and you've got to make sure it's in step with the rest of the ms.

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