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Trying to tie up loose ends… and let me tell you—it is hard.
Does it ever get easy to edit your manuscript? Man I feel like I should start over. My last part of my book is solid--well at least I feel that way about it now—who knows how I will feel in 3 weeks.
Do you ever stop growing as a writer that when you go back your work seems adequate—I sure hope so?
I guess if it were easy everyone would have a book published, I guess I should be happy to see weak points in my writing.
This used to be a common theme of mine a while back, sorry for bringing it up again. But it helps to hear what you fine people have to say. Your comments have helped a great deal so far, thx.
I just don’t think I could manage to start over, or just scrape the work and start something fresh… I guess it’s just part of the game.
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Don't get discouraged.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I go back and LOVE my stuff. Sometimes, I wonder why I bothered writing it. I always find something, even it if it's just tweaking. I'm going back through my second novel now and I'm finding a lot of polishing to do. Which means I'll need at least one more run after this one.
I don't know how people ever finish. But eventually, you have to lay the pencils down and move on.
Once you achieve something you always see how it could be done better. Your eye for good writing becomes better as you write.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't mean your writing is bad, just that you've set the bar a little higher for yourself.
The author of Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy hated his final manuscript, and it was only published because he was sick of reading and trying to improve it.
Just because you can see potential improvements doesn't mean your current work is worthless. It means you've progressed a little more.
Getting to the point where you're happy no longer trying to improve it sounds a bit mythical to me--I'm hardly accomplished, however.
I'm with Stephanie and Creative Larceny. I have yet to get to a manuscript that feels totally finished.
ReplyDeleteThat's actually my goal this summer (among many): get at least two of my novels ready for publication. And my plays, too. I have several that need a massive overhaul and then need to be SENT OUT. I'm tired of sitting on all of them!
Don't give up hope. Growth is important. The last thing you want to do is saturate the market with a book, only to realize that it isn't close to the level you want it to be. Each revision will make you grow as a writer, believe me.
I think a manuscript is never done. When it is published then it's done...so I haven't finished many manuscripts (yet). I have one, A CAKE I WILL BAKE, that I think will be a wonderful fun picture book, but I'm exhausted with trying to get my meter correct...I had to put it to the side last week. I'll go back to it, but for right now I feel like it was making my eyes and brain burn...
ReplyDeleteThe more you write the better your writing will be, so of course your writing from previous projects will seem like lesser works than your current project. When you need a break from the current project go back and edit the older stuff...You can bring it up to par, it just might take some work. (This is based on my own work...I haven't known you long enough to know your older work.)
Have a great weekend, Jeff!
Don't Scrap it! Editing is really hard work, but look at it this way: the fact that you can see the weak spots in your work means that you are improving as a writer and a critic. After you're done writing though I would advise taking some time a way from your work so that you can look at it with a fresh eye, especially if it feels like you should scrap it all and start fresh.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing! It is not easy to write a novel :)