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I need a new pen |
I know you’ve been paying attention to my tweets and the
Mess’s Facebook updates, so you know that I’m in the middle of editing Losing Faith. You also know that during the first draft
process it went through some character changes.
One was even demoted and then eventually fired because she just held one
of the main characters back. A couple of
minor characters came to the forefront to take major roles and finally the
draft was complete and the story told.
However, it wasn’t the original tale I had set out to share. It had evolved and, I’ll admit, for the
better.
Then the editing and revisions began. It wasn’t so bad at first. I had to pepper in some scenes to strengthen
some of the subplots, add a little back story here and there, and even fire and
hire a couple of more minor characters.
Not too difficult.
Of course, by the time I reached chapter ten, there was more
red ink than black on my paper. I’m not
sure how other writers perform their editing task. Some, I’m sure, do it right there on the
computer. I can’t. I need to print it all out from the computer
and hold it in my hands. I know that if
I don’t I’ll get sucked in to the many social media sites I am a part of. Furthermore, I use red ink, not just so that
it stands out from the black, but because it represents the blood that I put
into my work. That may sound grotesque
to you, but I assure you the symbolism holds very true.
As writers, we put quite a bit of ourselves into each and
every word, not just the tales we are sharing.
These are our dreams, our stories.
For the characters to be real to the reader, they must be real to
us. Drawing red ink through their lines,
changing their story, is a serious event.
We sometimes fight extremely hard to save everything, even to the point
of forcing scenes that we know are awkward.
Eventually, we have to cut things still and we feel the wounds we’ve
inflicted on our creations as we do.
However, we know that the story is stronger for the cutting.
Sometimes, it is vital for us to take the red ink to our own
lives. We know that our storyline isn’t
as strong as it should be. Some
characters are holding us back from being everything we are supposed to
be. Perhaps we have too many subplots
going on, distracting us from the main story.
Our take could even be in the wrong setting and we need a change of
scenery.
Most of us know how we want our stories, our lives, to
end. There are times when it is
necessary to use the red ink to change things.
We’re in charge of our own revisions in order to shape the story. Oh, it’ll hurt, trust me. Some characters we may be quite fond of, but
if their subplot holds more drama than our own story, it’s time to cross
through them. Some locations are dear to
us, but in order to achieve the desired ending, in order to move our story
forward, it may be time for a change.
It’s your story. How
do you want it to go? Don’t be afraid to
make the revisions necessary in order to gain the desired Happy Ever After you
are chasing. Once your story is on track,
you won’t remember the red ink as much, because you’ll be caught up in the real
action, and that's where you really want to be.
* * * * *
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I love my red pen.
ReplyDeleteI hate my red pen.
I need my red pen.
Fine. Point. Point isn't fine.
But fine point will do.
I need a fine pen.
It is fine to need red.
I hate my red pen.
I love my red pen.
Nice! Thank you, my friend :)
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