Jan. 12, 2002
For the past four days I have nothing but edit my book. I think I remembered to sleep once and eat twice, but everything else is a blur.
Editing and re-writing, I’ve learned, is a huge part of writing. Call me naive but I didn’t think before all of this that editing was all that crucial. I thought a great writer would get it one shot.
The articles that I had published were never really edited – at least not by me. I thought all I had to do was write just enough for people to get the gist of it and see it’s potential. Then I’d hand it off and someone else would make it brilliant. I thought I was just a writer, not an editor.
My eyes were opened when I went to hear the author SARK speak last year. She said that she always heavily edits and rewrites her book over and over before her editor even gets to see it. Then she said something that stunned me and made me feel stupid.
“You know, some people actually think I just sit down and write the whole book out in one big swoop. That it all just comes out that way!”
I know I did. Her books seemed so effortless, so personal, and so wonderful that I couldn’t imagine she had ever changed even just one word. I thought that because she was such a talented writer that the thoughts just flowed through her and she was able to capture them so eloquently onto paper the first time around. I didn’t think SARK or any other great writer ever edited.
I learned from her and others like her, that a good writer makes it seem like the words came out effortlessly the first time even though they really didn’t. Editing a piece of work is crucial; it’s what makes good writing great and great writing better.
With that knowledge I have been working hard by editing my work. Not just correcting the grammar and the odd spelling mistake, but really re-working the material and making it better. I’ve learned how to keep the passion and intention I had when I first wrote the piece while just articulating it more. My entries have taken on a whole new life with new meaning because I’ve brought so much more to it. I’ve brought effort and hard work to the page and I believe it shows.
My husband even noticed how much energy I’ve been putting into it all. “I’m not playing around anymore.” I said to him. “In order for any of this to be real and worthwhile, I have to step up and make it so.”
Since I stopped questioning myself as a writer I’ve been able to move forward at an alarming rate. I haven’t hesitated when confronted with having to try a new process or learn something new like editing. That’s why I’ve actually been extremely excited and energetic about editing rather than confused and overwhelmed. Not only do I know that I can make this better, I know that I will.
That’s what makes all the difference between something good I wrote four months ago and something great that will be in the book.
Elsewhere