Tuesday 15 December 2009

The Best Bit Of Editing

I spent most of last weekend editing, and I think that if I do the same next weekend, this draft will be done. It's been quick, not because I've been rushing (honest, Debi!) but because I've had lots of time to work on the text.

I don't have much time to edit this week, but the work is still going on in my head, and I'm into my very favourite part of all: making connections. I find myself thinking about a conversation between character A and character B, and realising that character A has a perfect opportunity to raise issue X which will foreshadow the conflict in scene Y. Then I realise I can make character B more understandable for the reader by highlighting a particular aspect of their personality in scene Z. And so it goes on.

The only way I can make this happen is to write and write and rewrite and get to know my characters and their situations better and better. I'm motivated to do that because I know eventually I will reach this stage. I feel as if my brain is making connections all by itself, and that is the most delightfully addictive feeling. Each new connection fills me with joy, and gratitude to my brain, for getting on with the job while I'm busy with other things and just keeping me posted about progress. Which probably sounds daft (although maybe not if you're a writer too). But I reckon if there was a recreational drug that gave people the same sensation, it would be a best-seller.

I can't wait for the weekend!!!

12 comments:

Jenny Beattie said...

I love that stage too. Well done you!

Debi said...

That's brilliant!

Every indication that you're well in the zone. When things start happening in the way you describe it's an excellent sign that the writing will make massive strides forwards in this next draft.

Very, very exciting. Go you!

Marcie Steele said...

Couldn't have put it better myself! Well, maybe with a bit of editing! x

Karen said...

It is addictive when that happens - sounds like it's going really well :o)

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Sounds as if you're doing so well.

Anonymous said...

Sounds amazing - its so impressive what you have achieved! Can't wait to read it one day!

Beleaguered Squirrel said...

Ever so slightly jealous, of the feeling rather than the opportunity (even when I was writing I didn't often feel like that). It's funny how I feel about writing at the mo. It's very distant, but I'm still slightly phobic of it. It feels like that slightly nasty thing that I once did and am rather glad I don't any more, but slightly sad too.

Never mind all that though, I am mostly just in awe of you. And dying to read this new book!

Jen said...

Sounds as if you're totally in the groove! I love that feeling of it all ticking away and connecting while you're doing other things. It's like when you watch a film and it all comes together at the end and you immediately want to go back and watch it again because it was just soooo clever.

Hurrah for editing and connections :)

Pat said...

I'm glad you are enjoying it - that's what we are meant to do. I'm really enjoying writing in my own little bubble minus agents, publishers et al and only responsible to me. Just for the moment:)

Carol said...

I love that eureka moment too!! I've lost count of the amount of times I've been working on something difficult gone away from it and done something else and when I've come back it's suddenly not difficult any more!! Bliss

Glad it's going well for you

C x

Cheryl said...

Glad you are enjoying this stage. i haven't started that stage yet but will in the new year and hope I enjoy it as much as I did the writing stage

Queenie said...

It's been great. Thanks for all your encouragement; I really appreciate it.