Vision: A Resource for Writers
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Holly Lisle's VisionThe Right to ReviseBy Carol Stephenson©
2002, Carol Stephenson
For those who write a lean, mean selling manuscript on
their first write, my deepest admiration and congratulations. For those who receive an editor's revision letter
after submission, or at an appointment hear an editor say, "it sounds
interesting but….," or post sale have an editor who needs one more change
after another, my heartfelt condolences. I had to work my way through two editor revision
letters for NORA'S PRIDE. As I normally write in layers-first sweep for
action and dialogue, second brush with action, reaction and more dialogue, and
third and fourth strokes for texturing-version number three meant that I was on
at least the twelfth run though. Many a time during the last rewrite, I was so sick and
tired of the book to the extent I almost pitched the sucker into a permanent
circular file. So I came up with more lifelines or handholds to avoid
self-destruction during revisions 1. It's your choice to revise. If your artistic
vision cries 'foul' over changing any portion of your manuscript, it's your
right to say 'thanks, but no thanks'. 2. If you chose to revise, it's your duty to not lose
sight of your unique voice. Sometimes you can write yourself right out of
what makes your work special. 3. Words, sentences, paragraphs, scenes or chapters
etched in stone can be erased: by acid, chisel, blowtorch or highlight and
delete. 4. Copious mourning for lost material, of course, is
permissible. Even better, create a folder of those wonderful lines and
ideas for another book. Best yet, keep a jar of M&M's by your elbow
for periods of ruthless pruning. 5. Keep index cards, notebooks or whatever means is
your outline system to drop breadcrumbs as you go along. It's all too easy
to lose threads, themes, plot or character development in a forest of revisions.
6. Seek out your critique partners or good writing
friends to weep on their shoulders, wallow in their commiseration and then
receive a good kick-in-the-butt to do your job. 7. Yes, job. While writing is art, the
performance of it for pay is a job. If unpublished, you want to be
published. If published, you want the next book sale. That means you
have to perform, you have to produce the marketable manuscript. You have
to meet the job performance criteria like any other professional has to fulfill
in their occupation. In this tough, competitive publishing market, you may
be afforded the opportunity to revise: whether to create a second chance for
your precious manuscript or to polish it to best-selling brilliance. Rather
than viewing revision as an unbearable hardship, I suggest viewing it as your
right to revise. It's your right to make your book the best it can
be. Got the revision mindset? Fantastic. Go
exercise your right and {{hugs}} for any creative wound you may suffer along the
way to glory. |