It's probably one of my least favorite words.
Okay, that's not actually true. It's one of my least favorite words that has to do with WRITING. The word? Revising. Now, I know some writers who LOVE and LIVE for the revising process. They enjoy the revising part much more than the coming-up-with-the-idea part. Some writers really enjoy revisions because it's a time to fine tune the storylines, figure out what's working and what isn't and take a manuscript that may otherwise be good and make it great. I'm not one of those writers. Yeah, I know, I know. All writing is revising. Nothing is ever any good until at least a draft or two later. Heck, I don't even send a Facebook message to my mom without looking at it a couple of times before I hit send. I'm not suggesting that revising isn't important or a necessary part of the overall writing process. In fact, I know that it is one of the MOST important parts of the writing process. Problem is, I don't like it. Writing, for me, is about the Big Idea. It's about taking normal human interactions and running wild with them. For example, a couple weeks ago, I was volunteering at our school concession stand and overheard two fifth grade girls talking. As they waited for their nachos to be ready, they discussed the fact that one of the girls had a sick dog, and she wasn't sure if her dad was going to take him to the vet and if not, should she consider selling her clarinet so she could take him herself, because she really loves her dog, but doesn't much care for the clarinet after all. BOOM! A "Big Idea" was suddenly in my head and I couldn't get out of there fast enough to go home and write it down. That's the kind of writing I enjoy the most. When a new idea, or character or storyline pops into my head and won't leave me alone until I get it down on paper. When my imagination is allowed to run free and anything is possible. When a moment of eavesdropping turns into something that resembles the beginnings of a book. Those "what if this really did happen?" moments. But revising? That is way less fun. It's much more work. But, I know - as any seasoned writer knows - it is absolutely necessary work. So, I'm going back to my revising now. Here's hoping you'll do the same.
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