Somebody always does it better
If there is a more insecure profession than that of being an author, please speak now or forever hold your peace.
I don't think there are very many career paths that come with as many doubts and insecurities as that of the creative "being." So, I know actors, artists or musicians feel me on this.
Today, I read the first in the Midnighters series. Scott Westerfeld is my new author crush, by the way. I love the way Westerfeld paces his stories. I love how fluid time is in his novels. How easily the characters move from one point in the novel to the next, without you even knowing it.
I don't know how many times, while reading, I stopped and pondered for stretches of time about whether or not I'm pacing my novels as well as I should.
This pondering, is an incredibly pointless exercise. Because once I sit down to write, what flows out of my fingers is what flows out of my fingers. I have no more control over it than I can text message my muse and ask her to please, visit because I have a deadline to meet.
Fact is, marveling at someone else's writing strengths is an occupational hazard.
No matter how well we do something, someone will always do it better. At least in our eyes.
The ability to write is one of those talents/skills that one can possess yet not completely control the way we'd like to.
Tonight, after finishing The Secret Hour (in one evening) I had one of those lightening bolt moments. I realized that probably someone will read one of my books and like something about it (I hope). They may even like something that I angsted over or thought I didn't do so well. All because, the end product, has been through a thorough QC process.
That's quality control or in writer's terms, the editor.
It's like, suddenly, as I'm reading and having a mild anxiety attack about my writing never meeting my own expectations I understand that two pairs of eyes are better than one because what I miss, she'll catch. What I glossed over, she'll force me to drill down into detail. What I drill down too far on, she'll help bring the 50,000 foot picture back into view.
As I tread deeper into these waters of writing a series, I'm learning what my role is an author. And I've come to accept that while I may be the ultimate teller of the story, it takes my editor to ensure I'm telling it to the best of my abilities.
Saying I look forward to edits is like saying you look forward to getting a shot at the doctors. But like a shot, edits make my story stronger. I get too caught up in the story to see its flaws. As my first reader, my editor is able to ask the tough questions and buff out the dings and dents.
I may always have a torrid love/hate affair thing with the whole editorial process. But everytime I read and enjoy a good book, it's evident that a good story doesn't get that way by itself by a long shot.
I don't think there are very many career paths that come with as many doubts and insecurities as that of the creative "being." So, I know actors, artists or musicians feel me on this.
Today, I read the first in the Midnighters series. Scott Westerfeld is my new author crush, by the way. I love the way Westerfeld paces his stories. I love how fluid time is in his novels. How easily the characters move from one point in the novel to the next, without you even knowing it.
I don't know how many times, while reading, I stopped and pondered for stretches of time about whether or not I'm pacing my novels as well as I should.
This pondering, is an incredibly pointless exercise. Because once I sit down to write, what flows out of my fingers is what flows out of my fingers. I have no more control over it than I can text message my muse and ask her to please, visit because I have a deadline to meet.
Fact is, marveling at someone else's writing strengths is an occupational hazard.
No matter how well we do something, someone will always do it better. At least in our eyes.
The ability to write is one of those talents/skills that one can possess yet not completely control the way we'd like to.
Tonight, after finishing The Secret Hour (in one evening) I had one of those lightening bolt moments. I realized that probably someone will read one of my books and like something about it (I hope). They may even like something that I angsted over or thought I didn't do so well. All because, the end product, has been through a thorough QC process.
That's quality control or in writer's terms, the editor.
It's like, suddenly, as I'm reading and having a mild anxiety attack about my writing never meeting my own expectations I understand that two pairs of eyes are better than one because what I miss, she'll catch. What I glossed over, she'll force me to drill down into detail. What I drill down too far on, she'll help bring the 50,000 foot picture back into view.
As I tread deeper into these waters of writing a series, I'm learning what my role is an author. And I've come to accept that while I may be the ultimate teller of the story, it takes my editor to ensure I'm telling it to the best of my abilities.
Saying I look forward to edits is like saying you look forward to getting a shot at the doctors. But like a shot, edits make my story stronger. I get too caught up in the story to see its flaws. As my first reader, my editor is able to ask the tough questions and buff out the dings and dents.
I may always have a torrid love/hate affair thing with the whole editorial process. But everytime I read and enjoy a good book, it's evident that a good story doesn't get that way by itself by a long shot.
posted by Paula at 6:35 PM
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