“You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.”
Arthur Polotnik
Just a small indication of what I have been up to over the past few months. Editing can be a rough road, one perilous enough to convince a writer to give up, to lose confidence. This quote helps me remember editing helps my story sing.
That is a great quote to remember. And I swear I had a poster of that same photo in college with an Emerson or Muir quote….
This is a very timely quote for me, too, as you know. Thanks for posting it!
Hey JM,
The quote really kind of puts things into perspective on the writing front–and I’m happy you found it helpful!
I love this picture, I don’t know where I found it originally. But it beckons a story for me.
I have to agree with jm about the timeliness of the quote. I also hear you on the losing confidence part. I’m going through editing myself and remembering that first drafts are never as good as you thought they were when you finished. :p Oh well, I’m making good progress, and I sincerely hope you’re making some too. This too shall lead us somewhere wonderful, right?
Hi Julie,
I so agree! Editing first drafts are only for the brave and strong of stomach, lol. It’s almost like the end of the honeymoon for writers. Now it’s time to get serious.
Happy to hear you’re making good progress. Keep it up because I knkow you’ll finish gloriously
Lol @ end of the honeymoon.
I agree that you have to be strong of stomach and ruthless of pen/track changes to edit a first draft. I’d add though that if you can’t do that, if you can’t edit your first draft, get out now. You’ll never make it to book completion, since every first draft has to be edited, and there’s always more rounds of it after that.
In some ways, it reminds me of the person in one writing forum who said she didn’t want to show her work to even her family and friends because she was afraid of criticism. It took ALL of my self control to keep from responding similarly to that one. If you can’t take the basic elements of the profession, then don’t do it. Nothing I’ve ever seen about writing is for the faint of heart or fragile, I swear.
I echo that–in my experience, writing has only shown me how strong and determined I can really be. When I give myself that chance.
To a New England July!
David in Maine USA
Absolutely! What a gorgeous day it is here. We’re actually at our lake house this weekend, in Acton, Maine, and we have been enjoying our resident loon. Hope you’re having a wonderful day as well.
Oh that I eventually get to the stage where an edit beckons! The writing itself is more than enough to make me want to quit! But super quote!
Paul, Paul, Paul. I hope you are still working on that story you and I talked about not so long ago. I thought it was a wonderful idea, and I really encourage you to at least complete the first draft. Pretty please?
Kate, How can I resist?
Well my honest answer is yes and no! Yes, in the sense that I am writing although not as often as my conscience dictates. But I do have a clear idea of the shape and purpose of the project.
However, the ‘no’ answer is primarily down to the majority of my keyboard time being spent on Learning from Dogs. I try and justify that by saying to myself that many of the LfD posts are relevant to the content for the book.
How did I do??
Oh, and now reading the book Thinking Like Your Editor by Rabiner which I am finding VERY helpful.
Okay, I’ll accept your Yes & No answer. For now.
Actually, I think that’s great you’re getting some material from LfD, so you’re in effect killing two birds with one stone. I hear you about the time suckage of blogs. That really does eat into writing time. I’m still trying to figure out a way to find some balance there.
I have not read the book you speak of! When you’re done, I’d love to know more about it. If you review it, let me know!
Thank you fro the reminder.
Take care and God Bless,
Jan
Hi Jan,
You’re welcome. Sometimes it is easy to loathe the editing process, but when we remember how important it is, we’re that more likely to trudge our way through.
The quote speaks to me too because I am knee-deep in editing. Will it EVER end?
When we follow your tips for weak words vs strong words, then yes–the editing will end.
Eventually.
Let’s hope!
What a wonderful quote! I’ve been trudging through my second draft since November and I’m only a few chapters in. I don’t think I’ve ever made such drastic changes from one draft to the next! Sometimes it seems all I have on the page is smoke, but then I make a few new decisions and some of the mess clears and I can see where the story is heading.
Hi Laura,
Trudging is a perfect word to describe editing, lol. While I love writing the story when it first comes to be, I might love the second write better because of the intimacy that grows between me and the story. Wishing you continued luck with your editing.
Intimacy is the perfect word!
Haha, yes. So intimate it’s almost like living a double-life.
That’s a nice way to think about an editor’s red pen.
I get so terrified of other people seeing my work (I’m no good, They’ll hate it, I shouldn’t have done that), but I’ve come to realize that an independent party will have a much keener eye than I would do, when it comes to the good of my story. I’ll always have my original draft, anyway. It’s just that the world will see the polished version that’s been through the hands of so many.
Nice post, Kate! And good luck with your own editing!
Hi Mayumi,
We do have to find the courage to sharing our work, because I go through the same feelings of inadequecy. Yes, keeping the original draft is smart and also would be a neat comparison to make when you publish your final draft, to see all the changes you made.
thank you, you as well!
Good luck editing!
Thanks Victoria!
Awesome quote! I’m sure your story is burning with pizzazz! You are a great writer.
This is a great quote, it really helps keep everything in perspective when I want to chuck my ms at the window, lol. Thanks for stopping by.
fantastic quote! Hope you blow away the smoke and show the fire blazing within!