At long last, I printed out a first rough draft of the new book yesterday. This marks the point when it really starts to feel as if I'm getting there. When I got back to work in the second week of January, the words felt like the water from the mountain source above: coming out all right but freezing up on arrival.
The only way through is to keep going, even on the days when you really don't feel very creative or inspired. On days like that, I reckon that if I can smooth over some of what I've already written and come up with a few good new phrases, then I've done what I can. The good thing about having written books before is that you know that this is par for the course, and you don't give up.
Now there are more than 90,000 words to play with but these are, to bend Eric Morecambe's immortal line, "All the right words, not necessarily in the right order..." When I say it's a rough draft, that's exactly what it is - a right old mess in places. Now is the time for a cool head as I edit ruthlessly to see what remains. But it's getting warmer and the chunks of ice are gone.
8 comments:
Can't wait to read what you're cooking up! Delicious literary scents wafting from the imaginary kitchen, tempting us...
I like how you used water as a metaphor for writing. And I love that quote. 90,000 words is a very good place to be. I love the process. Can you drink the water??
Nice to hear about your writing process as a seasoned author, Deborah. I hope the rewriting will be easier as the ice melts!
I am always intrigued by the writing process and wonder whether or not I have it in my. I appreciate you sharing your process for getting a book finished. Have a great week and best wishes for lots of good phrases.
Deborah you are a lovely honest person! Your new book will be great,once a storyteller always a storyteller. Writing is hard work!
x Angela
I know just how you feel - although you have a lot more experience than I do of the process. My NaNoWriMo effort is in first draft but very ragged around the edges. Doing it in 30 days was a good discipline since you just have to get it down on paper and worry about style, elegance etc later. However, I'm having difficulty getting down to revising it.
Congratulations! I don't seem to be able to find the time to write properly!
Hi Deborah,
It's always encouraging when someone who's work you admire tells you of the difficulties along the way. The more I'm writing the more I learn that it's all about the re-writing and editing. I no longer worry about how good my first draft is or isn't, it's all part of the process. I haven't attempted anything near a novel yet (still on the short stories) but I know when I do it will take time and a great deal of work. I very much look forward to reading your next book when it's ready. In the meantime I shall happy settle with another read of The Lantern. All the best. Shelley
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