I fear final edits.This post is also brought to you by Indie Life. What is Indie Life? Write anything indie related: something that will inspire or help a fellow indie; something that celebrates a release or a milestone; something that talks about the ups and downs, joys and heartaches of Being Indie.
I have my notes from critique partners and beta readers. I know what I want to change in my story, but when I get ready to open the document and start implementing those changes, I freeze up. I find other things to do. Final edits always take me three times longer than I think they will. Or more. I question everything I've ever written, everything I plan to change, everything I plan to cut.
That's why I'm still working on my edits of Reborn instead of having them finished and to the proofreader like they should've been on February 3rd.
On Sunday, though, I was watching the Olympics and one of the figure skaters talked about some book her coach made her read. She mentioned how it talked about fear keeping us from loving what we do. It's so true. Fear was keeping me from loving the story, and I do love Yssa's story. If I didn't, then I wouldn't share it with others. So I'm working hard this week to let go of the fear of final edits and getting the novel finished as soon as possible.
Do you fear final edits?
Be sure to stop by the other Indie Life posts! Click here to view a list of those participating. And yes, sadly this is the last Indie Life post according to the Indie Life newsletter. Starting in March, I'm planning to move Book Chat to the second Wednesday of the month.Then, Bookworm News will be on the third Wednesday and my Writing Update posts will be on the fourth Wednesday. If there is a fifth Wednesday of the month, I'll either post nothing that week or perhaps leave it open for guest posts.
[By the way, I mentioned I would be having some out-patient surgery today, but instead they moved it to February 26th. The good news is I'll be able to stop by blogs today, if the snow doesn't come too early (i.e. I don't go to work when it's snowing. No work = no good Internet). The bad news is I have two more weeks to worry about this thing. *sighs*]
26 comments:
I fear the first draft. Trade you.
You have nothing to fear! You're a great writer and this is a fabulous book! (With a fabulous cover!)
I agree with Aubrie. Your stories are outstanding! But I know how you feel. Sometimes it feels like I'm dragging my nails on a chalkboard as I'm making changes as I second-guess and third-guess everything!
Keep breathing and take one step at a time. Don't LOOK at the overall picture. Focus only one tweak, then go to the next. That way you won't feel overwhelmed.
Take care... I hope the final edit runs smoothly and so does your surgery!
I actually love final edits. What I fear is tackling that first draft. But it's different for all of us. Good luck with your final edits!
I fear final edits. I know this because I'm supposed to be doing some right now, and I can tell you that I've never been more interested in housework.
There's just something about the 'final' part of final edits that makes me worry. Like, what if they shouldn't be final after all because things have still been missed but I didn't notice. You know, little things.
But you'll be great.
I seem to be going through some of the same problems with the final edits on my book.
-James
Final edits are the easiest for me. The worst are the first and second. Waiting for out-patient surgery is awful. I'd rather be done with it. Keep yourself busy with those edits and don't think about it.
I saw that interview. I fear the blank page. I tend to fight getting the first draft down.
With more practice, there's less to edit and you know how to fix it. So I think that eases the fear.
Love your count down!
I fear middle edits - you know the ones that involve content changes, whether it's a chapter or a paragraph. Those are hard. I think of final edits as being those pesky proofread type edits - maybe I have the professional terminology wrong.
BTW, I hope and pray your outpatient surgery goes quickly and your recovery is just as swift - even if it is a weeks away still. Praying for you early. :)
Edits at different stages can be scary, but once you get started I know you will feel happy. Plus, think of the changes as making your book sparkle to its fullest potential. This always helps me. Know that you are a captivating writer. :)
Sorry that the outpatient surgery was postponed. I hate waiting and worrying longer than necessary. Hope all goes well and that you are okay. I am also wishing that the edits will take your mind off of the upcoming surgery.
Hugs!
~Jess
First of all, I hope holding out until the surgery goes well! I know I'd be nervous, too. Hang in there!
I hate when I just want to do everything else other than write. I try to see what little fiction I'm telling myself that is stopping me and ask myself if it's even true. It usually isn't. It's just a dumb story I made up that I'm scaring myself with. Then, I feel much better and move on with my life.
Wishing you luck on your edits! :D
I feel the same way as Alex - the first draft is what gets me every time!
I'm like Alex, fearing the first draft. That's why it's taking forever to write. And lack of time. Sigh. You can do it. Just open up your manuscript and start.
All the best with conquering your fear of the final edits! I'm sure reminding yourself that you LOVE this story will help :-) (And I hope you don't spend too much time worrying about your impending surgery...)
Revisions, edits, final edits.... all things I fear greatly. I love the joy and freedom of a first draft, where I can still tell myself I'm a genius. Going back over it with an eye towards the things I did wrong though... soul crushing.
Revisions, edits, final edits.... all things I fear greatly. I love the joy and freedom of a first draft, where I can still tell myself I'm a genius. Going back over it with an eye towards the things I did wrong though... soul crushing.
I need to read this book the skater mentioned. I'm afraid of basically everything and until the past week or so felt totally frozen because of it.
I'm sorry your surgery was postponed so that you have to worry longer. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly for you.
I don't so much fear final edits as I do having to be done with edits and send the work out to the world for good. But I can understand what you mean :) You are an awesome Author though, so, you will pull through wonderfully as usual =-)
Edits seem to take forever to me. I worry about errors. I also want to make last minute changes, questioning what I wrote months or years previously.
I'm another one who'd rather edit that write a first draft any day. I also have a tendency to edit myself into oblivion. It's great that these are final edits--you're almost there!
I do understand! On the flip side to that I have to be careful not to slice and dice scenes b/c I'm suddenly paranoid they're boring or don't move the story forward enough when all along I loved them. Weird things happen in my brain in last edits. :)
You've got this. Have no fear. But I know what you mean. I thought I was done with final edits on Waiting for You -- but now I'm taking one "last" pass and finding more things to polish up. Grrr.
I'm always second-guessing myself, so I can relate a bit to your final edits fear, even as an artist. Hope you're able to keep this fear from getting the best of you! And sorry about your surgery being postponed. Mustn't be fun to worry about something like that!
Editing is always hard, but the final edits when it all has to come together, those - like you - I find to be the worse. But good for you for continuing to work on them. It is always worth it, if it means doing something you love.
I fear the first edits. It's always that feeling of "oh boy, this is really going to suck" when I start reading the first draft.
Sending good vibes to help you push through those final edits!!
Writing Through College
Post a Comment