Comments on: Editing, angst and ice cream http://www.francescaamendolia.com/blog/2009/09/05/editing-angst-and-ice-cream/ the writing life with extra crunchy bits Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:50:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: a.m.harte http://www.francescaamendolia.com/blog/2009/09/05/editing-angst-and-ice-cream/comment-page-1/#comment-7963 a.m.harte Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:11:29 +0000 http://www.francescaamendolia.com/blog/?p=973#comment-7963 I really enjoyed reading this post. Particularly: "My trap is not slapdash first drafts: it’s first drafts that never get finished because I’m so busy worrying and editing and worrying and fretting about the first half that I give up in exhaustion before I get to the second half." That is the stage I am at, right now. I'm trying to kick myself into gear to just get the first draft done and dusted instead of worrying about editing and revising, but it's so hard to let go when I feel like it's not perfect yet. It's nice to know I'm not the only one with this pitfall! I really enjoyed reading this post.

Particularly: “My trap is not slapdash first drafts: it’s first drafts that never get finished because I’m so busy worrying and editing and worrying and fretting about the first half that I give up in exhaustion before I get to the second half.”

That is the stage I am at, right now. I’m trying to kick myself into gear to just get the first draft done and dusted instead of worrying about editing and revising, but it’s so hard to let go when I feel like it’s not perfect yet.

It’s nice to know I’m not the only one with this pitfall!

]]> By: MG Buehrlen http://www.francescaamendolia.com/blog/2009/09/05/editing-angst-and-ice-cream/comment-page-1/#comment-7118 MG Buehrlen Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:53:31 +0000 http://www.francescaamendolia.com/blog/?p=973#comment-7118 I really adore this post. Mainly because when I started the revision process on my MS, I thought it was a steaming pile of poo. I never looked at it like a quaint little beginner's garden. Those are still beautiful, aren't they? And to think that it has room to grow and become a landscaper's dream is exciting, not daunting. Will it win any neighborhood awards right now? No. But I still enjoy sitting in the middle of it in the early morning when the mist is rising, a cup of coffee in my hands. And a few of my friends enjoy it just as much. The question is, can I get it on the cover of Home & Gardening? I think it's possible. In fact, I'd love to share the H&G cover with you and your garden. :-) Thanks for the encouragement on this dreary day of mine. I really adore this post. Mainly because when I started the revision process on my MS, I thought it was a steaming pile of poo. I never looked at it like a quaint little beginner’s garden. Those are still beautiful, aren’t they? And to think that it has room to grow and become a landscaper’s dream is exciting, not daunting. Will it win any neighborhood awards right now? No. But I still enjoy sitting in the middle of it in the early morning when the mist is rising, a cup of coffee in my hands. And a few of my friends enjoy it just as much. The question is, can I get it on the cover of Home & Gardening? I think it’s possible.

In fact, I’d love to share the H&G cover with you and your garden.

:-) Thanks for the encouragement on this dreary day of mine.

]]> By: Kait Nolan http://www.francescaamendolia.com/blog/2009/09/05/editing-angst-and-ice-cream/comment-page-1/#comment-7049 Kait Nolan Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:48:49 +0000 http://www.francescaamendolia.com/blog/?p=973#comment-7049 As a general rule when I finish a draft of something, I let it sit for at least a month, untouched. Sometimes 2. Then I come back to it with fresh eyes to mark it up and figure out improvements and weak spots, etc. After I make THOSE corrections, then it goes out to trusted beta readers and I do another round of revisions. After that, I usually feel like it's safe to send out. But I'd probably wait another month and do a fresh read just to be sure. I find it's helpful to read it when I'm...I was going to say no longer in love with it, but that's not quite accurate. I guess when I'm past the blush of love and newlywed and into middle age with a story. When I can more accurately see faults in a piece. Anyway, good for you for having the right attitude approaching this revision. As a general rule when I finish a draft of something, I let it sit for at least a month, untouched. Sometimes 2. Then I come back to it with fresh eyes to mark it up and figure out improvements and weak spots, etc. After I make THOSE corrections, then it goes out to trusted beta readers and I do another round of revisions. After that, I usually feel like it’s safe to send out. But I’d probably wait another month and do a fresh read just to be sure. I find it’s helpful to read it when I’m…I was going to say no longer in love with it, but that’s not quite accurate. I guess when I’m past the blush of love and newlywed and into middle age with a story. When I can more accurately see faults in a piece. Anyway, good for you for having the right attitude approaching this revision.

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