This is not an attractive photo, but to me, it's an exciting photo. It's also an example of the less-than-romantic process of writing. (Those who believe writers wander through the fields of creativity, picking idea-flowers, sorry to disabuse you.)
This is a picture of three large (like 2 x 2) sheets of sketch paper, with brief statements of chapter content for a mostly-finished ms (crossed fingers not included.) This is also a picture of my own markings all over that taped-together list, figuring out (ibid "crossed fingers") what's wrong with the way the plot flows and how to amend it.
At least one pass. My intent is to pace this with a waltz time signature, so will have to pace it again with a 3/4 rhythm in mind. Maybe.
What's your process like?
4 comments:
It actually is a very attractive picture- for writers. The process is a beautiful thing.
This feels like peering inside somebody's cracked-open chest in the middle of major surgery. I think I see blood spurting from an artery right now. Yikes. Also: thrilling.
@Katharine - it's going to be a bloody cleanup, but the prognosis is very good.
I love it! I keep a color-coded, then cut up, then taped back together draft of an essay to show students how messy yet tangible the writing process can be...
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