I love this fantastic (and hilarious) advice about learning to balance drafting and revision in this excellent article The Seven Habits of Successful Writers:
"Nurture your inner schizophrenic. When you have written a draft of your story and it’s time to revise, you have to be able to look at it with a cold eye and take the ax to it as needed. . .You’re actually not one person, but two: a dancer and an ax murderer. Love both of these people who live in your brain, but keep them apart."
In other words, allow yourself to be unfettered and creative during your first draft. Don't get into editor mode until it's time to edit.
This is brilliant advice.
So write away, my friends--and keep those axe murderers and dancers separate!
Other news!!
I was interviewed on Kindle Author a couple of days ago and forgot to post it before now. Check it out and maybe leave me a comment? I've also added it to the reviews and interviews tab.
Hope everybody has a happy and safe Halloween!
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| (c) liakapelke (Not Pictured: Axe Murderer) |
"Nurture your inner schizophrenic. When you have written a draft of your story and it’s time to revise, you have to be able to look at it with a cold eye and take the ax to it as needed. . .You’re actually not one person, but two: a dancer and an ax murderer. Love both of these people who live in your brain, but keep them apart."
In other words, allow yourself to be unfettered and creative during your first draft. Don't get into editor mode until it's time to edit.
This is brilliant advice.
So write away, my friends--and keep those axe murderers and dancers separate!
Other news!!
I was interviewed on Kindle Author a couple of days ago and forgot to post it before now. Check it out and maybe leave me a comment? I've also added it to the reviews and interviews tab.
Hope everybody has a happy and safe Halloween!
That's a brilliant sentiment. Maybe I'm strange, but I've never had a problem killing characters or cutting things.
ReplyDeleteHappy Halloween!
Joshua: Isn't it? Happy Halloween!
ReplyDeleteThat is some really strange advice! What happens when they mix?
ReplyDeleteKamille: I added it to the post... "In other words, allow yourself to be unfettered and creative during your first draft. Don't get into editor mode until it's time to edit."
ReplyDeleteA lot of writers get bogged down trying to perfect everything as they go, and this doesn't work well for most people. Some call this method of writing "bleeding" (as opposed to plotting or pantsing).
Ah thanks! That's good advice! I know I have been through a hundred drafts that are heavily edited but only a few chapters long since it took me so long to finish one.
ReplyDeleteMy wife says I dance like a cartoon character...so I'll say I'm a painter and an axe murderer.
ReplyDeleteCharlie: LOL. Love it.
ReplyDeleteoooh! i LOVE this!!!
ReplyDeleteVic: It's a nice visual image, huh? I think it'll be easy to remember when I'm drafting (which is exactly when I need to remember it).
ReplyDelete