Wow, did I say CRAFTED?

 

Thank the writing gods that the first draft of my novel was too long. The above picture is how I feel about most of it.

Okay, I'll be nice, yes it's the best thing I've ever written <wince> but no, it's not the best thing I COULD have written. I went through and took out the questionable things first, the scenes that had no bearing on the plot, the ones I put in for kicks--the ones I added because I was afraid it would be too SHORT. Okay, that only took off 5,000 words, which is a good start. So I cracked my knuckles and dove in to see if I could say the same things more concisely.

The fact that I'm only in chapter 3 (of 17) and have already cut an additional 3,000 words tells me something. It tells me that this stage, this step, which I so joyously ignored when I felt I had 'finished' the book, is the most important step. <facepalm>

I had read authors saying things like, "oh now you have to edit? the easy part is OVER!" and thinking, surely constructing an entire world out of your frikkin head is hard? Isn't that the hard part?

HAHAHAHAHA noooooooo. . . . It also isn't the most bruising for the EGO. Let me talk about the process.

So I read a scene that I was previously really proud of (because at this stage, I am proud of most of it), then I ask questions. The first, obvious question is, do I need this scene? If I can't justify its existence through character or setting or plot development, then out it goes. Usually the answer is yes, because I already went through and cut 5,000 words of that crap already.

The next question is, what is the main point of the scene? It usually gives depth to something or someone. If it doesn't, it explains something or someone. The next question after that is, how can I get the main point across without ALL THESE GODDAMN WORDS????

Yeah. So I go paragraph by paragraph, and break down the main point of each, and slide phrases together and cut out repetitions and extra adjectives (also, ands and thens), and pick the most powerful or important image and stick to that instead of the flowery BULLSHIT I seem to have vomited up on my first draft.

And let me clarify: I'm calling it my first draft, but it really isn't <wince>. The very first draft is on notebook paper. Each chapter written out and typed separately, then edited when I was ready to type the next chapter. Then I went through the whole book and 'edited' it, which was obviously just lip service I was paying judging on what I'm working with now. And now here I am again. Editing. For real.

This time it's slow going, like using a very fine toothed comb to clean a shag carpet. And it is not fun. It is far more like finishing a research paper you're really trying to make an A on and not much like creative writing at all. But it has become embarrassingly clear to me that it is the most important step, that tightening up the writing, making choices, cutting out the admittedly beautiful imagery or symbolism that doesn't help the story is what separates amateur from professional.

 I don't know if I'm a professional, I'm certainly not paid for this pain (yet), but I will say that I feel much better about the whole thing now I've asked those questions. I kind of feel this contempt for my past self, who just threw images and words around like a carefree hippie throwing blossoms or frisbees. My present self just wants to scream at my past self, take this shit seriously you twerp!