I love editing.
Many of you know how much I detest first drafts, but I truly adore editing. Going over my own work with a red pen gives me a secret little thrill, coming up with a new sub-plot, or even better- finding just the right word to turn a phrase into a gem on the page. That's when I feel like a writer.
So with that said, I will now admit that I am not a fan of the first edit.
Ernest Hemingway once said, "The first draft of anything is shit." The man was right.
It's pretty painful to go through a first draft of anything and realize how far it needs to come before anyone is allowed to read it. A necessary evil.
So, where are you in the writing process? Slogging through the first draft of your first book? Putting the final spit polish on the manuscript before you query? Somewhere in between?
6 comments:
I'm just about done my first draft. I do enjoy editing, but the amount of work looks pretty daunting from here. It's a relief to know that even Hemingway started out with a bad first draft!
Normally, I love first drafts and despise editing! But I cannot seem to get through this particular draft to save my life. I'm actually looking forward to editing... sigh...
Glad you got through your personal first draft hell at last :)
I've always got a few different ones going - final polish on one MS, still slogging through the first draft on the end of another (although I've already gone through several rounds of edits on the first half, breaking my own rule on that one). I may be strange, but I love the first draft! The free creative act is awesome. It's the first round of edits that are tough. :)
I'm with Susan. First draft is fun for me. Though, I don't mind editing either. I think what I dread is having to make a *major* revision.
Currently, my novel is done and I'm starting to send out queries.
I love the first draft and even the first edit. It's the second and the third etc. edits where my eyes cross and I get grouchy.
I have a manuscript that needs that first edit and I keep putting it off (I finished it in May). I started something new instead. So yeah, I'm totally with you on this one.
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