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Hello All, Sorry my post is late today but here it is none
the less. I wanted to share the last month of my writing life with you, to
share the “slog” of the “One Draft At a Time” check list that I am following,
for the first time, on my current work in progress. Slog is such a descriptive
word and for a writer, not a bad one. It says it all.
Mary Burton, www.maryburton.com
, author of numerous works, mostly romantic suspense, gave a workshop that I
attended last October. Her workshop was based on the One Draft At a Time system
that she developed and uses herself. It is a thorough and thought-provoking
process that has me at times pulling hair, because it involves a lot of “slogging”
through, but you have to pay such attention to detail that I hope to find, at
the end, that it has all been worth it! This is WORK! But writing does,
eventually, come down to just that, work. Mary uses a six or seven draft system
where you use each draft to check on only one thing, like a certain word, or
whether the structure is good, or if the story flows. Each of these steps has
their own draft. Of course there is much more to it than that, but I can’t go
into details because it is her copy-written process and I honor that. Being
somewhat uninspired right now, yet determined, I thought the journey I'm on a perfect subject
to write of today. I hope (REALLY) to find at the end, that the process, the
road map she has laid before me, will lead me to the destination that I seek.
Meanwhile, I’ll continue to slog through until I know I have produced the best
work I possibly can.What about you? Do you have a set process you use to edit/revise? Thanks for dropping by!
Image from:
Uhhhh editing! The bane of my existence! I'm using Holly Lisle's system, which is similarly (gasp!) work and a slog. HARD WORK! Who would have thought?
ReplyDeleteSee, I knew there were others out there like me! Oh yeah, editing. Can't live with it, can't live without it! I'm going to check out what Holly's system is like... can I find it on her site?
DeleteGot it. Went to her site!
DeleteEvery writer has to find what works best for her/him. I've tried many and come up with what works for me. Someone called it circular writing--I write, go back and revise, write more, go back and revise, write, etc. I know that slows down my process but I'm too OCD to write a 1st draft straight through. Best wishes on finding what works for you.
ReplyDeleteSo very true Diane. Thanks for following my reviews on Goodreads! I requested friendship. I used to write like that, but the last first draft I finished for NaNoWriMo I went straight through and it was a blast!
DeleteAh! I wrote a blog post about the seven deadly edits many MANY years ago, and yes, it's pretty much THE way to go. (They were my own set of edits though, so I was totally shocked someone else might have a similar system.) I'd be curious to see what her suggested edits entail. Does she have a book out that details them?
ReplyDeleteCrystal, I don't think she does have a book out about it, but I'm going to ask her. It would be a great idea. But what about you? Do you have one, about your editing process?
DeleteGoodness, maybe I should! Pet project, the seed has been planted.
DeleteGood season to grow in, spring is just around the corner!
DeleteI dread when I get to the editing part of my first WIP. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteElsie
Elsie, I don't mind the beginning of the editing/revising process because I feel I'm still creating at that point. It's here, at the "mechanics" stage where it begins to feel like work!
DeleteI actually love the initial editing process. I like to go back and turn words into better words.
ReplyDeleteI do too Cindy! The key word is "Initial," I'm on the last of a long line of drafts!
DeleteSounds similar to what I try and do with my wips. The hard part is sticking to just one for me. :)
ReplyDeleteFunny thing about revisions for me is that I really love it. More so than the drafting. I think doing several revisions that focus on just one thing makes it easier to handle, and when you can look at the difference between revision 1 and revision 7 you have to feel good!
Good luck with the slogging!
Thanks Charity! I do like doing it this way, it's just hard!!! And yes, can't wait to see the difference between the first and last!
DeleteI had no idea about her, but I use a similar process for myself. In the end, no matter what system I use, I'm sure I would end up half bald anyway lol
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the slogging :D
Thanks, S.K. had no idea so many used a similar method! It's amazing so many of us still have hair!
DeleteI know some people edit like that and it works well for them. I tend to look at everything at first, and then specific things on final drafts. yes, I fix words and typos in the first draft. Only because it would drive me nuts not to do so.
ReplyDeleteMe too. NaNoWriMo was the first time I actually wrote without (too much) fixing on the first draft!
DeleteI learned a new word - slog ~ For me, writing the base material is essential then I rework it in poetry or prose form ~ Since my final output is short, I don't spend too much time editing it ~ I don't think I can write a novel long one as my attention span is short as it is ~
ReplyDeleteGrace, glad you learned a new word! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteI've heard of this process as well, but never tried it myself. I read through it the first time for flow. The second time I take notes and "add fleas" (sensory details). Then I'll find and replace my crutch words. Stuff like that. Then I read it twice more because I'm a psycho!
ReplyDeleteI must be psycho also Julie! I lose count sometimes of how many times I read a wip before I can finally let it go!
DeleteFebruary 10th, 2014
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa,
I've read about this method of revising your first draft. The idea is that the brain can concentrate on one kind of operation at a time.
Roz Morris mentions it in her book Nail Your Novel, but she is not as strict as Mary Burton seems to be.
I haven't finished my rough first draft so I don't know what method I will use to refine it. Right now I'm looking at index cards to build a basic framework.
I'll have to look around and see if can find a discription of this in one of my books.
I'll comment again if I find it.
Best wishes,
Anna
Yes, it is labor intensive, but I'm thinking it will be a good practice for me to get used to. I'm learning a lot while I do it...
DeleteHi Lisa .. good for you for keeping going - but it must be inspiring to be able to learn from Mary and her workshop must have been so interesting .. good luck - cheers Hilary
ReplyDelete