Re: [WR] the most difficult aspect of writing?

On 2008-07-09 10:57:29 -0400, Wildepad <Wildepad> said:

On Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:12:48 -0400, PJ <authoressss@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I can't seem to make myself just pour
out the words and go back to fix them later. After all the years I've
been writing professionally you would think I could do it by now, but I
can't.

Nor should you.
<...>
Those people who prefer 'get it down fast, fix it later' don't really
have the heart and soul of a writer -- they put words on paper only to
provide themselves with unlimited material for their real passion:
copyediting.

Perhaps more important than any arguments for/against any particular
process -- you've found a method that works for you. Don't fix it if
it ain't broke.
<...>

I agree with don't fix it if it ain't broke. Struggling against whatever your own personal methods are doesn't usually help much. (I put things off until the very last minute, but get things done on time, for example.)

I don't agree, though, that getting it down fast -- if that's how it comes for a writer -- isn't a valid method. I actually don't think you agree with that, either. I know the sorts you're talking about, the copyeditors at heart. But surely you've known (of) good writers (great writers, even?) who do a great deal of their work in their heads, mulling, and working it through, until it's time to "get it out." Then, of course, anything written really fast isn't likely to be "finished." So, moving chunks around, reworking themes for consistency, other re-writing bits can bring it to completion.

--Heather


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