Okay. The rough is done. It's a huge relief. All the scenes are there (I think). All the major turning points. All the character arcs.
This rough, however, takes rough to a whole new level of rough. Nothing is in order. Stuff came out of me sometimes according to character arc, sometimes according to philosophical underpinnings, sometimes (apparently very rare times) according to plot. There's going to be some crazy wild revising going on here.
I will get frustrated. I will get mad at myself. I will get crazy. But at the moment, I am a little bit thrilled. This book means so much to me and I really think some of the things in it are really important. It's been a challenge. I've been terrified of it. Right now, it's thrilling me. Andy keeps nodding and saying, "Phase Four."
I love this part of writing. I love when all the pieces are there, but they're rough and ugly and now I can use those more refined skills to massage things into place, to turn phrases, to create great scene endings. In another week, I'll probably again be convinced that it's a terrible book and the end of my career, but for now I'm hopeful and I'm sticking with that.
What's your favorite part of writing? Which phase? Does your family know which one you're in just by how you talk about your project?
6 comments:
You're at my favourite part! I am so jealous. I'm right now at my least favourite part. Or more accurately, the part where I love and hate writing on alternate days. :)
First drafts are so tough for me, but it's also when I feel most creative and get the "rush" most often. But it's also when I want to curl up in a little ball and never do this again. Which kind of day will today be? Time will tell. :)
PS. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Thanks, Maureen. I know just what you mean about the rough drafts. I had several of those fabulous unexpected epiphanies that make writing so fun while writing this rough. Still, I prefer this kind of steady focused work.
I love the rough draft and find the fixing stage so fraught with peril. I'd much rather face an empty page than try and fix and fail to fix what I've written...
But congrats on reaching this milestone
I'm also at the putting the book together stage... but I think my problem is I don't really have a "rough" draft.
I write the book, I fix somethings, I consider it done.
I wish I could be one of those writers how says "Ahah! What I really need is to ...." and do that "big" thing that really sets the book part.
But I think it all goes back to the too linear thing... I had a story. I wrote it. The end.
Anyway good luck Eileen!
Sinead, you are so crazy brave! Even just the phrase "face an empty page" makes my stomach hurt a little.
Steph, the amount of jealousy I feel toward you is unseemly. I'm embarrassed for myself.
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