April 9, 2015

Take It From The Top

Writing is hard. I love it, and it's hard.

There's so much starting over.

In the language of a singer, dancer, or Broadway cast, it's the words, "Let's take it from the top."

Go back a few measures.  Start again at the second verse.

With the written word, 'a few measures' can be a couple thousand words.  The second verse might be the fifth chapter that's now going to be the third and needs to be rewritten with stronger humor.

A writer can't keep the words just because they're good.  Stephen King says, "It should be good, if I'm being paid to do it.  What I'm not being paid to do is be self-indulgent."  So, good falls to the cutting room floor.

I craft and construct, string and strand, reword and rewrite, and then I start all over.

And I remember these nuggets from the greats:

"The story is the boss."
"That's what the rewrite is for."
"Easy reading is damn hard writing."

Woe to the writer who doesn't love the dance.  I don't know how such a book is ever born.  But then I guess we all have the same basic process: one more word.

Writing is hard.

I love it, and it's hard.

Blank notepad over laptop and coffee cup on office wooden table

One comment on “Take It From The Top”

  1. I got a critique this week that kicked me over. Still recovering. Annnnd I'm going to have to dump the first 7 chapters. Again.

    But, this is what we do.

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU

NOW AVAILABLE
thisbookisforyouthumb

JUST. YOU. WAIT.

NOW AVAILABLE
Just-You-Wait-COVER-resized
#1 New Title on Amazon in Christian Inspiration

YOU CAN DO THIS

NOW AVAILABLE
you-can-do-this
#1 New Title on Amazon in Women's Issues!

LET'S PRETEND WE'RE NORMAL

NOW AVAILABLE
Lets-Pretend-Were-Normal
#1 Bestseller on Amazon in Single Parenting

AND LIFE COMES BACK

NOW AVAILABLE
and-life-comes-back
#1 in Denver Post: Nonfiction Paperback and Finalist for 2015 Christian Book Award
© 2015-2023 Tricia Lott Williford. All Rights Reserved. Site by Concept To Web.
crossmenu
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram
%d bloggers like this: