I'll let you in on a secret - revising is my favorite part of the writing process. For real - I love tearing apart my old work, figuring out better ways to make words (as one does), and filling in everything that was missing the first time around.
To me, your first draft is really more of a skeleton - the outlines of my artwork. Often, the hardest part is just getting words down on the page. Once the words are written, it's often actually easier to see what you need to change. Perfectionism will make you quit before you even get to the best part. Editing and revising are your author superpowers. Nothing is final until you say it is - so why not write something, highlight it to revisit later, and then keep moving? The key to your superpowers are three easy steps: 1) figuring out what needs to be revised/edited/changed/added/deleted/etc; 2) making a plan and getting organized about it; and 3) getting to work! Right now I'm a few days into my pre-order campaign for Summer Twilight which is incredibly exciting. I'm incredibly grateful for all the people who have supported me so far, and I'm really looking forward to having some wonderful conversations in the coming weeks with new fans. Since the pre-order process has started, I wanted to write a post about my writing journey - which isn't yet complete! But I think documenting it is really important, and I hope it helps you if you're interested in writing or publishing, or even just curious.
I've talked before about different ways to make time to write, but I also wanted to share exactly what I do and how it works (or doesn't) for me! I've spent many years perfecting how and when I write, and I still struggle with it from time to time. The most important part is finding a process that works for you.
One of my favorite things about reading a new book is losing myself in it. Some people have an amazing knack for writing a place in a way that makes it feel as though you're actually there, whether it's the rain-damp cobblestones of a narrow Victorian street, or rolling fields perfumed with every flower imaginable.
There's a tricky balance here: you don't want to be so overly descriptive and flowery with your language that your reader loses interest, but you need to give enough detail that your audience can build their own image. Writing is unique that way - the only way we as authors have to communicate with the reader is with the written word. It's a lot of pressure to get those words right.
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AuthorBridget is the author of Summer Twilight, available for purchase now! Categories
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