The beast, that is the manuscript, is still staring at me accusingly and I've been sitting on my hands, chewing my fingers (although not at the same time) and trying not to give any thought to the re-write. Instead, I wrote a short story and even got out the ironing board at one moment, but thankfully it was a short-lived moment.
Because that's what they say, isn't it? You should leave your manuscript to 'rest' for a while before attacking it with the red pen. But why, I wonder? It's not as if it's going to get any better on its own, improve with time by the mere fact of being left alone, like a red wine that matures nicely with age. I'm sure, if pressed, I could pretty much recite my manuscript word for word (well, not really, but I do know it pretty intimately now) so it's not as if I'm going to come back to it in a few weeks' time and the whole thing will be a complete surprise to me.
So, I have taken all that learned writerly advice on board and discarded it. Ha ha! I have a reckless streak, don't you know? And armed with my red pen I am going to get scribbling.
So there!
Btw, I have been a very bad blogger this week and haven't really been visiting anyone, but am looking forward to catching up with all the news over the weekend.
Have a good one!
15 comments:
I say go with the flow. The golden rule of editing is - there are no rules!
Have a great weekend!
Maybe you have to leave your manuscript to rest because it is tired x
Yvonne - I like those kind of rules! You have a good weekend too!
Helen - Oh dear. You've read my manuscript, haven't you?
You are very bad indeed - how are we supposed to procrastinate properly if you're not here to distract us?
If you feel like red-penning it, go for it! As Yvonne says, the editing police won't be round to get you.
I think it's cook that you're so fired up about it. That's got to be a good sign.
I think you may have the right idea. I left mine too long and didn't recognise the characters when I visited them again. Even forgot some minor character's names!:-(
Go for it!
Have you been watching Big Brother? - or do you only watch the intellectual realities? I swore I'd never watch it but with a fourteen year old in the house I now can't escape...I find myself turning it on when she's not even here...
Jen - please don't let me put you off the serious business of procastinating. I'm sure I'll be joining you any moment now.
Lane - Really? Oh dear! I will learn by your example and get editing this very moment.
Honeysuckle - Hmmm, yes only the intellectual ones, along with the Discovery Channel and the History Channel, of course.
No, have not been watching Big Brother. Haven't heard much about this series either. Is it good? Not that I need any other distractions....
I sympathise completely. I only left my manuscript for a few days. But then I am very impatient. I decided to use red, blue and green pens. The idea was that they would all have different meanings............but then I got confused.....and now they just make my manuscript look pretty. (pretty messy that is!) Kat
It does make a difference if you leave your MS for 3 months and get on with a new novel. I used to know my novel almost by heart (well, the first 3 chapters anyway) but when I recently picked it up after 3 months of it lying dustily in a corner of my room I really DID see it clearly (typos and everything ;o))
Leaving your manuscript to breathe does have its merits but I am so impatient I do not think I could leave it alone for very long, it would whiper to me from the folder it was in all the time!!
Michelle
I try to leave mine for a bit and get on with something else then go back to it. It's amazing how many mistakes that are obvious when I do look at it again.
Groan, I'd better stop blogging and get on with the editing now.
I'm with Calistro on this one...a good break really does make you look at your manuscript with fresh eyes (I keep a pair in the fridge, especially) but I totally understand your impatience!
Kat - Ah, but a pretty manuscript has to be a good thing.
Cal - A new novel? I think I'll need to lie down in a darkened room before I can contemplate writing another!
Michelle - Me too. Impatience is definitely not a virtue!
Debs - That's the thing, isn't it? That RNA deadline is looming rather large now. Good luck with your editing.
Karen - I know, it's all very sensible advice, but I think I'll be looking at my manuscript with tired, crinkly eyes!
Hi Maddie. I too got very itchy fingers. I made myself wait for about a month before I started the first edit. I found the bad bits just leapt off the page and smacked me between the eyes.
Hi Annie - I managed five days! I thought I did very well lasting that long!
Lovely to see you here. I read about your exciting news via Lane's blog and popped over to read it for myself. I'm thrilled for you and will be reading avidly now to keep up on the progress.
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