“Don't get it right, just get it written”
~James Thurber
I don't know about you guys, but I need that taped to my computer screen. REVISING IS FOR LATER. Trying to get it right the first time siphons creative energy. Right can give you writer's block. (Maybe it should be renamed to Righter's Block!)
Give that demanding inner editor the boot and just get it written! (But maybe give him/her a cookie before you kick them out.)
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| http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2009/06/30/no-bake-chocolate-peanut-butter-oatmeal-cookies/ |
35 comments:
I agree with you, getting it done seems to be the most important part. I really envy the people who can edit while they right though and feel confident with what they have. I'm one of those people who will probably never be totally satisfied with what I've written. I imagine I'll always find a place or two to correct something.
Yes, yes yes, yes YES. My spelling is atrocious and my grammar may be worse, and I can tell you for a fact all the parts of my WiP that just dont' flow. At all. But at this stage, before I even have the word count I need to think about calling it a first draft, just getting the words down is so, so important.
Thanks for the cookies! They are beautiful. Now if only they could jump out of the screen and onto my desk. ;)
Yes, yes, and yes! I totally agree, just get it done, there's plenty of time to pretty it up later--may I have a cookie please?
Rofl, I guess I posted my comment at the same time as Leigh Ann--see how well you nailed your point? We're all singing ditties of 'yes'!
That is so true! Revising should be left for last.
NO back cookies. YUM.
How can one revise soemthign that isnt done? It is definetly the last step. Even after your done, you should look thru, if your OCD like me!
I concur.
I agree! And I WANT some of those cookies. Yummy!
Have a great weekend, Peggy! :)
These are my favorite cookies! How dare you torture me when I'm on a diet! Lol!
cookies look yummy! I'll get it done later, cookies first! :-)
I need that taped to my computer too. Great thought. I want those COOKIES! YUUUUUM! *drooling*
I agree with you. I used to edit my work to death until I learned not to touch my work unless my draft is finished.
:-)
Hey Peggy, nice to be back and reading your blog! So, when I could finally look away from the cookies and read your post, I laughed aloud. I so want to be in your shoes because I dread revising! My first drafts are so quick as compared to my revisions! hehe...
perfect summation and thanks for the cookie!
Allison-- I think I'll never be totally satisfied, either. I think that if you are constantly improving your craft, it means that there are ALWAYS things you could do to make it better. So, as frustrating as it is, I think it's actually a good thing. As long as you can eventually force yourself to stop. :)
Leigh Ann and Lindy-- That is hilarious! I love the thought that you were both sitting at your keyboards, typing almost exactly the same things at the same time! Great minds think alike.
Leigh Ann-- Getting the words down and finding a way to ignore all the things you know are wrong with it IS so important! And sometimes so very hard. Those wrong things can yell pretty loudly. It works well when you have good ear plugs. :)
Lindy-- Have as many as you'd like. ;)
E.R.-- Hear, hear!
Read my books-- I don't think it's the REVISING that's the problem. It's the loud inner editor that tells you the sentence must be perfect the first time out. If you work and work to make each sentence right, it can severely damage the creative flow. And then yes, a definite last look through even after you thought you were done. While eating no bake cookies, of course. :)
Richard-- :)
Jenny-- Me, too! I think I'm going to have to make some TODAY.
Carrie-- Thanks!! You, too!
J.A.-- Because I'm mean like that. ;)
Cynthia-- Sounds like a FABULOUS plan! One I might follow...
Abby-- Me, too! *also drooling*
Misha-- I think that's a great way to go about it.
Shilpa-- I missed you! Glad to see you again! I am at the tail end of a forever-long revising stint, just starting on a new book, so I know just how you feel!
Tara-- Thanks! And you're welcome!
I am definitely the kind of writer who needs to get it all down and then go back. Being a multi-drafter may not be the most efficient, but it works for me!
I totally agree with that quote too. It's also like cleaning the house. Sometimes is best to just get everything in order than just 1 counter scrubbed all the way down and nothing else done.
And, since my hubby reads this blog too, we are now making no-bakes tonight!
And thus the equivalent white trash quote, "Get her done!" :)
I'm using that quote as my desktop background this very second! What a poignant reminder that actually writing is the most important step. I'm off to bake some brownies because I can't stand to look at those cookies anymore!
This reminds me of another quote:
"Done is better than perfect."
I'm not a writer but I think your principal applies to all lines of endeavour. We often spend far to long planning and thinking and not enough time rolling our sleeves up and doing.
RJR daydreamer
Well said; it is better for us to write something than to stare at a blank screen. :)
I totally agree. I printed the quote out for the cover of my notebook. Thanks!
hello! new follower from your comment on the B-blog.
Here from Jeff King's blog. .
I couldn't agree more. As a perfectionist I used to agonize over every word, would write, re-write then write again. Unfortunately at this pace I was only turning out a chapter a month, if that. Recently I decided to just get my ideas down, then edit later. Letting go of getting it "right" was difficult at first, but now, I'm churning out the pages.
It's good to know I'm not the only one who suffers from "Getting it right" syndrome.(:
FYI, I meant to include my name and URL in the previous post, but pressed the submit button too early.
Mmm. Those cookies look YUM. And I love that quote. It's perfect. :)
SO true! I used to spend hours and days and weeks polishing up scenes--only to maybe find out later that I didn't need the scene at all. Now, I push through that first draft, and tell myself it's a first draft--it's okay if it has problems! Once it's written, THEN I can revise it.
Or maybe you need a new muse :).
Haha, RIGHTer's blog. It's a beast. And your blog is hilarious! Can't wait to follow and hear more!
-http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/
Rebecca-- I think that's THE most important thing-- finding out what works for you.
Kristine-- So true! And if this post made just one person make no bake cookies today, then my work is done. :)
Jessie-- White trash or not, it's got the whole economy of phrasing thing going on. It says essentially the same thing in just three little words!
Lan-- What a fabulous idea! That's where I should put it, too. Sometimes I just want it perfect the first time, and it not only slows me down, but zaps the flow.
Cherie-- Ooo! I love that one!
RJR-- You are totally right!
Jennifer-- I agree. No matter what people might say, Blank Screen Staring just isn't the funnest past-time ever.
Maeve-- That's awesome! And you're welcome.
TerryLynn-- I'm so happy you came on over! I LOVE the B-Word blog.
Anon / Andrea-- Welcome! Jeff King is awesome. And I love me a good Letting go of getting it "right" success story! You're definitely not the only one who has suffered.
Ali-- Thanks! They're some of my very favorite kinds of cookies. Yet for being one of my faves, I don't seem to make them often...
Stephanie-- Deleting a scene you polished so well is the worst! Life is so much easier when we can convince ourselves that it's okay for a first draft to have problems, isn't it?
Unikorna-- You're right. My inner editor is seriously lacking in the muse department.
S.L.-- It's the beastiest. And thanks! I'm excited for you to be back!
Hi Peggy - I stopped by again to let you know that I have an award for you on my blog!
Sugar solves most everything...at least temporarily.
Maeve-- Thank you SO MUCH! I'm flattered!
Carterista-- :) Too bad it doesn't solve things permanently. That'd be WAY cooler. ;)
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