Monday, June 17, 2013

Why Famous Writers Should Complain About Writing


Anne Lamott says ”Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.”  Writers, if you don’t feel that way—if you happen to find writing effortless and easy—do the rest of us a favor and lie.

J.K. Rowling apparently wrote the complete story arc for the Harry Potter series on a long train ride, and then wrote most of Sorcerer’s Stone in cafes while her new baby was napping. Napping??? People, I was barely groomed the first year of my child’s life, let alone able to churn out a groundbreaking, genre-busting bestseller. It’s true that Rowling was on welfare at the time, her manuscript was rejected repeatedly before going on to revolutionize the industry, and from what I’ve read, all that success couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. But still. Jo, couldn’t you have worked up some writing block story to make the rest of us feel a little better?

By way of contrast, I give you Michael Chabon's story of writing The Yiddish Policemen’s Union.
Listening to Chabon's author interview at the end of the audiobook, I was electrified to discover that he wrote a 600-page version of The Yiddish Policemen's Union from the POV of Detective Meyer Landsman. But, says Chabon, Meyer was too opinionated to be a good narrator; he kept intruding on the story. So, Chabon explains nonchalantly, "I kept about 30 pages of it." In other words, Michael Chabon threw out 570 pages of a manuscript! And he’s not whining, he’s not complaining, he doesn't seem to hate himself. The story had to be re-written in order to get the results he wanted. So he re-wrote it. By the way, if you’ve never read The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, it flows as though Chabon never erased a comma.

So, I’ve finally realized the form my WIP is going to take. It’s going to be written from a different POV than I planned, for a slightly younger audience and the action will start three years earlier. And I’m going to channel my inner Michael Chabon and say, that’s OK.

Writers, what struggles have you had with drafts? Is there a writer whose story inspires you? Let us know.

18 comments:

  1. Once again, you gladden my tiny black heart dearest Ari. <3

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  2. I was at work a while back, and a co-worker seemed skeptical about how much time I'd spent revising my story, and why didn't I just send it out? To which I replied, NO one has ever sold a first draft. Now I can quote Ann Lamott at her, lol! =)

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  3. I was about 75% of the way through the first draft of my current WIP when I tossed it and started over. I kept the same opening, but that was about it. I also tossed quite a bit of the second draft. Now that I'm on draft three, I feel fairly confident that most of what I've written will stay. Of course I will add here and delete there, but the structure is now strong and fully functioning -- and most of all, moving closer to honest.

    That first draft is to get the words down. To start to find your way. It's okay to be a little -- or even a lot -- lost. You simply have to keep working until you get to the end.

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  4. Leandra: so there to them! What kind of a knucklehead doesn't understand that it takes what it takes!

    Cornelia, I am always inspired by your own story, and I remember you telling me about the people in your writing group who weren't willing to do the re-writes and their novels didn't progress past a certain point. Whereas you rewrote and rewrote and your first mystery novel got nominated for an Edgar! (And should have won.)

    Judy, I never read the first drafts of your novel but you know I love the one you're doing now. Cooper is just such an appealing protag, can't wait to see how it turns out.

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  5. Entering the conversation as the only PB writer to comment so far. Yes, drafts are endless and the only difference for me is that the 5" high pile of discards represents rewrites for only 500 words!

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    1. Gale - I keep getting the image of an overflowing garbage pail. I think PB edits can be even more frustrating because you have to be so concise with your words!!

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  6. Bird by Bird is pretty much my writing bible. When I start a new project though, I don't like to think about how much I will end up tossing. I need to trick myself. After months of some pretty intense revisions, I'm in the beginning stages of a new WIP and am finding it hard to shift back into that mindset - that it's okay to play! Not only is it okay, it's mandatory!! I'll be honest though - I'm not one to 'toss out' words. I may move them into another folder on my computer, but I need to know they are there and sometimes there's still some hidden gems!

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  7. Loving this conversation!

    Leandra-- I totally get it about people feeling skeptical about the number of revisions! Some people just don't get it!

    My favorite revision story is the beginning of Charlotte's web. I found a link to it here http://www.discover-writing.com/leads_to_charlottes_web.html I just think the opening line is perfect and I'm so glad that E.B. White revised until he got it just right!

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  8. Also if you want an inspiring and current revision story check out this awesome blog post-- http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/6/10/picture-book-writing-process-how-helene-boudreau-wrote-i-dar.html

    Helene Boudreau does an amazing job of sharing her writing process including her many drafts (and editor comments) on the way to her picture book's publication! :o)

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  9. It's so comforting to know everyone goes through this. It's embarrassing how much paper I can go through for a 500 word manuscript. Thank goodness we recycle now! I'm a little like Robin though -- I always feel better if I store the 'unused words' (i.e., the parts that stink) in another file, just in case, someday, I realize OMG that was awesome! I'll use that now! I think that's happened once in how many words??

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  10. Okay -- I just read this

    http://libbabray.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/on-writing-despair-juicebox-mix/

    And you all should too!

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  11. Thanks Judy! Definitely worth reading. My favorite is the 'outline' bit. LOL. Ariel, Libba Bray has answered your call...

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  12. Brianna, I LOVE this story about the beginning of Charlotte's Web. Especially because the final result reads so smoothly and effortlessly. It seems so inevitable and right.

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  13. OMG, Judy. LOVE this Libba Bray post! "Like my process is the filthy, shit-covered kid holding road kill by the tail while everyone else is clean and pressed and lined up neatly for the class photo. My method is an ass, frankly, and I’m thinking of not inviting it to Thanksgiving dinner this year." I'm going to try The Diviners again.

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  14. Oh wow! Yes, Libba Bray completely answered your call Ariel! Thanks for sharing this amazing post, J.A.! Real writing is messy and hard, isn't it?

    Must get back to writing!

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  15. I always think of Gabriel Garcia Marquez who said that he can't write anything until he writes the perfect first line (for a book or story). This process can take him months, longer, before he is satisfied and can move forward.

    Check out Charles Bukowski on Brain Pickings and thanks for this post!

    http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/10/19/so-you-want-to-be-a-writer-charles-bukowski/

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  16. Thanks for this post, Ariel. It's still discomforting when I can't get to where I want a piece to be. But with much revision and many drafts, my work gets better and better. And when I go to retreats or conferences and learn something new, I revise again. Without guidance from others, I don't think my picture books would have ever been published! And I certainly need the type of inspiration you provide here.

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  17. It has been such a relief to me to finally "get" that your first or even second draft has to be your final one...something that joining the group really helped with. My background as an editor and reporter (or possibly just laziness:) has always had me getting stuck when it comes to longer projects, and I think it has something to do with feeling like a draft has to be completed in a short amount of time (as it is in the journalism world). Also, as we all know, the writer is often at war with the internal editor and that gets one stuck.

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