Monday, March 21, 2011

The Never Ending Re-Write by Beth Winegarner

When I was in my late teens, I would proofread my dad's market-research reports for extra pocket money. They needed it; my dad had a habit of inserting a comma every time he paused to look at his notes, take a phone call, or leave the room for a snack.

So, among other things, I would remove all those extraneous commas.
Unfortunately, he had another proofreader – a professional one. 


One time he told me, “When you proofread, you take all my commas out. And when she proofreads, she puts them all back.”

That summarizes how I feel about the revision process: you could spend your whole life taking commas out and then putting them back in again. I love drafting, because there is a clear beginning, middle, and end. You know you're finished because everything you meant to put into the book is in the book, in more or less the order you intended.

But then, one day, you sit down to begin rewriting. That's when you
realize – with horror, embarrassment, or even a sense of mistaken
identity – that the book you thought you wrote in no way
resembles this book at all. As you read your long, rambling,
semi-coherent sentences, you wonder, “Who wrote this? It's awful!” And then it sinks in: you wrote it. And you're going to have to fix it. And it's going to take forever.

Oh, I get it. Rewriting is important – probably more important than
the writing itself. After all, once you get a look at your draft, you
think, “Thank God I didn't let you out of the house looking like
that.”

But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

I have friends who adore revision. My friend Katie, who works at the
newspaper I left two years ago to have a baby, said she really enjoys
going back over her text, again and again, to make it sparkle. My
author friend Jon blogs pretty often about his revision process, with
the kind of enthusiasm most people reserve for high-intensity sports
or really great meals. To my mind, he might as well be raving about
scrubbing the toilet. But his books get published and favorably
reviewed, so I try to evoke him when I sit down to do the deed myself.

Of course, I also keep Anne Lamott in the back of my mind, and her
advice about “shitty first drafts,” as she put it in Bird By
Bird
: “For me and most of the other writers I know, writing is not
rapturous. In fact, the only way I can get anything written at all is
to write really, really shitty first drafts. … All good writers write
them. This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific
third drafts.”

Right now I am revising my most recent book, a nonfiction guide for
parents to the most controversial teen influences: violent video
games, the occult, heavy metal, and so on. Everything you've been told
will make your kid homicidal or suicidal. I wrote it during the second
year of my daughter's life, through sleep deprivation and tantrums and
shifting nap schedules, stealing time when I could.

At first, I was impressed that someone as tired as I was could string
coherent sentences together, let alone compose 90,000 words of mostly
intelligent prose. In fact, my first impression of the finished draft
was that it read like it was written by someone with many more
functioning brains cells than I have. I allowed myself be impressed
for a little while.

But then I sat down to revise it, and I wanted to put my head in the
compost bin. This was after I let several editor friends read
sections of it and provide feedback. I thought I was composing
readable, approachable prose. Instead, I was writing sentences such,
“If you're worried or even frightened about the music you hear blaring
out of your teenager's bedroom – or the names and symbols you see on album covers, posters, and t-shirts – then the last thing you probably want to do is pay more attention to them.”

Oh, there's nothing technically wrong with it. It's grammatically
correct. It makes a point. It's just that it goes on. And on. And on.
Other sections of the book have sentences like this one, only they're
weighed down with long, academic words that made even my editor
friends chafe. If they couldn't sit through it, I can't expect
heartland parents to pick up the book.

I've already taken one pass through most of the book, doing what I
thought was a good cleanup job. But now I'm taking another pass and
realizing just how much more rewriting it needs. It's like each draft
clears the way so I can see everything else that's wrong. Sure, it's
an important process, and the book will only benefit from it. But it's
such a slog – one that doesn't have a clear ending point. I don't do
well without clear ending points. And I know that when I find a
publisher for it, the editor will want yet another rewrite. I'm game,
but I can't say I'm looking forward to it.

When I was working as a reporter for daily newspapers, I could tell
when I was done writing and revising, because it was time to send the
story to my editor. I'm accustomed to that kind of deadline, one that
comes at you like the tunnel-cleaner in Labyrinth. This time, I
don't have a deadline. Theoretically, the revisions could go on
forever.

When I offered to write this guest blog, I thought I was going to
offer some tips on rewriting, but I find that I don't really have any.
I mean, when I sit down for a revision session, I pretend I'm not
doing it. I distract myself with Facebook or blogs. I write something
else (like this piece – nevermind that it needs revising, too).
Anything but rewriting. And then, when I can finally focus on
the task, it's only for an hour or so at a time – more than that, and
I feel like I'm crawling out of my skin.

But then, I read back through the hour's work and realize how much
better my book is. How many fewer snags and hiccups there are in the
sentences. How much clearer the meaning.

At least, until the next time I open the document and see how much
more needs to be done.

Bio: Beth Winegarner is a journalist, author, and poet currently
splitting her time between toddler-raising and writing a new
nonfiction book on controversial teen subcultures. She also blogs
about these subcultures at http://backwardmessages.wordpress.com, and
has had pieces published recently in Mother Jones and
Radical Parenting. She lives in San Francisco with her partner
and daughter. For more, visit http://www.bethwinegarner.com.

-- 
http://www.bethwinegarner.com
http://backwardmessages.wordpress.com

119 comments:

Samantha Sotto said...

Throw up into your typewriter every morning. Clean up every noon."
— Raymond Chandler

You're not alone :D

Lynette Benton said...

It's the "it's going to take forever" to rewrite the book that makes me crazy. It's such a boring occupation (although the story's not boring).

Thanks for this sympathetic post!

Brynne Betz said...

Thank you, Beth! I'm working on the second draft of my novel so reading this helped make my lonely path less daunting! And Samantha...LOVE that quote!:)

Melissa Crytzer Fry said...

Oh my can I relate, Beth! Your entire post reminded me of the ending I wrote for my first novel. I thought it was oh-so-BRILLIANT, and when my instructor came back, telling me it was less than stellar, I became oh-so-DEFENSIVE. Only once I left the whole thing just SIT for two months, and came back to it later (with fresh eyes), did I realize just how "shitty" it was. And how embarrassed I was (like you say: "I wrote that???"). The second ending was, indeed, much, much better. But, like you, I am not in love with revising. I employ the same tactics to avoid doing it, but am happy, in the end, when the changes improve the piece/novel, etc. Thank you for a great post.

Midge said...

I love the Chandler quote above. That does sum it up pretty well!

But I confess I am one of those strange species of writers who actually loves revision. Perhaps I should've been an editor. :)

Thanks for a great post!

Amanda Hoving said...

Never-ending is right! I'm so much better with deadlines. And not the self-imposed kind, either. I don't scare myself enough to stick to them. I actually don't mind revisions, because at least there's something there to play around with. But the playing can go on indefinitely. ;)

BookGeek said...

I think I almost died when I read this: "In fact, my first impression of the finished draft
was that it read like it was written by someone with many more
functioning brains cells than I have."

I go through this repeating cycle too many times to count! I write the first draft, am impressed, let it rest, open it, almost have a heart attack, revise, let it rest...the cycle continues.

Great post!

Anonymous said...

tramadol buy tramadol 50mg for sale - buy tramadol online cash delivery

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol with cod tramadol package insert - tramadol dogs dosage dogs tramadol

Anonymous said...

tramadol online overnight buy tramadol no rx - cheap tramadol online no prescription

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol hcl percocet - tramadol overdose risk

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap no prescription tramadol 50mg hcl - is buying tramadol online illegal

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol dosage 627 - buy 200 mg tramadol online

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol tablets online - buy tramadol 180

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol dosage chart - tramadol 50mg street value

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online ambien online generic - ambien cr withdrawal side effects

Anonymous said...

klonopin without prescription klonopin and alcohol recreationally - klonopin high snorting

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin can get high klonopin - smoking klonopin erowid

Anonymous said...

ambien generic retail price for ambien - buy ambien online fast shipping

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 58 tv - ultram online overnight

Anonymous said...

order ambien ambien generic names - sleep walking from ambien

Anonymous said...

buy lorazepam online ativan online mastercard - ativan 0.5 mg uses

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod fedex tramadol 377 - buy tramadol soma

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online without a prescription tramadol hcl zydol 50mg - tramadol hcl 50 mg muscle relaxer

Anonymous said...

buy somas cymbalta soma drug interactions - somatropin to buy in usa

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol 100mg tramadol kidney damage - tramadol online free shipping

Anonymous said...

buy generic klonopin rebound anxiety from klonopin - klonopin social anxiety reviews

Anonymous said...

lorazepam online ativan 2 mg street value - ativan vs xanax mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol no prescription cheap - лекарство трамадол

Anonymous said...

lorazepam 1mg ativan dose for nausea - ativan withdrawal with diazepam

Anonymous said...

ambien online ambience mall gurgaon contact details - generic ambien cr coupon

Anonymous said...

order soma buy cheap soma no prescription - generic soma no prescription

Anonymous said...

2mg klonopin xanax or klonopin better for anxiety - zoloft klonopin overdose

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol mastercard buy tramadol missouri - what is tramadol 50mg for

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol no prescription tramadol 50 mg veterinary use - tramadol hcl with ibuprofen

Anonymous said...

ativan online recovering from ativan overdose - ativan vs xanax mri

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol for dogs with food - tramadol online

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin anxiety - klonopin vicodin withdrawal

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol online by cod - tramadol for dogs anti inflammatory

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online order tramadol cod saturday delivery - tramadol hcl tablets

Anonymous said...

ambien price ambien side effects joint pain - insomnia taking ambien

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol no prescription tramadol 50 mg effectiveness - 200 mg tramadol high

Anonymous said...

generic ambien online ambien prescription - ambien cr pill

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol without a script take tramadol 50 mg get high - tramadol non addictive

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol for high blood pressure - cheap tramadol online uk

Anonymous said...

zolpidem online ambien cheapest online - cheap ambien lighting tv

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod tramadol high how much - tramadol 50 mg buy

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol online reliable - tramadol online shop

Anonymous said...

order ambien online ambien side effects nausea - ambien cr much does cost

Anonymous said...

generic soma online soma online no prescription overnight delivery - watson generic soma

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online legally zolpidem 10 mg erowid - buy ambien san francisco

Anonymous said...

klonopin antidepressant klonopin 20 mg - best site buy klonopin

Anonymous said...

order tramadol what is a normal dosage of tramadol for dogs - online pharmacy for ultram

Anonymous said...

buy soma online buy cheap somatropin - hub soma 901 mission

Anonymous said...

buying ambien online ambien side effects nausea - buy ambien with prescription

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol how get high tramadol - tramadol hcl 100 mg iran chemie pharma

Anonymous said...

cheap sildenafil buy viagra online germany - cheap viagra in canada

Anonymous said...

buy soma online coupons for soma intimates - soma for sale omaha

Anonymous said...

buy cheap viagra online viagra online usa - illegal to buy viagra online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online cod buy tramadol overnight delivery no prescription - high von tramadol

Anonymous said...

cheap ambien does generic ambien cr work - ambien cr sandoz

Anonymous said...

ambien for sale ambien side effects funny - buy ambien online no prescription needed

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online dosage range of klonopin - klonopin for seizures

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online forum how to order viagra cheap - online pharmacy viagra prescription

Anonymous said...

ambien 10 mg ambien cr - pill identifier for ambien

Anonymous said...

buy viagra viagra for cheap online - viagra online coupons

Anonymous said...

buy zolpidem ambien best sleep aid - ambien withdrawal side effects

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin klonopin long term - how to buy clonazepam online

Anonymous said...

generic carisoprodol is soma muscle relaxer a narcotic - soma san diego foster the people

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol xanax high - tramadol online no prescription overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

buy ambien price of ambien cr 12.5 - ambien cr shortage

Anonymous said...

order viagra prescription buy real viagra online - cheap viagra that works

Anonymous said...

klonopin price klonopin side effects men - klonopin withdrawal .25

Anonymous said...

carisoprodol drug soma bras retail stores - soma van ness

Anonymous said...

order ambien online overnight ambien side effects fda - ambien on sale

Anonymous said...

buy cialis 20mg cialis online europe - buy-cialis-generic-online

Anonymous said...

buy soma online no prescription muscle relaxant soma carisoprodol - map of soma san diego

Anonymous said...

buy viagra professional purchase viagra and cialis - generic viagra 100mg

Anonymous said...

soma online buy soma generic online - soma san diego lay dying

Anonymous said...

buy generic viagra online overnight viagra in canada online - buy viagra online legally

Anonymous said...

sildenafil citrate tablets buy viagra kolkata - how to buy viagra in canada

Anonymous said...

sildenafil 100mg viagra for pulmonary hypertension - viagra and high blood pressure

Anonymous said...

buy viagra for women cheap viagra online free shipping - viagra patent extension

Anonymous said...

discount viagra viagra online without prescription+25 mg - cheap herbal viagra

Anonymous said...

buy viagra with paypal can you buy viagra online safely - ordering viagra online in canada

Anonymous said...

buy viagra sample viagra generic - buy viagra jellies

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription viagra online reliable - buy brand viagra online canada

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online mastercard does generic tramadol look like - best place to buy tramadol online reviews

Anonymous said...

finasteride online propecia generic 1mg - generic propecia safe

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription ultram tramadol hydrochloride 50mg - buy tramadol online pay cod

Anonymous said...

cheapest cialis cialis daily 5 mg - cialis online apotheke holland

Anonymous said...

buy viagra 100mg purchase viagra new zealand - can i buy generic viagra in the us

Anonymous said...

buy retin-a retin-a treatment - buy retin a 1 gel

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap tramadol addiction dosage - buy tramadol cod fedex

Anonymous said...

cialis online cialis online in canada - is cialis daily covered by insurance

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 50mg ndc - tramadol overdose narcan

Anonymous said...

generic strattera strattera medication class - strattera high cholesterol

Anonymous said...

retin a buy online where to buy retin-a micro in usa - retin-a 0.04

Anonymous said...

finasteride no prescription where to buy propecia in usa - propecia generic 2013

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online ultram vs tramadol side effects - tramadol 50 mg is it a narcotic

Anonymous said...

retin a online pharmacy retin a micro and benzoyl peroxide - retin a no prescription needed

Anonymous said...

buy propecia best way buy propecia uk - best place order propecia

Anonymous said...

buy cheap propecia buy propecia online from canada - generic propecia results

Anonymous said...

tramadol generic tramadol 50 mg is it a narcotic - tramadol 50 mg to get high

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod buy tramadol with mastercard - tramadol hcl 50 mg for migraines

Anonymous said...

cheap retin-a retin a cream uses - retin a cream kp

Anonymous said...

tramadol online no prescription tramadol recreational use - tramadol overdose fatal amount

Anonymous said...

tramadol online no prescription tramadol 50 mg cheap - tramadol hcl 50 mg weight loss

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl dosage - buy tramadol online reviews

Anonymous said...

buy retin-a online retin a cream 0.25 - retin a usa buy

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online cod overnight tramadol for dogs safe - tramadol addiction ppt

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription generic-tramadol - buy tramadol online pay cod

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol can you order tramadol - how many tramadol 50mg can you take

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol mastercard tramadol is generic for - can you buy tramadol internet

Anonymous said...

tramadol online discount tramadol no prescription - buy tramadol cheap online no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol no prescription tramadol 50mg an 627 - buy tramadol online pay cod

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol india where can i buy tramadol usa - tramadol 50 mg para que es

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight cod withdrawal from tramadol addiction - tramadol hcl 50 mg pill

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol does tramadol 50mg look like - buy tramadol cod online

"These are the days when Birds come back/a very few/a Bird or two/to take a backward look."

"These are the days when Birds come back/a very few/a Bird or two/to take a backward look."