Stages of Writing by Lorrie Orr

 

This month's prompt has to do with editing our writing. The phrase “the rewrite rut” was coined by Caroline Sharp in A Writer’s Workbook. How much do you rewrite? Do you enjoy it? How many drafts do you write before letting your work go off into the ether? Is it difficult to let it go? 

You’ve worked long hours writing, writing, writing. That’s what makes you a writer. But what are the next steps? If you or I want our writing to be read, to be published, there is much work ahead.

I’m currently working on the third draft of a major writing project, a memoir of twenty-one years spent in Ecuador. When people ask about the writing, they are aghast that I am on my third draft. What I want to tell them is that I foresee at least two more run-throughs before I’m done.

I recently read Cathy Rentzenbrink’s book Write It All Down, in which she gives excellent advice for how to write, rewrite, and edit. I highly recommend her book and am using some of her advice as a guideline for my own writing.

My first task was to get my words down without that pesky critic in my head interfering. Before any editing can take place, there must be material to work with. What has resulted is a rough and shapeless mass of words. Too many words.   

Shaping the structure begins with lots of cutting. Oh, how it hurts to let go of those lovely paragraphs, the scenes that don’t really move my story forward, and lyrical descriptions. Truman Capote said, “I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil.” For each edit I create a new copy of my document, allowing those cuttings to stay on my computer for future use.

I had thought I was ready for a line edit, my favourite part of writing, but as it turns out, more structural work is needed - a scene edit – where I list each scene in each chapter to see where it fits best, or if it needs to be cut.

Sebastian Faulks writes, “You need to think about every word in every sentence at least ten times.” That takes time and concentration. I like to read my work out loud to see how the words flow. Awkward phrasing is re-worked. Adjectives and adverbs are ruthlessly cut unless they show something that will otherwise be unknowable.

It’s too easy for me to write and rewrite, cut, and edit, and never gather enough courage to release an article or a story to a possible audience. Sending my words out is like a child leaving home. Will my effort be loved and accepted by someone? Each time I push that send button, or mail a manuscript, I send a little piece of myself. And each time I do, I pray that God will use those words as He sees fit. I breathe a sigh of release (and relief) knowing that the One who gave me my words can be trusted with them.

 

 

Lorrie Orr writes and rewrites from her home on Vancouver Island.