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. 

E is for Earmarks of Good Editing ~ Wendy L. Macdonald

 

 

(This will be a short post to leave room for an important message at the end of it.)

Earmarks of a well-edited and prayerfully written manuscript include more than just good grammar and correct spelling. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, the writing should grab the attention of the reader in the first sentence. And since the reader has opened the book in the first place, that proves another earmark was present: The title and/or back jacket blurb had an effective hook.

Now that the reader bit the bait, the next milestone is when the reader sets aside her plans to watch a favorite program and flops on the sofa and flips through pages instead. This is because another earmark was achieved: The author kept the unspoken promise to continue with the same quality of writing she produced in the first five pages. And she made sure to continue creating questions in the reader’s mind. Each chapter should answer the hook placed at the end of the previous chapter. And each chapter should end with a new hook to encourage the reader to keep reading.

It's also an important earmark to tie up all loose ends. All the questions should be answered in a satisfying way by the end of the book. There are exceptions—such as in a series. But the ending must satisfy, or the reader won’t read another book by that author. 

The happy thing about the book world is there are too many good books and not enough time to read them all. This is also why writers need to meet as many earmarks of a well-edited manuscript as they can.

I’m going to end my E post here because I want to mention something about the contributors to this blog: I appreciate you. The posts you’ve all been sharing here are wonderful. It’s a delight to read them. Thank you so much for showing up and showing us your stuff. You’re rocking it. 

As always, I look forward to seeing what you come up with this month. Enjoy E.  

Blessings,

Wendy Mac

P.S. Sandi Somers will be helping with the blog administration for a few days while I’m out of town later this week and next.  

Sometimes God Skywrites by Steph Beth Nickel

Looking for Direction

Have you ever wanted unmistakably clear direction for your future?

This probably describes all of us, and sometimes God does, indeed, skywrite. This happened in my life shortly before COVID hit.

(These last four months—March-July 2020—have been challenging ones for all of us. Emotions all over the place. Uncertainty. Fear. Confusion. But none of it took God by surprise. I’m convinced that this is one reason He chose to give me such clear direction. He knew I’d need something to hold onto when the world turned upside down.)

Unexpected Direction

When I took on the office administrator job at our church (for the third time) approximately four years ago, I thought being done at 3:00 would give me lots of time to write and edit. But when I came home from the church, I had very little inclination to sit down at my keyboard and get to work. After all, I had put in a full day’s work—at least that’s what my brain thought.

Off and on, I would ask the Lord if He had something else in mind. Give up the writing and editing? Resign as administrator? Somehow figure out how to do both?

One day I was in the A/V room, where you could find me most Sundays. I was working alongside our Associate Pastor, which was unusual since he was typically in Kids Worship. He mentioned that a friend had told him that the administrator position was his wife’s dream job.

Because the pastor knew I was seeking God’s direction for my future, he suggested she speak with me. This was one of those Ah Ha! moments. I hadn’t been asking God to release me from the job. At that time, I wasn’t even thinking about the possibility. These were clear indicators to me that the Lord wanted me to pay attention to what was unfolding.

Surprisingly, Rita came to speak with me after the service. She had a lot of experience that would make her a great candidate for the job. Talk about skywriting!

I discussed it with my hubby and he was all in. (He’s the most supportive, encouraging person I know. So, this was no surprise.)

I left church that day certain of my next steps in a way that rarely happens. In fact, it had been over 35 years since God had skywritten in such a clear way—at least from my perspective.

This month’s topic is “Extraordinary Directions.” And I certainly think these events qualify.

When Direction isn't Clear

While I love it when things are this clear, I know that most of the time life is about doing “the next right thing.”

This saying has become almost cliché, but it’s so rich, so encouraging—especially in these uncertain days.

Often, we only have enough light for the next step, but that’s sufficient when we walk with the One who is the Light.

I’d love to hear about the times God has given you extraordinary directions, either by skywriting or showing you the next step on your journey.