Jul 02 2009
Absence Makes the Words Grow Deeper
Let me just say, first off, how impressed and flattered I am at the upsurge of readers here at Writing and Reading! What a phenonemon. And I haven’t posted anything new for a number of days. Been busy. You understand.
I just got finished with a major edit on THE CAIN LETTERS and had to mention to you all how important it is to write something with your heart FIRST…and then wait awhile.
After you wait, go back to your work and literally absorb it. Brainstorm about it and get suggestions from people who are experienced (namely professional editors, or at least friends or family members who hate your guts–hey, it keeps the feedback real).
You’d be surprised at how easy it is to rewrite when you’ve let something sit for a long time. You look at your work with fresh eyes. You’re able to open new doors into your story, doors revealing stronger parts of the plot that you may have neglected.
Even better (and this would take a bit of getting used to), the longer you wait, the better your rewrite! Trust me. Or at least it feels better.
Takes the negative connotation out of the word ‘rewrite’ or ‘revise’ now, doesn’t it?
