This month’s co-hosts are Sheena-kay Graham, Julie Musil, Jamie Ayres, and Mike Swift. Please be sure to thank them for their time and effort to make all IWSG members feel welcome.
Let me set the scene. It’s 5:30 pm and I’ve finished my day job. In front of me, I have following task:
- Quick read through and edit of a couple of chapters to send to my critique partners.
- Revisions on two chapters to stick to my goal of finishing edits on this WIP by mid-Feb.
- Write the first paragraph to a new MS for my Creative Workshop.
Which ‘free flowing, creative and something out of nothing’ task filled my heart with bliss.
Which ‘nit picky, mind numbing, never know if I’m doing it right’ task filled my brain with resentment.
Really, why can’t I get paid to create first drafts.
Because that’s ridiculous, but it makes me wonder, does anyone enjoy the editing process? If so, how did you get to that point?
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 
Oh, I hear you. The best feeling is finishing that first draft, but it’s followed shortly by the dread of tackling that mountain of notes you’ve created of stuff that needs to be fixed. But those revisions are a necessary beast.
I know, but it’s so annoying. Don’t you feel like it is so perfect when it comes out of your head the first time.
I love the process of creating something out of nothing. But I also like the editing process, too. Maybe I’m just weird. LOL
How did you get to the point that you liked it? I would love to know the secret. Haha
If we all got paid for your first, second, and third drafts we’d all be millionaires. 😉 I enjoy reading through my work once it’s polished but I’m not exactly thriller when I have to edit it for the first time.
Maybe I would like it better if it didn’t seem like such a daunting task. Maybe I need to write cleaner first drafts.
You write my first drafts and I will edit for you! Because I prefer editing. I have a hard time getting the story down on paper. Once it’s there, I have something to work with and enjoy editing.
That’s a deal Alex. Haha!
I’m the same as Alex – I struggle to get the first draft out, but enjoy rewriting – I find things that aren’t as bad as I thought they were, and I enjoy the process of improving what I’ve written, ‘sanding the edges off’, so to speak.
Maybe thinking of the editing process in that way will help – every edit you make is a slight improvement to the work in progress, eventually these will add up to noticeable improvements.
See, there is a market for first drafters. Haha. I agree. I need a mind set change about editing.
Hey, maybe you’ve hit on something good here! It’s fun to let our muses run wild and create, and it’s easy to see others’ mistakes and fix them. Maybe that’s what we all should do–write first drafts, then turn them over to someone else to polish up and publish. Dang, that would put a wicked twist on the slush pile, wouldn’t it? hahaha Great post! 🙂
IWSG #298
(Yup. I got culled and had to start all over. *blush*)
Why can’t I finish my first drafts so I can possibly get paid someday for the completed project?
What is your specialty in writing? Titles maybe. We can all get together and creat the one perfect writer.
This is funny because I much prefer editing to first drafts. I totally slog through the first draft! Good luck to you on your edits!
Thanks Julie. I’m trying. That counts.
Getting paid to write anything would be wonderful, wouldn’t it? I have to say that I have a love/hate relationship with editing. Sometimes it torture and I spend most of my time twiddling my thumbs, but when I take something that was falling flat, and I turn it into something that sings. Well, I love those moments. Editing has its place and sometimes I even *gasp* look forward to it.
Kim, look forward to it. Really? I want to be like you when I grow up. haha.
I’m starting to come around about editing. It’s still hard work, and less fun than writing first drafts. But the more I practice, the more I’m starting to feel like not only am I doing the REAL work of a writer, but I’m maybe just a little! starting to get the hang of it.
Keep it up!
Oh, I can’t wait for that day. I will keep working on it.
I actually LOVE the edting and revising stages. That part is easier for me than the drafting. If I have something in front of me I can start working with it, but a blank page is paralyzing.
My IWSG post can be found on charitywrites.blogspot.com not the wordpress link with my name. 🙂
I envy you. Others have said that. I guess we all have challenges.
Ooh, I love working on something new! It always seems so much easier than fixing something I know is broken!
That’s exactly how I feel. Thanks Tiana.
Hi Sydney, I wish someone does pay us to create that messy first draft 😦 It can be quite a torture. I am working on a new book.
Hmm. I hate substantial edits, the kind that require you to rewrite entire sections. But I enjoy the final edits at the end that are basically like putting the final decorations on a Christmas tree or the cherry on top of a cupcake. Those big edits make the book good, but those final tiny things make the book awesome!
I am completely with you on that! That first rewrite, with the big changes and all, is hard. I am getting better, but don’t love it. The fine-tuning I could probably do all night 🙂