This rewrite has really felt like climbing Mount Everest. I can see the Summit. I really can. But getting there? LOTS of climbing.Each base camp represents one of my critiques. The oxygen = notes. I make my stops overnight, gather my notes and trudge on up to the next level. That group of rewrites gets done and I have to stop for more notes. I can't make it to the top without them. Well, I could, but I would be hallucinating thinking it was much better than it was. Those notes are crucial.
But I'm not in this alone. I'm hiking with a group. We're tied to each other and committed to making sure we get there. We can learn from those who have gone before us - successfully.Elana Johnson has some great advice here and here.
Laini Taylor helps here and here as well!
The great thing about climbing Everest is that others have done it before us. Those who are full of the awesome we seek to find are very, very generous with their advice.
But at the end of the day, WE are the ones who must make it to the summit. They can only advise. Our critique groups can only offer us notes. They can't finish the book for us.
We have to keep the summit in sight, keep on trudging till we reach it and thrust that flag in!
How is your writing going? Are you trudging along or making great gains? Passing those base camps and just heading straight for that summit?
I keep rewriting and rewriting to the point where I don't know whether I've passed the apex and am just grasping for air or not. I really think I shouldn't have gone it alone in the editing, because that can be, according to your analogy, just as deadly a mistake as climbing alone on the real Everest.
ReplyDelete*kicks feet* but i dont wanna do rewrites, I hate editing.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a perfect analogy. I totally feel like I'm trudging up Everest, slow and steady. I just have to keep my eyes focused on the summit!
ReplyDeleteI think I trudge like it's my job. I'll write a little bit then go get distracted by the internet or chores or my grumbly stomach before getting back to business. But I guess it's alright for me to trudge some because of school. Even the trudgers get to the summit eventually!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your rewrites! Thanks for the links to Elana and Laini's posts. Very handy!
ReplyDeletegirl, I'm heading into revisions. So I guess I'm just starting up the mtn... wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteand best of luck to you~ :o)
You're going to get to the summit. Hopefully, we're all gonna get there. And soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing about your friends on my blog. Your words meant a lot. I feel freakishly alone at times but yeah, I'm getting by. At least I'm trying to. And I'm gonna try getting back to blogging as well. I've been meaning to, for the past few days, but..*fail*
I will, though. Cos without the books and the writing, I'd be lost. Seriously, just lost. I should be lucky I have something to hold on to, shouldn't I? I guess we all are lucky in that sense.
<3!
This is such a great analogy. Writing in and of itself sometimes feels like climbing mount everest.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your rewrites, Jennie!
ReplyDeleteI'm on the downhill slide (or, whatever that terminology is for climbing which I obviously don't know, LOL). And I'm relieved about that. But, the slope is longer than I thought so I'm not going to finish as soon as I thought. It's okay, though, at least I finally know how it's all going to end.
I know what you mean! I'm climbing Mt Everest now, and I see the top! The end is in sight, but I can't rush or else it'll all just fall apart. It's really hard not to rush right now! Very inspriring post!
ReplyDeleteClimbing Mt. Everest will always be a difficult challenge. But giving up is never an option, if you want to succeed. Well, I can understand what you're going through, so I wish you good luck.
ReplyDeleteHarper Cosper