Across the line
Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 11:36PM 
Word count: 258 Reading time: 1-2 mins
I typed the last word into my NaNoWriMo document a week ago. Once I was in the habit of writing 2,000 words a day, it surprised me (yet again) how easy that exercise was. In fact it was very much like physical exercise: much easier when done on a regular basis. Also like physical exercise, one day’s finish line was the next day’s starting block.
Around the middle of November I saw a tweet from a literary agent cautioning writers against querying her with their new novels in December. I laughed at the idea that the final period in my manuscript might signal anything like a finished work. During NaNoWriMo, I follow Tara Moss’s rule: Don’t write it right, just write it—and then make it right later.
In November I wrote. Later I’ll right. The NaNo effort has been buried in my electronic crypt. Now I’m revising something different, which is a fresh start - and much more fun in its own way. Rose Tremain explains: The process of rewriting is enjoyable, because you’re not in that existential panic when you don’t have a novel at all.
Last week’s dash across the finish line left me perfectly poised for this week’s race. Practice makes the whole thing easier.
Did you finish a first draft recently, what Anne Lamott calls a SFD? Do you need the distance of time before you can start the process of ruthless self-editing? Or are you able to type ‘the end’ one week and revise the next?
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Reader Comments (4)
Don’t write it right, just write it—and then make it right later.
...this is one of my worst habits. This morning I wrote 1000 words. I closed the document to prevent myself from 'fixing.' Now I've moved on to something else. Let's see how I do throughout the day. The temptation is strong. ;)
Allison
Confession: I do start most days going over and tweaking what I wrote the day before. For me that's a good way to get back into the flow, but I try to resist the temptation to do major revisions immediately.
1000 words - yes!!!!
Maggie
Yes, I did just finish a SFD, quite S, in fact., but not in NaNoWriMo. Mine took many months. Now comes the fun part. I enjoy the editing. Congrats on finishing in one month!
Thanks, Judy!
And congratulations to you, too.
I'm with you - I love the editing process and I like to keep several works in progress so I can play with each of them as new angles and ideas arise. This is the fun part - bring it on.