There is a curious contradiction that comes from writing for so many years: The more books I begin, the worse they seem at the start. I kid you not, there is almost a feeling of agony when I review the first drafts of a new novel:
This is awful. You’ve lost it. You need to start something else. No one will take this. No one will read this. What made you think this would work?
These are real thoughts — I’ve had them all — as I plunge into the long process of creating a new book. The irony is that these thoughts are not just accurate, they come about because I know good writing when I read it. Early drafts are always bad writing. They are painful to read.
As I have written in these posts many times, the process of good writing is such that the time of creation is long, the effort is arduous, and the process is one of endlessly nitpicking and revising. It can even be boring.
The key point is that it takes a lot of time to write something good. It must evolve. That evolution is also a lesson that I have to teach myself over and over again. The work is bad before it can become good.
Accept it and push on.
The nicest moment comes when, after a great deal of work, I suddenly — and it is often sudden — gain a sense that things are falling into shape. That the work is becoming good.
All of this is because one of the most difficult aspects of writing is the author’s ability to objectively see and be critical of one’s own work. It’s why folks like me so much appreciate a good editor. In truth, there are many editors in my life. You can begin with my wife who is as sharp as she is outspoken. She does not stint, either with the positive or with the negative.
[The worst kind of response — true story — comes from the person who reads fifty pages over an hour and then puts the work down.
Me: Well, what do you think?
Reader: There is a dangling participle in the first paragraph.]
But I have a couple of trusted friends — who are willing to read what I have written and who will tell me what they think. Invaluable.
And finally — most importantly — my professional editor. Your relationship with that person, a matter of deep trust, is key to what you will eventually produce.
All of this goes far to explain why I can say that I have absolutely no objection to self-published work. Equally, I object strongly against self-edited work.
It is a myth that the author creates a book on his or her own.
All of these thoughts come about because I have started a new book. And it’s bad.
That gives me hope.
2 thoughts on “A Curious Contradiction”
Truer words were never spoken.
Simply Amazing. I have often pondered about how an author may have written a book.
Was a book written in one go ? Did it take multiple drafts ?
So when Mr. Wortis puts things into words about the writing process it is always interesting.