I’m Driving Myself INSANE!!!
I’m on a vicious cycle right now, writing and rewriting my first couple of chapters.
After getting my critiques back from the Genesis contest in the Spring, I went to work, perfecting and cleaning up my writing. Then I got busy writing the synopsis and proposal for the ACFW conference. When I finally returned to do edits I wanted to fall asleep at the words I had written. It was BORING! And I fell into my old trap…editing the voice out of my work.
Several people/agents encouraged me to deepen the characterization and add more chutzpah to my character. So I dove in and “voiced” all over the pages. I “voiced” so much I think my writing has gotten hoarse and now when I look at it what once was brilliant and witty yesterday seems like purple “pukish” prose.
So what is this perfectionist to do? I’m way too insecure and embarrassed to show it to any of the agents that requested it, so I sent it off to my critique partners hoping the can wade through the mess I just made!
ACK! Maybe it’s time to shift gears and work on cutting my synopsis from six pages to three.
In the meantime, anyone one have any words of wisdom???
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Hey Gina,
From one perfectionist to another, I’d suggest writing what you’d like to read. Since my book’s release, I’ve learned that some people love my style, and others not so much. But that will always be the case. The upside is I’ve gotten to know (through blogging and other ways) readers who think like me, and I’m having a ball writing for all of us!
Oh, and about those critiques. Generally, I only follow the advice if a) it’s a consistent criticism, ie., I’ve been told something more than once; or b) if someone points out something that had been niggling at me too. Otherwise, I set it aside because it’s probably just one person’s opinion.
Best to you!
October 5th, 2007 at 12:15 pmJulie, great advice. I probably need to post it to my computer for a reminder!
It was good meeting you at ACFW!
October 5th, 2007 at 4:15 pm