I’m writing a book. It’s a historical mystery… hysterical mystery… history? mystery? I’m still not sure. But I’m not worried about that so much. it’s the process of writing that’s got me tied up in knots.
My “editor/teacher” suggests I not worry about the direction of the story. I’ve been trying to plot this thing out for the last two years. And going nowhere but in circles.
So – her suggestion is to just plunge in and plod on. “Let your muse take you wherever it will. Let the story flow…” – So I’m plunging in and plodding on… and letting go so the story can flow….
And I’m trying to not be too overly critical of the story’s direction. Of course, I can’t just totally let it go where it will. I am a control freak and it’s hard not to go back and reread and then correct as I write. They say (“they” are those who know better than me) … they say that if you want to write, you should never edit as you write. And that’s hard for me, being a control freak… Just leaving a missspelled word on the page and not corrrrecting it, is hard for me… just watch as I leave thes last two sentences uncorrrecte! It’s killing me. honestly!
I hate it, but I must go forth, mistakes in hand and at the rady… if I am ever to move forward with this story…
So there is the challenge and I will rise to it-at least I shall try.
I have to stop or I will backup and fix evertything… Let it be a monument to my determination to NOT correct my mistakes as I write… that I am leaving this post a bit of a mess. 🙂
Should I post this mess or not? What do you think?
Start by fixing the spelling of mistake. When you get the urge to edit, stand up and go do some high dusting. That accomplishes three things: fewer cob webs, a little exercise and stretching, and you don’t fuss over your writing to an excessive degree!
Hmmmmmmm….. all good except the high dusting
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm…need necessitates, otherwise you won’t only be overrun by amorous turkeys but vengeful spiders…beware!
This sounds like a philosophical conundrum. Can we ever go back and fix our mistkes?
We can fudge our mistakes, brag about them, try to forget them… or I guess… learn to live and forgive our mistakes. The latter solution being the most likely to bring peace and calm to one’s soul. Of course, I nevah make misteaks, so I wuld not know personallly. 🙂