In Monday's blog, Final, Final Read Through, Again, I talked about how I'll never be done revising my novels and that at some point, I'm going to have to say, "Yes! This is it." And then, knowing me, I won't be able to read my book once in print, because I'll want to make changes.
My Thursday Two Questions to you are:
- How many times do you revise your work (be it a poem, an essay, a blog, or a novel) before you say "This is it!" ?
- And after you publish your work (including posts on your blog), do you want to go back and revise it?
(Photo credit: This Paper Trail Leads Right Back to You: by bethan)
28 comments:
Hi Margaret, I usually try to put in my time and my post asap. Between the many responsibilities - thank god, I don't have a lot of choices to sit and redo. But if I did, probably until it sounds decent enough.
The funny thing is, I would always want to change after reading it...it's rare I am happy months after.
This is an indefinite answer?
Sometimes an indefinite answer is the only answer. We are imperfect beings in an imperfect world and sometimes good enough is good enough.
1. Margaret, there are some poems that I revise dozens of times and still don't feel they are perfect and yet others I don't revise at all.
2. Normally, when I write a poem and have finally finished revising, then publish, that's it. I don't change it at all.
if it's a simple blog post, i write a draft, get back to it, do some revisions and that's it. but if it's some lengthy piece or poetry, oh, i do a LOT of changes. and even after i published it, i still want to do some minor changes.:p
Oh my, it feels like I've revised my book hundreds of times, but I know that's not accurate. Since I write for children my stories are small compared to your novel. However, I do get a sense of knowing, "Yep, that's it. She's done."
It's funny how your two questions fit perfectly for me today as yesterday I got my first copy of my book in hand to review for my publisher and I was surprised to see some things I would've done differently had I caught it before now. But, over all I'm extremely happy and will chaulk it up to a lesson learned for my next story. Oh and yes, I do revise my posts when I find things wrong.
I don't use the word revise anymore. I edit, edit, edit and then send it to my editor only to get it back and edit again. I probably go through five rounds of edits. One for myself, one with my crititque group, two with my editor and a final one with myself again.......ugh
My brother is a writer and goes through what you do.
I usually write my post the night before and edit it in the morning. Mine is not very deep so I don't agonize over it. If it isn't fun I don't want to do it.
I sometimes redo one if someone brings something to my attention that might be a different take on what I wrote. I would not want anyone hurt or offended by my blog.
1) I usually have a draft in an outline form, then write it, and revise it until it looks and sounds perfect enough.
2) I don't read it once it's published until a long time later, because like you, I will have a need to change it again..
Always looking forward to your Thursday Two Questions..
I have some stuff that I wrote almost twenty years ago in short story and essay form that I have revised just this past year - granted, only one of those was ever published. However, my more recent experience of blogging is I write and try to do a proof reading or two before I post it. Sometimes I am pressed for time and I only get one. I have over the last month though been going back and taking more time on all the older blog entries and correcting a few things here and there. Some of those oldest posts are 2007, but I am up in the late 2009 range now.
Hi Poetic Shutterbug. I don't know why, but when I write poetry (not often) the poem usually comes out full-formed and needs little revision. As in your case, even after publication, I feel comfortable with my poetry and leave it alone. This is not the case with my fiction. Though my novels have a life of their own and usually take form on the page within three months, the revision process is lengthy.
Hi Luna. I've heard that most writers feel the same about revisions. They're necessary and they take a lot of time. Growing up, I always thought that authors sat down, whipped out a novel, and then moved on to the next. If I had known how difficult writing a "good" novel was, I probably wouldn't have tried.
Hi Cathy. The first copy of your book in hand! Wow. I wonder how that would feel. Amazing, is my guess, and then, oh my, you notice some things you would've done differently. I like your attitude, though--a lesson learned for next time.
Hi Tonya. Five rounds total! Wow. I hope that someday, I can accomplish that. I won't even get into how many times I've "edited" even before sending my novel out in hopes that an editor will read it and get back to me. I see there are still many edits ahead. Oh my.
Hi Donnie. I love your attitude. "If it isn't fun, I don't want to do it." Though I complain about revision, I'm still having fun (most of the time), thank goodness, or the whole process would stop.
Hello Icy BC. Maybe you have the answer. Don't go back and read your work once it's published. Why torture yourself, right?
Wow, Ray. You've been blogging since 2007. I'm impressed. I just started four months ago and am amazed at how much time it takes. Either I have to speed up (and risk making more errors) or cut back on the number of posts per week, or I won't get much else done. I wonder how you do it. I've also read somewhere that one needs to be careful in the corrections one makes to published posts. I plan to do more research on that. Maybe the subject of a new post! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment.
Hi Eva. Yes, blogging mistakes or the fear of making them can sometimes keep one awake at night. Often it's only later when I'm doing something else (like trying to sleep), that it occurs to me that I've made a major boo boo, and I then have to wait until morning to fix it. Oh, the trials and tribulations of blogging!
1. As much as it needs.
2. What is this "publish" thing you speak of?
...
Oh, on my BLOG! Sure, ok, yeah...well, there, I just go ahead and edit it if I think it needs it. That's the beauty of blogging.
PS: Thanks so much for your helpful tip on my second question. You SHOULD get a commission for Folex because I think I'm gonna go get some now. :-)
When it comes to poetry, I tend to write a draft and leave it at that. Occasionally, I’ll revisit it, making minor changes here and there, and occasionally, I’ll share it for feedback and constructive criticism. But my poetry tends to be personal and I believe, for me, that that’s what editing comes down to. If it’s something I’m writing for my eyes, and my eyes only, I’m less inclined to edit the piece as obsessively as I do if I know it’s going out to an audience. If it’s going out to an audience, there are no limits to the number of hours I can spend editing my work, be it re-writing paragraphs, sentences or even playing around with synonyms wondering the whole time, ‘did I use the write word?’ and so on and so forth. And once it’s been published, I’m very proud of it, but do read it over and oftentimes either make changes or WANT to make changes to it, and so the pride is, many times, matched by my frustration.
P.S. I wanted to say that you have inspired me to start my own writing blog. I haven’t written anything in it yet, but I should be soon (or hopefully), as I’m working on a piece that I’m hoping to submit for the possible publication in an anthology. :)
Hi Gale. Yes Folex works. It's like a miracle cleaner. And it comes in a big spray bottle, so it lasts for a long time.
Hi J. Moore. "The pride is many times matched by my frustration." Beautifully and poetically said. And so true.
I'm proud that I've inspired you to start your own blog. Blogging is time consuming, but it'll keep you writing (and revising) and involved in the world of writing, making friends and connections.
Let me know when your blog is up and running. I'll stop by for a visit.
I am running late on Two Questions this week but I finally made it!
I have always been notorious for over editing. Usually a deadline forces me to call it good.
I did a series for Mother's Day of 2009 called Lucinda's Story. When I ran it again for this Mother's Day it was so tempting to do rewrites but I resisted.
Welcome SquirrelQueen. As they say, better late than never. Glad you could make it to my blog, no matter how late. Yes, deadlines certainly do the trick in forcing notorious editors like us to call it good. That's a comfort anyway. A series for Mother's Day. That sounds interesting. And no rewrites. Double good.
It depends on my mood.I finish early if I'm not pre-occupied and I don't spend much time in revising it for more than 20 times.The regular I think is 5-10 times.Although I'm done publishing sometimes I have to do some revision.
Hello ladyinpurple. 5-10 revisions. That sounds familiar. I find it so much easier to spot other writers' mistakes than my own. I skip right over my own because I know (and therefore see) what I'm TRYING to say rather than what I say.
It took me at least three times reading through my post before publishing. Then a couple more times once it's published. Sorry for the late coming..I ran out of time and juice this week..
Hi DoanLegacy. I know the feeling of running out of time and juice. I'm glad you stopped by anyway. I value the people who comment on my blog, so you're welcome any time.
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