How to write

I’ve often heard the hardest part of writing is beginning, but actually, the hardest part is finishing.

To finish you must edit and cut, then edit and cut even more. Sentences crafted with loving care; delectable scenes that sizzle on the page; or dialogue which flows with a glorious cadence; may be sacrificed.  It is this process of finishing, polishing the surface of your work like a fine piece of furniture, which will set you apart.  More importantly, it will set your work apart, to publishers and agents besieged with unsolicited manuscripts.

You’ve gotten beyond that terrifying first step; stumbled across hundreds of pages and you now teeter on the brink of typing the two most beautiful words in the English language: “The End”.

Congratulations!  Job well done! You’ve accomplished something only a handful of aspiring writers are able to do. You’ve put words to paper and you’ve seen your book through to the end.  Take a breather, have a glass of wine, go out to dinner with a loved one (I’m sure they’ve been missing you).  

After you’ve basked in the glow of your awesome accomplishment, roll up your sleeves and get to the “real” work of writing.  Yes, the “real” work, because writing is the blessing and editing is the curse which every writer must endure.  If it’s too soon to look at your work with heartless scrutiny, put it in a drawer and start writing something new.

Wait for a week or two and then take out your darling and read it for the first time. Search for obvious errors; grammar, spelling, abrupt transitions, passive word choice, verb tense, correct adverbs, pronouns.  This is the easy stuff; the more painful edits are yet to come.

For your second draft, read the entire manuscript again, making notes on possible changes; increasing the role of a character or eliminating a character, opportunities to foreshadow or develop subplots. Don’t make any changes until you’ve read through the entire manuscript, because what seems like a good idea in Chapter 3 may turn into a tangled knot by Chapter 30.  However, if the idea works throughout the story, continue to note where you can weave it in and out of the story.  These notes may comprise a substantial rewrite. 

If you feel you can’t be objective, set the manuscript aside until you can look at it with fresh eyes. Then start the process all over again.  Only share your work with trusted confidants and only when you’re absolutely ready.  Your confidence and skill will increase with each draft, but it may take four or five, or even more, before you feel ready to share your work.

I must emphasize that even family members and friends who have your best interest at heart may not be sensitive to your feelings.  Writing is such a personal act and the results are subjective, so you may receive negative feedback.  First decide if you agree.  If not, then chalk it up to a loved one trying to protect you from rejection (because of course being hurt by a loved one is so much easier then being hurt by a stranger).  If you do agree, thank them for being honest and do your best to fix the problem.

Be prepared to make cuts.  Feel free to save your “out takes” for later use; you’ll probably get a laugh out of them someday. Maybe a beloved character will make an appearance in a future book.  

Even though you’re finishing, it’s just the beginning!