1. Wallowing. The writer has just re-read a first draft or received an in-depth critique. An
overwhelming amount of work is required to turn this pile of words into
coherence, let alone greatness. The mistake I often make during this stage is
forgetting that the operative word in self-pity is self. No one cares how bad I
think my manuscript is.
2. Mud
Wrestling. Ideas are slippery and hard to pin down. It’s easy to regress into
wallowing. This is a time to experiment with new concepts and techniques.
Anything that doesn’t work can go back into the murk. With
determination, the writer can progress to …
3. Running
the Marathon. Points to remember:
- You
can’t see the finish from the starting line.
- This
is the land of The Tortoise and the Hare. It’s okay to change roles occasionally. It’s okay to take naps. Eventually the race must be finished.
- There
will be dead-ends and detours.
- You
may need to plot a new course.
4. Rinse
and Repeat. The marathon may need to be run again. And again. No one said this
was easy.
5. Spit
and Polish. The novel has now has structure, real characters, six-pack abs and
a killer ending. Where did all those needless words come from? Doesn’t that
sentence need a coma? Find a place to read out loud.
