The Imperfect Writer- Reworking the Clay

I think being a mom has trained me to not worry if everything isn’t put together. Sometimes I get so busy in the evenings that I forget to wash off my make-up, then I wake up and still forget to wash it off, and then I run around all day looking overly tired when really it’s just my mascara caked beneath my eyes. On those days, I just have to shrug and keep going. Sometimes I forget to brush my teeth, run late even if I'm up early, and I have nothing planned for dinner which results in a cereal or eggs and toast night.

So, when I am writing and it isn’t coming out right, or I can’t think of anything to say, I just make a note, brush past it, and keep going.

It amazes me how many writers think they have to have every single little word or sentence perfect before they can move on. Many of them get so hung up on perfection that their writing is left stranded. A strong wind picks up, blows the ideas away, and they will never have the chance to be captured and enjoyed.

Today my imperfect writing advice it to just write it down. That is why nanowrimo is great. It is about quantity over quality, and for writers, that can be a good thing. When you write a novel you can always go back and edit it, but if you have nothing to work with, well, then you have nothing to work with.  

Writing a novel is like working with clay. To make something beautiful, you have to start with an unattractive lump of mud. Your first manuscript may be ugly, but if you at least have something to work with, then you can spend hours molding and sculpting it into something incredible.

I write all kinds of horrendous things down, and have decided to be brave and share them with you.

In my novel Unprepped I wrote-

“My rich grandpa has a really nice house (make sure it is really nice)”

You really can’t beat that imagery. Here’s another-

(In case of emergency, read a page, wipe, and burn)

I’ve been wondering how this came to be. Unfortunately the context clues are not helpful either.

I know you are all dying to read my novel now, but I saved the best (worst?) for last-

“I laid my head bck down and tried to go babk to sleep, but thoughts kept pooping in my head and interrupting.”

First off, I use the words head and back twice in the same sentence (yes, the word I can’t seem to spell is supposed to be back). There aren’t really words for the rest of it, but I truly believe with all my heart that it was supposed to say popping…

Now that I have convinced you never to participate in nano, let me show you what happens when you rewrite/edit your work.

Original first line of Albi Wellins and the Serpent’s Key-

“Twelve-year old Albi Wellins stopped at the edge of the forest and took a deep breath.”

In my notes I wrote, “And now your reader will yawn with boredom.” I edited it one time through in January and now it says-

“Twelve-year old Albi Wellins hid behind the final tree at the edge of the forest clutching the illegal plunder to his chest.”

Okay, that edit made it a lot more interesting for my reader!

Imperfect Writing Tip #2- Keep writing friend and get that lump of clay!

This not only showcases all of my editing, but also my poor photgraphy skills.