I am currently balancing working with four editors on a
single project (Kingdom Keepers, Book VII The Insider) because we have over
20,000 writers contributing text to the book though a free app (Kingdom Keepers
Insider) and the structure of real time on-line publishing along with print
publication (coming in April) requires many eyes on the same work.
Working with Dave Barry when co-writing Peter and the Starcatchers and other books, I learned the “get it right the first time” school
of writing. Dave likes to weld a draft and move on. I came into our partnership
from the multiple rewrite approach—post first draft—and had to learn to do all
the rewrites up front in order for our styles to work together. It turned out
to be great training ground.
Dave and I aren’t writing together at present, but with the
Insider project up and rolling, I’m faced with editorial comments from three
editors, and copyedits from a fourth, all the same week I write a chapter. What’s
interesting to me about the change in process is that I am typically a
spew-it-out-and-fix-it-later writer. I like to get on a roll and write new
pages each and every day. I can’t do that in the Insider project—and I couldn’t
do that while working with Dave—so I’ve had to learn to adjust to a slower,
more determined way of writing in which you lock the draft and never look back.
In my case that’s because we publish the chapter for the world to see on-line,
and it’s out there for good.
This method has bled into my suspense writing as well. Where
I used to crank out 2-3,000 words a day, I now typically get out about half
that. But I find I’m less likely to rewrite those fewer words as many times I
would have the larger figure. Now, instead of four to six drafts per suspense novel,
it’s more like two and couple of polishes.
I share this only because it recently occurred to me how
much my methods have changed now 30 years into my career and how that showed
me that the writing process is evolutionary. I never pay much attention to “process”
or the other catch phrases tossed about at writers’ conferences, but getting
hammered by four critics each week for over six months now has both hardened my
skin and made me aware “we’re not in Kansas anymore.” In fact, I’m in Missouri,
but that’s for another blog posting.
Ridley
from Jacqueline
ReplyDeleteWell, this is very interesting indeed - the whole editing process seems to be a slightly different experience for everyone, based upon their writing style. I have always veered towards the latter of your versions, Ridley (about 1200-1500 words a day), though I never edit as I go along - I like to be in the mind of the storyteller until I finish the first draft. And I hate to say it, but what with one thing and another, I usually do a spell-check and send it to my editor at that point, because my deadline is looming! While my editor's reading the ms, I do my first real in-depth revision - and when she gives me her "big picture" notes, I roll the whole lot into the first revision and see how it looks and feels after that. I usually do one more revision and maybe some tinkering before it's ready for copyediting. However, I think a key to all this is how much you think about your story first - and I don't mean making copious notes and pages of planning, I mean just holding the story in your mind in everything you do. In the months before I begin to write, all I can think about is that novel - I read books, documents, do my research and the story is never far from my mind; I eat, breathe and sleep the story, so when I am ready to go, I know how I want to begin and end it, and I know my structural landmarks along the way - but that's about as prescriptive I ever get, because as we know, you have to "dance with the moment" when writing a novel, and if another character comes along unbidden, well, you just have to go with the flow! (New characters are always gate-crashing my stories!) Interesting post!
I love hearing about your method! Fascinating.
DeleteI have never sent a manuscript to an editor unless it was polished and gleaming. Before that, members of my writing group critique every word and once the manuscript is done, I give it to at least 2 of my harshest critics.
ReplyDeleteI have tickets for Peter and the Star Catcher on January 12 at the Ahmanson. Can't wait!
Look forward to your impressions of the play! It's quite something!
DeleteA play. That's about the awesomest thing imaginable!
DeleteOkay, here is the most daunting task I have ever heard a writer undertake: "I am currently balancing working with four editors on a single project because we have over 20,000 writers contributing text." Having worked a bit in television, I don't even like to have one co-writer! PAUL
ReplyDeletefrom Jacqueline
ReplyDeletePaul, I know what you mean - that 20,000 seemed beyond daunting to me. I have enough trouble keeping track of myself, let alone anyone else!