A few months ago, I got a manuscript back from Enslow for revisions. It had been months since I turned it in and mentally I was far away from the project.
For the most part, the comments were positive, but my editor told me (in red pen) that he wanted chapter three expanded into two chapters and my last two chapters condensed into one.
I have to admit, I have a bit of an issue with my editor’s red pen. His writing isn’t that neat and it sort of feels like he is yelling at me. I become petulant and complain a lot. Fortunately, he can’t hear me.
However, adding to the text made sense. It took a while, but I expanded my chapter 3, broke it into two, and answered my editors questions throughout the manuscript.
It was the condensing that hurt. These curriculum books have very specific word counts. When I had finished expanding, I needed to cut more than 4,000 words–about a fifth of the book. Ouch.
To cut, I had to look very carefully at what was necessary. What did I think was really important. I had to cut large sections and then more large sections. Then, I line edited and cut more large sections.
I guess it was like cutting down a roster for an Olympic team (an appropriate metaphor since the Olympics start tonight.) The first cuts weren’t that hard, but the last ones were painful. I had grown fond of the players (writing) and thought they added something to the team (text), but in the end they weren’t needed.
I still wish I could have about 500 words back. Word counts feel a bit artificial and I hated cutting that last player. But the red pen was right, and I have to admit, the book is better.
Perhaps there is something good, important even, about being forced to cut and make tough decisions about your writing.
Thoughts?
Best,
Mara
It is interesting that Mara specifically mentions the editor’s use of the red pen. When I was in college learning to be an English teacher, my classmates and I were specifically warned not to use red pens to mark mistakes in writing. We were informed that when our students saw the red ink on their papers, their self esteem would be shattered and they would never write again!
I figure that if red ink is the biggest problem my students will ever have in their lives, then they are headed for greatness. On the other hand, if they can’t handle a red pen, they are doomed to failure and might as well start in my class.
On a more serious note, while researching for a lecture, I was recently in touch with some very well respected authors in the kidlit field. When asked how they marked improvement as a writer, they again and again answered that it was very important to learn to cut and get rid of material that the story can do without.
Maybe it is a function of the human instinct to value that which is rare. If diamonds were as common as limestone, then they would not sell for nearly as much money. Children are reluctant to share their last piece of gum; that one last piece is more valuable. Perhaps it is the same with our writing. If a person has only written one novel, he finds it very difficult to cut parts of it, for fear he won’t be able to come up with something as good again. But if a man has four or five different manuscripts, he is better able to cut, knowing that there’s more where that cut scene came from. Thus, more experienced writers would point to the ability to let parts of one’s writing go, as a measure of improvement and development.
Excellent post, as usual, Mara. Thank you.
Comment by Trent Reedy — August 10, 2008 @ 4:10 am |
The red pen does have the benefit of being easily seen. Perhaps that is the reason that editors like to use them and not that they want to crush their writers with an air of superiority. Hmmm.
Couple of thoughts came into mind after reading Trent’s comment.
One was a comment by Chris Lynch who said, “you don’t need to say everything in one book. There will always be more books to write.”
The other was a comment by Bruce Brooks. It is often said that as a writer you have to kill your babies meaning that you have to cut those beloved lines when they are unnecessary. But Bruce Brooks didn’t compare his edits to babies but rather car parts. He used a VW bus analogy. Save those parts in your garage (or did he say front yard?) and use them for another bus.
Best,
Mara
Comment by marami820 — August 12, 2008 @ 3:12 am |
Cuts and revisions are how we find the true meat of the work. I have, on a couple of occasions, cut away too much of a piece, but that’s pretty rare. Usually my experience has been that an “outside” editor spots the fat more easily than I do. But there have been, as I say, a couple notable instances where the forced reduction of word count gutted the flow of a piece.
As far as red pens: they do seem to be something of a red flag (sorry) for many people. I use them at times simply because they’re easy to see, but I know teaching artists who use purple, or green, just because those colors don’t have the same negative symbolism. Whatever the color, it’s good to get used to dealing with the criticism of others. It’ll be there all your life.
Comment by Daniel Gabriel — September 4, 2008 @ 7:24 pm |