Thursday, November 20, 2008

indecisive people shouldn't attempt to be writers.

I keep going over sentences changing this, then that, reading them back again and again, not knowing which way is better. Or are they the same? Move it to the beginning, no to the end; the middle? Omit it! Put it back.

Direct and clear, flowing and musical. Static and sharp, chaotic and rambling.

I can't even decide if he is trying to see farther in, or further in.

mentally tone deaf

2 comments:

Akasha Savage. said...

I have this problem too. I find it really hard to move a story on until I am completely happy with what comes before...and I'm trying to write a novel?...

Taffiny said...

Akasha,

:) I don't know what we are thinking? Good thing my writing doesn't start with thinking, that gets thrown in after I start. It begins with feelings, images, and an idea. Novel writing for me, is an act of faith not of reason.

I've read that you really shouldn't edit till you have the rough draft finished. Let the sentences fall out however they do till you get through to the end, then go back in and make them good. However, as someone who has done this, I must say, there is no joy and being faced with an entire story full of bad sentences. :)