I came across this post by one of my awesome critique partners, Maggie the Genius (my new name for her).
You should go read it, but to sum it up, she had a middle of the night epiphany (something I'm sure all you writers are familiar with):
Make the awesome parts of the book awesomer, and get rid of all the parts that aren’t awesome.
I'm going to frame that and put it on my wall. Seriously.
What writing gems has your subconscious brain given you while you sleep?
what about: How do you expect to improve your writing if you sit about and talk about your writing all day - GO WRITE SOMETHING...lol
ReplyDeleteThat is genius! Alas, my foggy dreams aren't prolific, so I don't get middle of the night revelations. I do get mid-meeting-at-the-day-job-where-I-can't-possibly-do-anything-about-them revelations. I've been known to excuse myself for a *ahem* restroom break *ahem*.
ReplyDeleteSo true. I get stuck in the belief that I need to show how my characters got from A to B, and then add boring connecting stuff. Looking forward to wielding my red pen ;)
ReplyDeleteLOL. Great epiphany. I totally agree though. Sometimes as I'm struggling with a particular scene, i.e. just can't get it how I want it, I start thinking...maybe it's 'cause I'm bored and can just cut the scene?!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I just need to be reminded of the most obvious things. It's easy to forget when I get so wrapped up in the finer details.
ReplyDeleteLol. Thanks I needed that! Ok I'm going now. ;)
ReplyDeleteI shall frame that too ... that's gold
ReplyDeleteHa! Yes! Very well said. I think sometimes we're afraid to let go of scenes we've written, but if we're struggling to get through them, chances are, our readers will, too.
ReplyDeleteOoh, that is awesome. And genius.
ReplyDeleteLol. Love it. You definitely have your priorities straight ;)
ReplyDeleteShe is genius. I'm lucky to have her as a critique partner :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you found it helpful! I wasn't sure whether it was a completely stupid revelation or a genius one, because it seems so freakin obvious, but as it turns out, it's usually true. It's just that cutting whole scenes hurts sometimes!!
ReplyDeleteHehehe awesome!
ReplyDeleteMy brain comes up with weird-ass nightmares when I sleep. Trying to work them into my writing though... ;-)
It was definitely genius ;). And writers (at least this writer) need to be reminded of the obvious all the time!
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