This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 at 10:17 pm and is filed under I Have Fun Sometimes, Let's Get Personal, Writing & Reading. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
It seems I am in A Phase. Over the weekend I waved a cheerful goodbye to two unfinished novels, then dropped them off my nightstand. The week before that, I got twenty-three pages into another before dumping it onto my library donations pile without so much as an apology. This morning I broke up with a fourth, a best-seller with reviews that swore there was no way I would not love this book. After forty-eight pages I gave up and searched my pile of unread books for yet another victim.
Most of the time I go through books the way I would eat chocolates if my hips allowed it. I finish one and delve immediately into the next, savoring the characters, the plot, the clever turns of phrase. Each time I exercise or clean house or push a squeaky-wheeled cart up and down the grocery store aisles, I plug into an audio book, letting stories wash over me. When hubs and I take our canvas chairs to a nearby overlook to watch the sun set over the desert, we often tote along something to read aloud to one another.
But I cannot, no matter how much I try, completely lose myself in reading while I am in the middle of revisions. Once I spend hours analyzing each sentence of my own work, the picky part of my brain is turned on. From then on, every bit of writing I encounter, whether it is mine or someone else’s, is routed through my editing filter.
That is happening now. The obligatory six weeks have passed between the draft I wrote this summer and the edits required to start submitting it. Now, after several days spent performing major surgery on my novel at every opportunity, my brain has once again turned into an Equal Opportunity Editor, and I’ve gone from eager-to-read to impossible-to-please. The quality of my reading does not matter. If I am spending hours each day examining my own writing, then by habit I will analyze every other sentence to waltz my way as well. Only blogs, it seems, are exempt, perhaps because the style is so different.
My inability to switch off the ruthless reviser inside me is exhausting and inevitable, and totally unfair to the author of whatever pleasure reading I attempt. Worse, my inability to relax with a good book feels unnatural and somehow very wrong. Reading, after all, is what led me into writing, and now writing is preventing me from enjoying reading.
I’ve gone through this before, and I know that it will end. Within days of finishing edits, I will be able to see an adverb without feeling the impulse to ink it out. I will once again have the patience to read backstory — it is, after all, sometimes necessary. I will not automatically pause after I read each line of dialogue, wondering if it should be reworded to make it sound more authentic. I will, in short, be able to lose myself in a book again, which is the best possible incentive for finishing revisions. I’m already saving several books I know I will love for after edits, as a reward.
The second best incentive, for the record, is getting to begin a new story. My next book has already begun to evolve in my mind, and I cannot think of it without a little zing of excitement. But first, revisions.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Welcome to the world of writing. The more rules you learn the harder it is to read just any old book. But the ones you enjoy, you really enjoy.
Good luck on the revisions.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Haha! I’m in the same boat…sort of as far as the reading goes. I think as a writer I’ve read myself dry. Completely! It’s horrible! I can’t appreciate a noval any more and get fed up trying. I very much envy your certainty in having it all end ‘within days of finishing edits’. As to the present day, I go on searching for the book that will hold my attention for more than five chapters!
September 11th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I’m having a tough time getting into novels right now too. They’re great books, but I too find myself thinking of my revisions.. I’m going to follow your lead and put them to the side until I’m completely done.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Melissa, I should be used to it by now. After all, I go through this every time. Still, it’s difficult to set aside those books and only focus on my own.
Somegirl, I had that problem when I first started writing. Now I still analyze every book and movie, but over the years I’ve learned to get past the micro-edits and enjoy other people’s stories again. Except for when I’m editing. Then I simply can’t turn it off.
Keri, although I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else, I’m also kind of glad to know I’m not alone. If you miss reading the way I do, I hope you can get back into it soon.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:33 am
here’s hoping you get your reading focus back!
September 11th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Happy revising! I hope you’re finished soon and can start enjoying books again!
September 11th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I’ve never linked the two together. Not being able to finish books and me being in revisions. But now the experiment begins.
My gut feel is if the book is good enough, I’ll be able to finish it.
Really interesting analysis!
September 11th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I do this too. So while I’m writing, or revising, I never read in the genre I’m working in and I stick mostly to non-fiction. Which is why my TBR pile is seriously out of control!
Good luck on the revisions!
And thanks for the CRUEL SUMMER shout out!
September 11th, 2008 at 10:48 am
I think it’s a gift that you can really Become The Editor when you’re in that revision mode, even if you have to postpone fun reading for awhile. Revising is such a different skill from brainstorming or drafting, it’s probably a great thing that you can “stay in character” as an editor while you need to…and here’s hoping that’ll make the revision process go just a bit smoother and faster
.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:52 am
This happens to me, too.
Good luck with the revisions!
September 11th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Thanks, Virginia and Robin! I so hope that the revisions continue to go quickly so that I can once again enjoy my favorite pastime.
P. J. I’d be curious to hear if you have the same problem once you begin your experiment. As for the quality of the book, even when I can read and enjoy it I still don’t get as much out of it as I might otherwise.
Alyson, writing hasn’t been a problem for some reason, although I’ve heard lots of writers say that it is. But revisions? Always.
Oh, Marilyn, I would *love* to look at it that way! Yes, maybe I will choose that viewpoint, even if I think it’s just that my brain isn’t very flexible when I’ve been concentrating too hard on something.
So I’m not the only one, Mary? Good to know!
September 11th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I wonder what would happen if you tried watching a movie? Would your editor side take over there too? Just curious. May you finish your edits soon and get back to being your normal book lady self!
September 11th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
I know just what you mean. The very same thing happens to me…and you explained it so beautifully. And how exciting that a new book is coming through for you! I do love that phase! If your fiction is anything like your blog, I can’t wait to read it. You’re going to be rich and famous someday.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I wish I could say the same but sadly my reading material has just been dull as of late. *sigh*
Hope revising goes well for you and can’t wait to hear about your new story idea should you choose share details about it with us.
September 12th, 2008 at 1:25 am
lol. Oh, I can so relate to your post – it made me laugh. And I totally agree, the best part is when you get to start writing that new, next novel.
Gail
September 12th, 2008 at 6:41 am
Eeek. I’m so glad you’re saving my book until the ruthless reviser has gone back into its slumber! Seriously, though, I agree. It is so hard to turn off sometimes. I find audio works though. When you can’t see the words on the page, its easier to just get caught up in the story!
September 12th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Ditto, Caryn. I indulge in binge reading OR binge writing, never the two at once, and it does get tiresome.
Like Alyson, I find avoiding the genre I write in helps…sometimes.
September 12th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Gah. I’m in the middle of revisions as well. A special level of hell for me. Good luck with yours.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
good luck with your revisions!
you say blogs are excluded? thank goodness. how else could you get through my ramblings?
September 13th, 2008 at 10:01 am
So funny, Barrie! As this comment was posted, I was actually in the middle of watching a movie! Thank God it’s not affected. In fact, I just reenlisted for Netflix because I must have my stories in some form or another.
Sandi, I think it’s probably my favorite phase, that time when lines and characters are coming to you but before you’ve started actually committing anything to the computer. It seems like anything’s possible.
Soleil, I hate that. Sometimes if I read many fantastic books in a row then I just can’t seem to find something else that appeals to me for a while.
Gail, isn’t it a glorious time? I can’t wait to just devote all my energy to it instead of splitting it.
LOL, Joanne! Check your email.
Lainey, I wish that were the case. Alas, my internal editor seems to be into equal opportunity critiquing. It’s very opinionated, and once I let it out of its box it doesn’t like to be put back in for anything.
You too, Eileen! May they be quick and painless as, well, it’s possible for revisions to be.
Thanks, Emily! And, yes, blogs are excluded, as are movies. At least the revisions gods have shown *some* mercy.
September 13th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I completely know what you mean. I can’t turn it off. I proofread menus, for goodness sake. It makes me a wonderful lunch date, let me tell you.
September 13th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Ohmigosh, I can’t tell you how much I hate this! It sounds so pretentious to say it, but about the only authors I’ve been able to read lately are John Irving and Joseph Finder. I just saw the latest Marcus Sakey, and I’m itching to get my hands on that one.
I’ve had big trouble reading this year.
September 13th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Good luck with your revisions so that you can enjoy reading again.
September 13th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Ack! Join the club. My reading has dwindled to dismal over the past few months because I go straight from one WIP to another. There’s hardly any time for reading and if there is, I have the toughest time getting through it.
Good luck with those revisions.
September 13th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Carrie, I do that, too! It’s ridiculous.
Spyscribbler, I’ve been able to manage a few books, but it’s sporadic, and even those I haven’t gotten into the way I would have otherwise. I hope you’re able to read with pleasure soon!
Thanks, Dru. Here’s hoping.
Oh, Marcia, I totally feel your pain! I hope that you’re able to break out of it and read, even if you’re writing or revising.
September 13th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Thank goodness for this blog. Now I don’t feel so alone – editing goes hand in hand with writing and it will never ever go away. Here I thought I was just lazy and that’s why so many reads were left unfinished.
I think the answer is to read something outside your genre – better yet, read non-fiction or a collection of essays. I’m in the thralls of “When You Are Engulfed in Flames” by David Sedaris. What’s nice is that I can read one essay, put the book down for a week, pick it back up and read another and not have to remember where I left off. (Kick-ass book by the way.)
Other than that, there’s just no way to turn off the editor in us.
September 13th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Caryn,
this really brings home the fact that as authors, we only have a few pages to hook a reader, so to make those first pages fabulous
September 15th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Think of it this way–better to have the Editor from Hell and not be able to read other books for a while than to not have it and have your own book suffer as a result.
And yeah, it happens with movies and tv shows, too. I think of them as continual craft lessons.
September 15th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I HATE REVISIONS! I really do. I know most people love them, but I can’t handle them.
Though, on the flip side, I don’t like to edit other people’s work, either. I mean, I notice things I’d change sometimes, but usually I just engross myself in the story. When I can’t read is usually when I’m in the throes of writing, because I can’t stop thinking about my own work. Let’s just say that I’ve been reading a lot lately…
Are you at the point where you hate the book yet? Don’t you wish it would just be DONE already so you can start the next one?! LOL… Keep up the ruthless, girl. The story will be all the better for it!
September 16th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Audiobooks at the grocery store! What a brilliant idea!
September 16th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
You know, now that you mention it, I have been a lot pickier about my books since I started reading….
September 17th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Off topic: Tag, you’re it!
September 17th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
[...] her third novel, revising her fourth, and writing her fifth” so a busy lady indeed. Her latest post explores how she can’t get into reading other novels whilst she’s in the process of revising [...]
September 17th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
although it’s not something i’ve had to deal with yet in my novel writing process Caryn, i do see how getting your head into the revisionist mindset can cause problems when reading other works. i had the same problem when i was in journalistic editorial positions, and found it hard to enjoy newspapers!
On a side note, at my blog, at the end of every post i do something called the ‘aspirers mark’ which is a bit of blurb, some links to interesting content and a blogroll link for another aspiring novelist, in my lastest post it was you, best of luck with the revision, you’re now in my rss feed as well
September 17th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
May the revision period pass quickly and easily. And may the reward (in the form of many good books) be great! You’re so close now–congrats!
September 29th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
The internal critic on high alert can certainly make reading a book for pleasure unpleasurable. On low-alert, I’ve wanted to take out a red pen and go after my internship site’s current staff manual. At least it sounds like a wonderful list of rewards awaits you once the revising is over. Good luck!
October 11th, 2008 at 9:17 am
I came across this post when googling for a different blog, and as a fellow aspiring author and avid reader: Thank you. You articulated it better than I’ve been able to inside my head, this struggle between Reading for Enjoyment and Improving as a Writer. (And the flipside is, when I’m deep into writing I don’t seem to be able to blog very well; when I’m in revisions, like now? I’m a blogging fool.)
I’m looking forward to following your blog!
Ali (http://worducopia.blogspot.com)
March 11th, 2009 at 2:36 am
Equal Opportunity Editor!! LOVE this!
I’ll have to watch to see if I’m the same way!