Peaceful_Thinker

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I have always thought of writing as an art. It’s truly amazing how a magical world can be created with words. Yes, it truly is an art. I feel that writing is for everyone. Sadly, getting published is another thing all together. Even the greatest literary masters have been rejected by the publishing industry. But most of the time we get rejected because we need to improve what we have written. That's right, writing is only the beginning of the adventure. I would be in awe if someone could write something perfect the first time around. We usually just have a draft. And from that point on, the next step in the art of writing is editing.

Editing is another world in itself. Like writing, I feel that editing is an art. It requires extreme patience, discipline, and dedication. This is the realm where we can easily lose our mind. But it can still be fun if you believe in your work and have a passion for writing. Many times editing requires us to rewrite old paragraphs, fix incorrect prepositions, replace words that have been used in the wrong context, and to rearrange sentences that may not be flowing in a smooth, sensible order. It may not sound like a lot, but when you have a 240,000 word fantasy novel (like me), it can be rather agonizing. I’m being a bit playful here, because I actually do enjoy the editing process. I believe in my work—it seems so real in my mind. I can see the world and all the characters so clearly. Don’t call me crazy (not yet), but I can almost hear them speaking in the dialogue as I edit it. And I almost feel as though I leave Earth, journeying with the characters through their world as I edit the prose.

After a while, however, it can certainly become daunting when you are working on a novel for five years. And when you are editing it every day for hours, including days when you come home from a daytime job, you want to stop and scream. Believe me, oh believe me, you will start to hear another voice in your mind. It will say something like, “Stop! Take a break! You need to stop editing, and you need to stop writing!” Should you listen to that voice? Here is my advice: Ninety-five percent of the time you should ignore it. Retort, “Silence, worm!” Take out your invisible sword and attack that voice. If you prefer to use magic, then conjure up a fireball and hurl it at the invisible fiend whose cunning whispers plague your tired mind. It will be worth it, trust me.

The characters in your novel are struggling, and so are you as the writer. At least that is my experience as a writer and editor. And when I call myself an editor, by no means do I dare label myself a certified freelance editor—how I wish! There is only so much one person can do. So don’t beat yourself over the head if you make mistakes. But there is always a chance to improve, and that’s what the art of editing is all about. The more time you devote to editing, the more you’ll find mistakes. And if you feel that you can’t find mistakes, then, by all means, pick up a few literary masterpieces and read them. Everybody has different tastes, so just read what you like, and you will naturally absorb the correct use of grammar. Then, when you return to editing, you’ll probably find something that needs to be fixed.

In the end, the more time you put into editing, the more likely you are to be successful. As I said before, even the greatest literary masters have been rejected by the publishing industry. But that doesn’t mean we have to give up. No, my friend, this is just the beginning. So, take out that sword—or conjure up that fireball—and get ready to battle the voice that tells you to stop. The warrior within you demands that you keep editing. Keep going until your novel is out there in the world! 

P.S. My science-fiction novel, Red Nova, will be available in just a few more weeks. Woo-hoo! If anyone is interested, feel free to check out my website: http://www.literary-artist.com/