In one of my recent posts, I talked about the delicate balance while writing of not giving too much information on page because then it can be data-dumpy, and also not holding too much back because vagueness can breed confusion or lead to misunderstandings. My recent phone conversation with a fellow author sums up the problems of the latter to a T, I think ;).
Here is a paraphrased transcript:
Author friend: “I’ve finally gotten past my new book paralysis.”
Me: *thinking of how the scariest words I write are “Chapter One” and how stressful it is to come up with a decent beginning because it’s the foundation that the entire novel rests or falls on* “Great!”
Author friend: “I only wrote six hundred words the first day I started it, though.”
Me: *thinking of new building groundbreaking ceremonies where the builder throws the first shovel of dirt onto a construction site to signal the beginning of the project. “Hey, congrats! That’s the first shovel, right?”
Author friend *pauses, then laughs* “First shovel of crap? Okay, sure, that’s one way to look at it.”
Me: *stuttering in my haste to explain* “No, not crap! Of course I would never say that you wrote crap! I mean, I wouldn’t think it either, and…”
Author friend *dying laughing* “Really?”
Me: *barely making sense in my haste to reassure* “I meant a construction analogy! You know, first shovel of dirt and… not that I think you write dirt, either-”
Author friend *still laughing hysterically* “I get it. I’m just having fun with you now.”
Me: *laughing now, too* “Oh, yeah, I am a wordsmith. Fear my eloquence!”
And that, everyone, is why I am so glad that (1) I have a chance to revise when I write, because I probably won’t get things right the first time, and (2) I have an editor, who will point out the mistakes that I didn’t get right the second time, either :).
Hope you’re having a good Monday!
I know exactly what you mean! My mind is constantly churning and I never know what’s going to come out of my chirper when I am speaking. Leads to a lot of fun, most of the time! Other times, I just want to complete the hole I dug, crawl in and cover me up. 😉
LOL! What does it say that I understood everything you wrote and it sounded just like you! Sending hugs until Monday is over!
Thanks for sharing, always luv hearing about your writing process!
You have no idea! I am always sticking my foot in my mouth and I think I might end up doing it again….but I just can’t help it. You mentioned your editor catching your mistakes….
Well, please let me start by saying I am a huge fan of the Night Huntress series but every time I read them and I do read them a lot, I am struck with the same frustration that Bones’s age is always different. For instance, in the first book he was 241 and in Home for The Holidays, Cat throws him a party for his 245th birthday. Can you please clarify because there is NO WAY he should be celebrating his 245th in that book. Also, I truly do love these books you write.