Keep Writing - Keep Revising - Keep Getting Better
“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.” - - Octavia E. Butler
I love this quote.
When I started writing I didn’t think my work was all that great. I thought my stories were good but the writing didn’t measure up to the quality of the story. So I would do another draft. Then another.
I continue working on a story, screenplay, or whatever, until I feel like the writing measures up to the story. There's nothing worse than a great story or idea with mediocre writing and execution. My writing needs to be on par with the idea.
Side note – I’m one of those people who edit my emails and texts, both professional and personal, before I hit send. I can’t help it.
As an occasional teacher I’ve read too many pieces by writers who don’t work hard enough. They think draft two or three is great. When I tell them “I won’t show my family draft seven and they love me!”, they don’t get it.
You have one opportunity to get readers interested your work and you need to respect that. It's like that old line you only have one chance to make a first impression.
If someone reads a story of mine, or sees one of my films, and it’s sloppy, or bad story telling, they probably aren’t going to check out another one.
But if I have written the best story I’m capable of, really worked at it, and they still don’t like it, that’s fine. That usually means our sensibilities are different. I’ve given my stories and ideas the work they deserve and for me that’s what’s important.
I’m also one of those people who prints out each draft. I do my edits on the hard copy. It’s so much easier to spot mistakes on paper than it is on a screen. I’m sure there’s explanations as to why this is. I don’t care what those explanations are, I just know this way works best for me.
I’m going to stay persistent and keep putting in the work because that’s how I’m going to get better as a writer and a storyteller.
Today I finished draft 8 on a short story I’ve been working on for a while. It’s about the time in 1968 when Robert Kennedy spoke in the parking lot of Montgomery Ward. I was there. I was twelve years old and I remember the feeling that we all had after hearing him. Things were going to get better, there was hope then.
I feel good about this draft, number 8, but I know I have more drafts to do before the story is right. I’m putting it away and will come back to it in a couple weeks. I have other stories to work on that are in similar condition.
The rewriting continues until I feel I’ve done all I can. Then I‘ll let this new book go out into the world.
I am planning on bringing two books out in 2024. I need to get back to work.
I haven’t read anything (yet) by Octavia E. Butler but after reading this quote and looking her up, I plan on checking out a few of her books. If any of you have any recommendations, books of hers you really like, please let me know.
Thanks for reading.
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