I feel like I’m reinventing the wheel with every journey through the process of writing a novel. I’ve done this before; I’ve drafted 5 complete novels. And yet, today I found myself googling “How to revise” as though I’ve never revised a book in my life.
(I have. I’ve attempted to revise 5 novels, but in reality I’ve truly revised only 4 of them. Which is also an evolution of process! When I wrote that first book, I didn’t understand that revision is more than line editing.)
It’s a feeling of roadblock that rises up like a brick wall in front of me every time. I’ve drafted the book—I remembered how to do that, apparently—but I’ve forgotten how to Make Book Good. Sisyphus has forgotten how to push the boulder up the mountain.
But each time, it’s a different boulder. On a different hill. And each time, I’m getting stronger and wiser, so maybe this metaphor isn’t appropriate after all.
You get my point.
This book is different because it’s a new genre for me. I’m thinking about plot structure and character arc in a far more informed, deliberate way than previous revisions. I’m not being shy about blowing plotlines apart and starting over.
I also think a lot about the way the process of creating art is inherently progress. We improve a little with each thing we write—which means that by the end of drafting this book, I’m already a more skilled writer than when I started. And so the process of revision circles around itself, and I find myself reinventing with this new knowledge.
Sure, there’s the nuts and bolts of the process. There’s the checklists I’ve learned to make to keep my brain organized. There’s the general shape that I’ve been able to form my revision process into over many drafts of many books. I’ve spent enough time revising poorly that I’m learning what doesn’t work.
But then there’s this new thing, this new skill and insight I’m bringing to each draft. I’m never the same writer at the start of a draft versus the end. Sure, it makes the revision process more intimidating, since my expectations are higher for my own work. But so is my ability to Make Book Good.
I think the payoff will be worth it.
Anne Kopas 