Over at the WOW! blog, I talked about doing inventory for your writing. So, off and on this week I have been looking at old pieces of work, ones that I have submitted continuously this past year or so, and seeing what needs to be done with them.
It’s undeniable that revising and rewriting is part of the writing process. Somehow though it wasn’t until recently that I realized – more like accepted – that it is kind of an endless process. After about 10 – 12 rejections, I usually decide to look at a few short stories and rewrite them since they haven’t been accepted yet.
Sometimes I look at a piece and notice what needs to be changed. Sometimes it eludes me. Recently I received a rejection for the short story and I actually received feedback. The feedback wasn’t great. It ended up being something along the lines of “this has been told before” and “I didn’t get it.” I requested feedback from a critique forum I used and discovered that the latest draft of my story was very well received. So, it could have been just a matter of opinion.
Lately, things have been stressful in our world and in my own life, so thinking of submitting often feels exhausting all on its own. But it’s a cycle.
I’ve come to realize that writing and the pursuit of publishing are about endurance more than anything else. Endurance with writing teaches you to keep pursuing, keep trying, keep editing, keep rewriting, keep seeking feedback, and so on and so on. It’s also knowing you have a story to be told and you want it to be read. You want this story to find an audience.
Have you been doing any revising and rewriting lately? How do you feel about this process?
I've been writing for years. Actually, I've been writing since I was a kid. I've got two books I've done nothing with simply because I don't know what to do with them. I need help.
"The feedback wasn't great. It ended up being something along the lines of "this has been told before" and "I didn't get it.""
But if it had been told before, how come they didn't get it? It sounds like a contradictions in terms. Unless they were referring to two distinct parts of your story.
Hmm good point! It's possible it was talking about two different points. I do finally feel like I'm in a good place with this story now though. Especially after my latest round of revisions and feedback. Here's hoping!