I’m in the midst of revising a manuscript, one that I haven't looked at for a while, and I'm quite tickled with it. I'm delighted at how fresh it sounds when I read it. I've chuckled several times at the humorous dialogue, and I've smiled at how engaging the characters are. I excitedly turn the pages, as if I don't know how it ends. I'm really happy with my efforts, telling myself, "You know, it doesn't need as much revising as I thought".
And that's when I stop dead in my tracks.
Whenever I think something like that, all of a sudden Endora the muse swoops in, with a clipboard filled with rules and regulations. She cackles with way too much glee as she reminds me of how I need to keep this in mind, and keep that in mind, and next thing I know I can't remember why I thought this manuscript was worthwhile. She's convinced me it should be totaled, thrown onto the junk heap, and smooshed into oblivion.
Thankfully I stumbled across a great post by George Angus, where he talks about a time when he was an auto claims adjuster and had to take pics of a stolen car that had been recovered. On the back of the car was a bumper sticker that said "Drive It Like You Stole It". He says:
In a lot of ways, I think the best kind of writing happens this way. I know that when I’ve been inspired, the adrenaline kicks in a bit. I rip out the turn indicator and rear view mirror and toss them on the side of the highway. Don’t get in my way ’cause I’m on a mission and I’m treating the ride like it don’t belong to me. The rules of the road matter little and I’m cruisin’ with no particular destination in mind.
This is exactly how I drafted this manuscript, with my foot planted on the accelerator, dodging the rules like they were pylons in an obstacle course, zooming to the finish line with a grin on my face. I could sense that unbridled sense of joy when I first started reading the manuscript. That devil-may-care attitude permeated every single scene.
But then all of a sudden fear crept in. It threw a huge roadblock in front of me, one that had warnings and caution signs and all kinds of penalties for breaking the rules. I slam on the brakes and yank the steering wheel to the side, bracing for a horrific crash, the mournful strains of "Last Kiss" playing as I wait to see the manuscript engulfed in a fireball.
Miraculously I somehow steer around the roadblock. How did I manage such an amazing feat?
I remembered why I loved this story, and why I felt compelled to write it in the first place. I didn't know as many of the rules then as I do now, blissfully ignorant to anything but how much I enjoyed the characters and the situations they were in.
I was reminded that the rules aren't meant to impede your forward progress, as you merrily zip from Point A to Point B. They are meant to guide you around trouble spots, to help you avoid massive plotholes that could derail your entire journey. They are designed to get you to the end of the trip so you don't drive around in circles or follow every detour and forget where you were headed.
So let 'er rip today.
Rev your writing engine.
To hell with limits.
Go as fast and as far as your story takes you, and then spin around and do it again.
The joyride of writing awaits you.
I agree! The first draft is all about the muse, imagination and forgetting about the rules.
Posted by: Kari Marie | April 01, 2011 at 09:28 AM
Kari Marie -- now for the fun part, slowing down and making sure the story does what I intended it to do when I was racing around!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | April 01, 2011 at 09:41 AM
I love this! And I'm actually at this point, at the starting line of a brand new WIP that feels all revved up and new and ready to race. I think ripping off that rearview mirror might be the most important step! LOL!
I also love that feeling when you go back and read your own stuff, look up and think, "Did I really write this? Heh. This is good!" Best. Feeling. Ever.
Good luck on the revisions! Obviously, you have something great to work with. :)
Posted by: Terri Osburn | April 01, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Terri, it is a fun analogy, isn't it? I agree about ripping off the rearview mirror -- even if we let it stay there, we're only supposed to GLANCE in it, while keeping our eyes FORWARD. LOL
I definitely love that feeling of reading something and finding out, "Wow! I don't even remember WRITING this!" LOL It does seem magical.
I hope I have something great to work with. I'm definitely feeling some love for this book, which is a good thing as I go in and do some surgery on it. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | April 01, 2011 at 10:43 AM
I love detours! ;-)
Posted by: Maureen | April 01, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Maureen, I'm not sure you actually do detours. LOL Your entire trip is a detour!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | April 01, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Ah, but the things I see along the way! ;-)
Posted by: Maureen | April 01, 2011 at 05:13 PM
I know what you mean, Maureen. :) I'm taking some detours out of this WIP, because they don't serve the story, but they sure were fun when I wrote them!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | April 01, 2011 at 05:28 PM