Garret, I know this isn't the point of this article, but the fact that you wrote a book is pretty cool. Do give yourself a little credit.
I love this idea of circular writing. The journey doesn't end when you smash that publish button. CONSTANT REVISION.
I have to ask though. How do you get over the exasperation of editing? Like I have some pieces that I have spent hours on, but I know they can still be improved. But I published them because I knew my head would burst if I edited another word. So how do you go back and refine those pieces?
Good question, Ishan, I’ll give my answer, but with a disclaimer of bias: for me, the revision process comes easier than drafting, and I work as an editor full time.
It’s important to still ship the thing, even when you know it could be better. Otherwise, you’d never publish anything. And best way to make editing more enjoyable is to spend time away from the piece. If you can do that, revisiting it is much less stressful and your edits not so dire.
Ishan, I also feel this exasperation of editing but maybe if we know that we can edit it again and again online. In consulting, we say, “it’s good enough, let’s move on.” I always wish the editor will stop the revision process by declaring, “This is ready, stop editing!” This never happens.
I love this piece, Garrett, and it's kind of a bookend to the piece that I wrote about handwriting. I wish that I had read this a week ago, as "revisit" is exactly what I did with my last Substack post. I love the alliteration in your subtitle. I also like your sense of grammar and structure. I really struggled with giving feedback in WoP. More than once, I was nailed with the sobriquet "Grammar Nazi". I've never been able to get it right, and congratulations, apparently you have.
Hi Drake, thank you! I also struggle with being a stickler for grammar — stopping myself from editing my friends’ speech in casual conversation. One writer who’s opened my mind on that and set me at ease is Roy Peter Clark. I’d recommend his books, Writing Tools and The Glamour of Grammar, if you’re interested in the subject.
This past weekend, I spent hours revising a short story I wrote for a writing contest two years ago. Part of me wants to forget about it and move on to new fiction, and part of me wants to see this story through to publication.
Such a timely piece. I reworked a thank you email I have to send to 2000 people (not my publication clearly) and ended up with something so much better because I worked through the comments one by one. And there are some people who are gifted at writing, some at editing, some who are gifted at making videos and images, and it’s beautiful when it all comes together in “concert” so to speak. I wish I could do it all effortlessly, but maybe with time. What was the contest Garrett?
Nice of you to share this reflection, Sadia, I’m glad the thank-you email turned out well. It’s a great feeling when you edit a piece until it fits the vision you have for it. Speaking for myself, it takes a LOT of effort. It was a creative writing contest at my university.
Garret, I know this isn't the point of this article, but the fact that you wrote a book is pretty cool. Do give yourself a little credit.
I love this idea of circular writing. The journey doesn't end when you smash that publish button. CONSTANT REVISION.
I have to ask though. How do you get over the exasperation of editing? Like I have some pieces that I have spent hours on, but I know they can still be improved. But I published them because I knew my head would burst if I edited another word. So how do you go back and refine those pieces?
Good question, Ishan, I’ll give my answer, but with a disclaimer of bias: for me, the revision process comes easier than drafting, and I work as an editor full time.
It’s important to still ship the thing, even when you know it could be better. Otherwise, you’d never publish anything. And best way to make editing more enjoyable is to spend time away from the piece. If you can do that, revisiting it is much less stressful and your edits not so dire.
Thanks for reading and sharing your take-aways!
Ishan, I also feel this exasperation of editing but maybe if we know that we can edit it again and again online. In consulting, we say, “it’s good enough, let’s move on.” I always wish the editor will stop the revision process by declaring, “This is ready, stop editing!” This never happens.
I love the time and care you put into the writing. Great job!
Thank you, Daniel, glad you enjoyed it.
I love this piece, Garrett, and it's kind of a bookend to the piece that I wrote about handwriting. I wish that I had read this a week ago, as "revisit" is exactly what I did with my last Substack post. I love the alliteration in your subtitle. I also like your sense of grammar and structure. I really struggled with giving feedback in WoP. More than once, I was nailed with the sobriquet "Grammar Nazi". I've never been able to get it right, and congratulations, apparently you have.
Hi Drake, thank you! I also struggle with being a stickler for grammar — stopping myself from editing my friends’ speech in casual conversation. One writer who’s opened my mind on that and set me at ease is Roy Peter Clark. I’d recommend his books, Writing Tools and The Glamour of Grammar, if you’re interested in the subject.
This past weekend, I spent hours revising a short story I wrote for a writing contest two years ago. Part of me wants to forget about it and move on to new fiction, and part of me wants to see this story through to publication.
Such a timely piece. I reworked a thank you email I have to send to 2000 people (not my publication clearly) and ended up with something so much better because I worked through the comments one by one. And there are some people who are gifted at writing, some at editing, some who are gifted at making videos and images, and it’s beautiful when it all comes together in “concert” so to speak. I wish I could do it all effortlessly, but maybe with time. What was the contest Garrett?
Nice of you to share this reflection, Sadia, I’m glad the thank-you email turned out well. It’s a great feeling when you edit a piece until it fits the vision you have for it. Speaking for myself, it takes a LOT of effort. It was a creative writing contest at my university.