Writing in Gulps and Sips

It really gets on my nerves when I take a sip of water and it dribbles down my mouth, chin, and neck. My mom used to say, “Do you have a hole in your lip?” When I stop to think about why this happens, two reasons come to mind.

• Drinking too fast
• Giant cup vs. small mouth

This “Dribble Effect” applies to writing, too.

Are you drinking too fast?

Writing is not a race. It may feel that way when under a pressing deadline from your publisher. But, while drafting and revising, it’s best to slow down. I’m sure this is not the first time you have heard someone suggest that you put your draft on a shelf or in a drawer and let it rest. Chances are, you will look at the draft with new eyes when you pull it back out. Allowing this process to take place before seeking out professional advice or critique group feedback will assist you in putting your own authentic stamp on your work.

May I suggest:

1) Write a first draft.

2) Put it away for a week or so. Read some mentor texts.

3) Take it back out and revise. Then, walk away again to occupy yourself with a fun activity.

4) Fine tune your story one more time before sending it out for feedback.

5) Read the feedback and take note of what resonates with your inner editor. Allow yourself to be internally defensive with all other comments, if need be, then walk away until you feel ready to receive the feedback with an open mind. The instinct to defend your work can be strong and keep you from growing. Don’t let it overpower you or leak into your verbal interactions with others. Depending on how stuck you feel with a story, it could be a couple of weeks or even months before you feel ready to tackle revision. Write something new and read some mentor texts. It will fill your cup with inspiration.

6) Come back with a fresh mind and new eyes, ready to revise. Refer to your feedback. Listen to your gut: What resonates with your inner editor? Are there similar comments from multiple people? Does your feedback come from a trusted, educated source? -OR- Revise in the form of many different rewrites for growth and comparison, changing POV, character focus, plot and other elements if needed.

7) Repeat the process as necessary. This formula is not exact and your timeline may look different. When inspiration strikes, go for it! But always realize that there really is no rush unless you are meeting a deadline.

Are you drinking from a cup that is too big?

I am all for revising oneself as a writer. Investing in classes, written resources, and joining writing groups are all great things. However, there was a time when that cup was too big for me. I was taking more than one class, reading two different writing craft books, and trying to keep up with multiple online writing groups. What suffered? Well, a lot of things, but mainly, my writing, and I stopped reading mentor texts, too. There was no focus and too much information coming all at once. KEEP revising yourself, but start with a smaller cup. Never stop reading mentor texts, but reflect on what you are writing and which mentor texts would compliment your current goals the most. If your cup is too big, you’re bound to get drenched.

With a the right-sized cup and a little patience, you’ll experience a lot less dribble and a little more absorption.