Starting a New Revision
I started to rewrite “Unknown Caller” a couple of days ago. As I set about immersing myself back into the story (after a break of several months), doubts surfaced. I wondered if the project was worth my time, and I even considered scrapping the project in its entirety.
But then I realized something. And I’m glad I did because I’m going to be ready for it next time it happens to me! Everytime I start to write (or rewrite) an SP, I have these doubts.
I think what happens (in my subconscious) is I sit down to write and because my writing time is so precious to me, I become afraid of wasting any of it. And this “fear” immobilizes me.
I know this is going to sound weird, but I have to actually give myself permission to waste my writing time. And what I mean is this … I give myself permission to make mistakes, to go down the wrong path in a story, to use the wrong character at a particular plot point. I give myself permission to scrap pages and pages and pages that I’ve previously written… And try again.
That’s what writing is … rewriting. I don’t want to sound like a broken record because I’ve said it before. But it’s true. So, be forwarned, I’m probably going to say it again. Because every time I admit it to myself, it amazes me. It’s such a simple concept. Writing is rewriting. The experienced pros out there tell us this all the time but it takes many writers (including yours truly) years to accept it.
