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Rewrites
This section is both my most favorite, and my most hated section of the site.
I enjoy it because I believe there is no better way to learn this craft other than to write something, give it to someone else, then have them rewrite it.
It is one thing to have someone tell you, "That paragraph is telly. You need to write in a more showy style." You nod your head and say, "Great. I understand. Let me go and fix it." but do you really know what they mean?
It is completely different to have someone rewrite your work and then say, "See how I took your words and changed them? Do you see why what you wrote is telling the story, and what I wrote is showing the story?" Then you can nod your head with confidence because you can now see the difference.
I hate this section for the simple reason that most people do not take constructive criticism well. Especially writers. Writers are of the opinion that everything they write is gold. I know I do. Which is why it amazes me that my publisher pays for three professional editors to edit my stuff. It is even more amazing to me that all three of them find TONS of things that need to be changed. How dare they! :)
So, when people ask me to critique their writing, I always do so with trepidation. This is why I created this disclaimer. I send it to everyone who asks for my help. Please read on as I feel it applies well with what I am doing here.
****Advice/Rewrite Disclaimer****
Thank you for asking me for advice. This means that you think I am someone who can help you improve in the craft of writing, and mayhaps I can. But, please, let us not start this with any false pretexts. For, as Westley said to Count Rugen in the Princess Bride, “We are men of action. Lies do not become us.”
There is not a writer alive who wants advice. I know you “think” you are looking for advice, but you are only lying to yourself. What a writer really wants is confirmation. Confirmation that what they have written is perfect and wonderful and witty and engaging and bla bla blablabla. You may be sitting there reading this saying to yourself, “No, I want advice. I want to learn. I really do!” And on the surface you may be telling the truth. But deep down inside you are really hoping that I give you no advice at all. You are hoping that I simply say, “Wow! You are amazing! Truly wonderful! I admit it, you are better than I.” You can then ask me, “Then why are you smiling?” And I will reply, “Because I know something you do not.” (O.K. that is my last Princess Bride reference. I promise)
The fact is, there is not a single writer on this planet that could not write something better. All of us make mistakes – that is why there are professional editors. If you can at least admit to yourself that you are really hoping I will not find any issues with your work yet know that I will find many, you have taken the first step to becoming a better writer. (Go ahead. I will wait while you admit that to yourself.)
Done? Good. Another issue is, writing is subjectional. You can show something you have written to five different professionals (take your pick between any amount of authors, agents, publishers or editors) and you will get five different answers. That being the case, there are still some fundamental rules to this craft that, if broken, will reduce your chances of becoming published.
If you ask me for advice, I shall give it. But understand two very important things. First and foremost – it is advice. The definition of advice is, "an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct, etc." The key word to that definition is “opinion.” When getting advice from anyone (and I do mean anyone) take is as just that. Don’t change your writing method just because someone said it had to be done. Think on what you are told. Do some additional research. Do some test writing with this new method you were told is the only way to go and see how it sits with you.
I call this, “The Big Question.” And that is, “What does this do for my writing?” You should ask yourself that question in reference to everything you learn in this industry.
The worst thing I have ever heard a writer say is that they took a bunch of people’s advice and re-wrote their manuscript following that advice as if it was gospel. Now, after the re-write, their manuscript is worse than it was before. Oh, and they edited over the original, so no backup! Life for them sucks.
Don’t be that person. Yes, you should learn and grow. Yes, you should continually try and improve your writing skills. Simply take what you learn and see how it fits within your writing style.
Secondly, no one likes to be told they need to improve/change/edit/replace/omit/or otherwise adjust what they have written. Don’t believe me? Remember what you admitted at the beginning of this disclaimer? I will give you advice; how you take it is up to you. If you can swallow your “artistic pride,” and really understand what I am trying to convey to you, you will have taken your second step to becoming a better writer.
****Disclaimer Ends****
And now for the cost - nothing is free, right? Well, my price for giving advice or rewriting a paragraph or two is not that bad. In fact, it has no monetary requirement at all! If you do send me a sample of your writing, you must include this release in your email allowing me the right to use your work in any of my training classes or post it on this website. I will not reference your name nor the title of your work, and I will change your key character names. That will ensure not only your anonymity, but what you have written as well. I do this so that I have material to use as examples for others to see and learn from. I will not edit anything unless you agree to these terms.
So, please feel free to send me samples of your work. As I have time, I will rewrite a paragraph or two and try to show you how doing things a bit different will strengthen your writing.
Drake |
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