Know the Difference Between Writing & Editing by Leigh Covington

We continue on with Guest Post May by welcoming Leigh Covington to Motivation for Creation.  Leigh is known to be one of the most supportive bloggers on the web by pretty much everyone who knows her.  She has a great sense of humor, which often finds its way into her blog posts.  She also is an inspiration and her blog, Leigh Covington, is one that I make sure to read every post.

I am so happy to have Leigh over to guest post, because I know we’re in for a treat!  Take it away, Leigh!

Hey Lara! Let me just begin by saying, “Thanks!” I’m so excited to be here today and I appreciate the opportunity to share on your blog! You’re awesome, girl!

For those of you who know me, you know that I like to keep my posts short and sweet. I will try to stick with that today!

At first I was so discouraged as to what to write about, but while I was at my latest conference, something hit me and I knew that’s what I wanted to post about. It’s simple really, but there are a few points I want you to think of.

(Bits of this are taken from Kevin J. Anderson’s talk on 11 Tips to Increase Your Writing Productivity.)

Know the Difference Between Writing & Editing

Or better said… Know when to write and when to edit! Okay, we all talk about wanting to shut off our inner editor, but guess what? It really does delay the process. Anderson has written over 50 books! I think he knows what he’s talking about so I think it’s important to listen to what he has to say.

Here are a few points that he made.

1.       You’re using different parts of your brain!

Yeah, we use one part to write and another to edit. Why complicate thing by switching back and forth?

2.      Use your writing momentum!

This totally makes sense, right? Don’t slow down when you’re on a roll. Don’t move back while you’re moving forward! Kevin J. Anderson

While he was talking about this… something from the movie, Finding Forrester came to mind. It’s short and awesome to watch, so take a second to check it out. I promise you won’t regret it!

This is one of my favorite parts of the whole movie! But listen…

“You write the first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your head.”

Doesn’t that make sense to you? It does to me. I don’t think we should slow the momentum of our writing because that is what’s coming from our heart. Let your brain work out the details later.

I think you’ll find you like your stories better and you’re getting more accomplished!

Thanks again Lara! And thanks everyone for checking this out.

What is your opinion on this? Agree or disagree?

To get more of Leigh, hop on over to her blog, or follower her on twitter at @LeighCovington.

First Draft Done! Now What?

This has been a great writerly week for me. 

It started on Tuesday, when I got an e-mail from Hogglepot, a fantasy webzine, that they did indeed want to publish my story, Bear Hug, in February.  Yay! 

Bear Hug is the first contemporary fantasy story I wrote, and I really wanted people to read it - not because I think it's the best story I ever wrote, but because I genuinely like the story.  The ending came with a flash of inspiration, not planning. I think that is when my muse introduced herself to me.

I will post when it is up over at Hogglepot, in case you want to take a peek!  I have been reading their webzine since I found the listing on duotrope and I've enjoyed the stories they have run.  If you like quirky fantasy, I suggest you check them out!

Then, on Wednesday, I finally finished the first draft of Finding Meara.  Yay!

However, my reaction when I put down the final period baffled me.  I don't know what I expected to happen, but I can tell you what didn't happen.

A choir of angels did not come down from heaven to sing the hallelujah chorus.

A marching band didn't parade through my living room, playing kick-you-know-what music.

President Obama didn't call me from the Oval Office, offering congratulations on a job well done.

What did happen:  I sat very still on my couch, and thought "That's it?"  And then my next thought was, "Now what?"

I wondered if there was something wrong with me.  I still don't have the need to do a happy dance.  I could analyze myself to death about why I am feeling... well... nothing, really, but I think it would be a waste of time.  This week I read an excellent post at The Write Practice called Your Successes Will Never Be Successful Enough, so I'm just going to link it here.

I'm not whining, mind you.  Finishing the first draft of Finding Meara is a milestone on the journey to becoming a novelist, for sure.  I am happy to have finished, and proud of the work I have done so far.  But it is only one of those action steps every writer must take on the path to publication.  

The answer to my "Now what?" is, of course, revisions, writing more stories, and learning how to write query letters, a synopsis, a "blurb," a pitch, and so one. Already I am planning my next few months, fitting my writing goals into the cracks of time left over in my everyday life.

But, I am going to take the lesson learned from Joe Bunting at the Write Practice, and enjoy this successful week for what it is. 

Because I finished my first draft, I am going to take a four day holiday (instead of just two days) from writing, and enjoy my Christmas, and my family, and not worry about the novel.

And I am going to wish you all a very merry Holiday Season!  I hope it is filled with peace and contentment and all the important things!