Taking a break this eve, I got to flipping through the Writer's Journal . . . and found a few beginner's articles I absolutely loved. Yes, I still read those. Going back over the basics not only helps to drive in the 'duh' of structure (can't hurt) but, also, brings up sparks in the oddest of places, or just one's the muse had forgotten.
Tonight, I was reminded of both.
One article went over writing for the self and with one's own style. You can be inspired by another, writer or work, but should always strive to tell it your way. That, even to an experienced writer, should always be held close -- revived when needed.
Personally, in my own work, I do tend to fall victim to overlooking the importance of it. It's not often, mind you, but it does happen. A novel I recently put into hibernation, just until my son arrives, has had several rewrites in the outline plus the events inside. I know the story I wish to tell and how I want to tell it; how IT wants to be told. But, still I went through and changed two or three key pieces; wondering if a reader or publisher would prefer it the new way, rather than the story's way.
After that, I lost some of my own voice in the piece. It's survivable, just not ideal. And, if you wish to stand out, a death sentence. So, I went back and rewrote those pieces the way they were meant to be. Doing so changed the rest of the story. Mainly, the changes simply put it back the way it came. Nothing revision cannot fix!
The other article was about grammar. Calling it a necessity is an understatement. You can never learn enough about grammar when you write.
I do confess, I am a bit more lax in blog (and Facebook and Twitter, etc) than I would be for real.
I read these articles and reread books on the subject to keep it all fresh in my mind. Always seems to be a trick or two that falls into the fog between random uses. For that, I try to keep up when I come across articles like these.
That, also, falls into style and voice: how a technique is used, from the most basic to the elaborate. And that grammar/spell check will not catch it all. In fact, it's actually wrong with a number of exceptions. Something I wish someone would have told me sooner.
On the other hand, trial and error tends to make lessons stick.
So, write for yourself and your story. Forget the rest. When you're ready to revise, relax and do not stop until it's done.
No rough draft is perfect, most are down right slop, but they are the core of your piece and your vision. Embrace that and kill that critic when he tells you to throw it away. Keep your voice, hold to the basics, and polish the work until it makes you proud.
If it's not your own (it's all been done, but it is how you tell it), it will not be remembered.
With this rekindled vigor, I head back to my work. In the beginning, I was only concerned with the dream and poured that onto the page. As time grew on, and things became more about the bottom line. But, I cannot let that dream die. In it is my voice, my style, my heart, my story's life and soul.
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