The questioner says "that I tend to simply produce very smooth and refined versions of whatever I happened to spew onto the page initially. ...... But the meat (clay ) never shifts."
I get George's point about the house being in order before deciding on change, but I wonder if the Q. might be taking the polishing too far. So the writing b…
The questioner says "that I tend to simply produce very smooth and refined versions of whatever I happened to spew onto the page initially. ...... But the meat (clay ) never shifts."
I get George's point about the house being in order before deciding on change, but I wonder if the Q. might be taking the polishing too far. So the writing becomes an exercise in proper, expected grammar, and not an adventure of discovery - ideas and connections and mystery. I think you have to be a little reckless, and careless, at some point. Turn over a few rocks and scuff things up and not be so concerned about polishing until later on. Polishing is not art, it's craft. The Questioner, I think, is trying to get to the art.
100% this. I am never looking for line edits when I run drafts past a beta reader, and if that's what I get back, I never ask again. Big questions, ride or die.
The questioner says "that I tend to simply produce very smooth and refined versions of whatever I happened to spew onto the page initially. ...... But the meat (clay ) never shifts."
I get George's point about the house being in order before deciding on change, but I wonder if the Q. might be taking the polishing too far. So the writing becomes an exercise in proper, expected grammar, and not an adventure of discovery - ideas and connections and mystery. I think you have to be a little reckless, and careless, at some point. Turn over a few rocks and scuff things up and not be so concerned about polishing until later on. Polishing is not art, it's craft. The Questioner, I think, is trying to get to the art.
Mary and George - stay safe.
"I think you have to be a little reckless, and careless, at some point."
I like that.
100% this. I am never looking for line edits when I run drafts past a beta reader, and if that's what I get back, I never ask again. Big questions, ride or die.
Thank you, Tod.