I love revising (in theory) because I'm so passionate about making my book on page as amazing as it is in my head. My main character deserves to have her story told properly, and the incredible notes I got from my critique partners and beta readers are the key to bringing it to the next level.
But, as with everything in writing, it's. effing. hard.
This revision is largely emotional, weaving certain elements through the story to give it more depth and resonance. Things weren't clicking for me quite yet, and I needed to go from thoughts marinating in my mind to actually translating on page.
Now, I'm not big on associating my WIPs with music. I don't listen to songs (besides instrumental meditation music) while I write; I don't scour my iTunes for a character theme song; I don't make a playlist for my novel.
 |
| Download legally! Click album artwork to check out Imagine Dragons songs on iTunes! |
If you're in a writing rut or revision funk, I hope your breakthrough is just around the corner! And if you need to get pumped up, I highly recommend you listen to this song.
Radioactive by Imagine Dragons
I'm waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in the chemicals
I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison buzz
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive
I raise my flags, don my clothes
It's a revolution, I suppose
We're painted red to fit right in
Whoa
I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison buzz
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive
All systems go, the sun hasn't died
Deep in my bones, straight from inside
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive
I never listen to music while I write and uh, this song doesn't really resonate with me at my age! But thanks. I might go listen to some REM or Pink Floyd...
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Donna! I've been revising my current MG so much I'm bleary-eyed. But I still don't feel it's the "final" revision. Every time I go through it I end up adding scenes, cutting scenes, changing dialogue that's too stiff, trying to shore up a weak plot line... How do you decide when to say, "Enough!"?
I think it's less about age than it is about music tastes! I'm a Pink Floyd fan, but not so much with REM.
DeletePer revision: I think you just need to take it as far as you can. If you're improving each draft significantly, then it's not done! If you're only tweaking a word here or there, it's time to move forward. Good luck!
Haha! Well, I almost said The Beatles!
DeleteThanks for the advice. With picture books, I used to revise at least 10 or 15 times, but with a novel... I'm up to draft five and then it's going to another beta reader. Then I'll undoubtedly have to tweak it some more depending on what the beta reader says. But I feel like I'm close. When do you think you'll start querying?
You're so right, writing is so existing (trying to make it as amazing as it is in our heads on page) and yet so effing hard. I love to listen to music while I write and/or revise, sometimes I associate songs to a particular story but for the most part I just make a Pandora station for it. That way I can have a bunch of music that feels the same to help the words flow. Though, I do often prefer instrumental music over lyrics when revising (like infected mushrooms).
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of the Imagine Dragons, but I really like this song. Thanks for sharing it!
I get so distracted by lyrics when I write, so I listen to a Stephen Halpern Pandora station.
DeleteGlad you like the song!
Unrelated to writing, but I'm totally obsessed with this song. It has been a staple on my running mix for the past month or so. I think it must have to do with how epic it sounds. Definitely an excellent motivator for both running and writing!
ReplyDeleteI can totally see how it would be an awesome running song because of its epicness!
DeleteI wrote a blog post (adjacent but not too far off this topic) recently. I think music is an essential tool in any writer's figurative tool belt (or literal, depending on how hardcore of a writer you are, I suppose).
ReplyDeleteOk, I need to make myself a literal writerly tool belt. Requirement: a place for chocolate-covered espresso beans.
ReplyDelete