Hey guys!
So I’m doing a 365 lettering challenge this year
(more on that Saturday or on Instagram daily!)
and I thought I could tie it into writing.
So…
TA DA!
Writer Word Wednesdays!
Each Wednesday I’ll share a bit of hand lettering related to writing. I’ve got notebooks filled with notes from SCBWI conferences and going to see authors at local bookstores, plus I’m ALWAYS reading books about creativity and such, so I’m not worried that I’ll run out of stuff.
And if the words help you,
you can download them, print them out,
and put them up somewhere where you’ll be reminded/inspired by them.
So, for the first one, we have these words from Emma Dryden:
I think she said them on twitter?
Or maybe this summer when I took her intensive at LASCBWI.
Which, if that ever comes up again, TAKE IT!
Talk about A TON of revision advice!
Emma Dryden knows her stuff.
And those words are so simple.
Everything is evolving, so why shouldn’t our stories?
Revision is necessary, but sometimes it can be scary.
I know that sometimes I just want to be done with a story,
and all of a sudden we have to change direction completely,
and I’m only talking about picture books!
For people who write longer stuff,
I don’t know how you handle it?
But thinking evolving instead of revision helps.
And it’s in the word too;
evolving means it’s getting better,
it’s getting closer to its final state.
Ok, this is making me want to look up the word evolve, so I just did. Here’s the definition:
Develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form.
See, that’s what writing is ALL ABOUT!
Well, sometimes, for me, it goes from complex to simple,
but the best stories are both at the same time.
I like this quote because it reminds me of what hard work it is to be a writer, (so it’s ok to take breaks and celebrate small victories!) but also because it paints a picture in my mind.
I imagine the story as this little idea, this frail thing, that floated into my mind, and I’m helping to form it. I add bits to make it stronger; maybe I paint it a bit to liven it up. I tinker and use all the stuff I have available, and, in the end, it’s going to be this AWESOME THING, all because I kept tinkering with it, making it better, helping it develop and evolve.
This also helps with letting go of certain parts of the story that don’t serve it anymore once you’ve revised. I’m sure you’ve had to cut out many things that you LOVE that the story just doesn’t need anymore. It doesn’t mean those parts are BAD and WORTHLESS, it just means they’re not useful for THAT STORY. Save them and maybe they’ll help with something down the line.
Finally, somethings take longer to evolve than others.
This is DEFINITELY true with stories.
Some come out almost fully formed;
others are years in the making.
I love this quote because it inspires me to think about how I can develop my story to be the best it can be. After seeing it, I want to get to work, and I look forward to the day when I get to see the best evolved version of my story in print.
Of course I could spend an entire blogpost talking about the people who help the story evolve too; critique mates, agents, editors…anyone you learn from. I like that we’re all working for the story.
What do you think about this quote,
and about how your stories have evolved?
And what do you think about this weekly feature?
It will be here every Wednesday š
until next time,
KE
How do writers of longer works handle it?
We freak out, cry, stress, binge-eat chocolate, then get back to work.
With about a month till my deadline, my editor asked for two new storylines, including one about very, very minor characters that she wanted to be made into major players.
I did it. Somehow. Stories evolve.
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You are a miracle worker, Jackie Lea. And a f’n rockstar. Don’t ever forget it!
I just was linking up the ABLA conference for a blogpost I’m doing,
and, at the bottom, it said: “You could make friends for life!”
And we did!
Personally, I think it was singing One Direction to you from down the hall that sealed the deal š
You’re such a sweetie. Oh gosh, the One Direction, YES!!!