Okay, Writing Power Writers’ Circle members, I’ve given us all some time in May to finish our April goals.  (Sometimes you need just one more weekend, right?)  How did you do?  Let us know in the comments.  We’re eager to hear. 

Those of you who haven’t introduced yourselves, please join our intrepid band of writers today!  All you have to do is introduce yourself and set some writing-related goals for the next month.  So far, I have been amazed at how well public accountability works to shore up weakening motivation or to stave off that little procrastinating voice.

I am fairly happy with my progress: I have drafted my article.  (I should note that I did use the weekend of May 2 and 3 to finish up.)  It has since been marinating: I have taken a week or so away from it in order to get perspective.  Now, I have to go back and see whether it’s any good.  Gulp.

I have at least two other versions of this project floating around.  One I completed several years ago for a graduate seminar, and the other is my first attempt at a rewrite.  I am going to mine these drafts for useful bits, but I don’t think they’ll be very helpful at this stage.  Even though they deal with the same topic, neither has the argumentative goal that my current draft has. 

I don’t regard these two failed attempts as wasted work at all, by the way.  Sometimes you can’t see a project clearly without going down a couple of promising paths that end up in dead ends.  They help clarify where you need to go.  Who knows, though: maybe I’ll find a usable sub-point.  That’d be like finding ten dollars in an old jacket pocket.  I don’t expect it, but you never know.

Over the next two weeks, I’ll devote some time to revision of this article.  Revision is in many ways the real work of writing.  In order to maximize my time, I am not going to look for large blocks of time to devote to it: it’s just not realistic at the end of the semester.  Instead, I will employ my old dissertation-writing strategy: write a little bit at a designated time every day. 

(more…)

Technorati Tags: blog writing, Revision, writing

 You have really outdone yourself this time.  I mean, you knew you were a good writer, but this - this is great.  You have just crafted the perfect analogy (or description, thesis statement, blog post): it’s punchy, it’s tongue-in-cheek, and most of all, it’s just so clever!  You giggle every time you read it.

I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but you should seriously consider taking that thing out behind the shed and putting it down.  Yep, I’m talking about deletion. 

I will never forget the day that I got this advice.  I felt as though I had been slapped.  What?!  Why would I want to cut it?  It’s the best writing in the whole piece!  This guy obviously just doesn’t get it.  Apparently, he can’t recognize good - no, great - writing when he sees it.  It must be over his head.  It’s just so clever. 

Considering that my reader - the guy who “didn’t get it” - was a distinguished professor of English at a top research university and I was a first year PhD student, I am glad I didn’t say any of those things out loud.  But I was stunned. 

He then shared a line that has stayed with me ever since.  When it comes to writing, he said, “Murder your darlings.” 

(more…)

Technorati Tags: blog writing, Revision, writing tips