Blog for Bristol Services Intl.

A writer wrote recently about sending me his book for my editing services and he included this comment:

“Smart as I know you are, you will not know what will happen next. I did not know and was surprised while writing it.”

The Writer’s Job:
To be honest, whenever I read this kind of statement by an author, I worry more than a little bit. This is really NOT a good sign. As a fiction editor I recognize that new writers are thrilled with their new task of writing. And it is true that readers love to sit back and read a story that provides fresh perspectives, interesting changes and twists along the way. But often new writers sometimes forget that they are not a reader anymore. They don’t have the option to just sit back and read this book as they write it—they have the responsibility as the author to stage, direct and produce the story for other readers. Not near as much fun, certainly not relaxing, and in fact, lots of work!

Stories Should Evolve, Not Mutate:
Yes, stories grow and change and evolve as they are written–that is all good and fine. This evolution of a story is what keeps the sparkle and vitality within the words. Writers have the joy of being inspired by those very changes as they fire off in the author’s creative brain. Yet all those changes need to be kept within the bounds of an original premise, idea or plot. If these surprises go too far afield, the whole concept of what you started with will fall apart. It is like a knitter who starts knitting a sweater and decides mid-way to make socks instead. Yes, the result will be interesting, but not wearable at all!

Keeping the Good Stuff:
I’ve read many stories whose authors were similarly enthused about their stories because it was so surprising even as they wrote it and in every instance the lack of direction, focus or continuity were obvious. As you write the initial draft, enjoy the surprises that crop up and keep as many of them as you feel work during that initial draft. Then, as you revise, determine which of these new directions really worked overall, which were fun but superfluous, and which really didn’t integrate into the story. Keep only the ones that really functioned well for the story at hand. But save the others in another file! Those great surprises that you just can’t get rid of, the ones that didn’t really fit this story but, gosh, are so great, can make the perfect starting place for … your next story!