Writing Madness

Scott Westerfeld: On Rewriting & Growing Up

lettersandlight:

The “Now What?” Months are here! In 2014, we’ll be bringing you advice from authors who published their NaNo-novels, editors, agents, and more to help you polish November’s first draft until it gleams. Today, Scott Westerfeld delivers some wisdom with his pep:

At the end of drafting a novel, I’m usually in need of a laugh, so I return to the very first pages I wrote. It’s like looking at photos of myself twenty years ago: How callow I was then, how artless and unkempt, how innocent of what was to come. But what I’ve gained since those early days isn’t so much knowledge or wisdom or a better haircut, but simple perspective. I can see now where things were headed then.

Sadly, when looking at old pictures, you can’t go back and give yourself advice, or change those unfortunate clothing choices. But with first drafts you can. In that moment before revising begins, you’re no longer embedded in the hurly burly of what-happens-next and what’s-this-character’s-motivation. You have perspective.

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