Rinse and Repeat
Many years ago, we brought home a Nintendo game system. My oldest son loved SuperMario and would play it over and over.
I tried a couple times, but the game drove me crazy because I kept having to go back to the beginning and start over. I HATE doing stuff over. Heck, I rarely even re-read a book. Once I've read it, I'm done!
Except in writing.
My current book is wandering off the synopsis and trying to tell me something. I know this because I have probably written and tossed a 100 pages. Something is off and it's starting to dawn on me what it is.
I'm in the Middle of the Book Slump. The point in which it's slowing sinking into my brain what is working and what isn't. It's really crummy time of the year for this to happen, but there it is. I'm going to have to redraw some of the book then rewrite.
Once I figure out the problems, I'm actually fast at rewriting (usually). I tend to like rewriting because I'm getting it right. I get excited and don't want to stop until I get to the end. I'll do it as many times as it takes.
Unlike that Super Mario game. I fianlly just refused to play at all. Besides, my son kept beating me. Every Single Time!!!
So I'm going to spend some real time thinking this over how to fix the book (while Christmas shopping, baking, doing interviews...) then tackle start rewriting.
Okay time to confess--what do you do over and over until you get it right?
posted by Jennifer at 8:13 AM
7 Comments:
Jen repeats are how we learn. Education by rote. It is definately how I learn.
Not having much money at the time, I was so excited when we were able to buy our daughers Super Nintendo. I became a closet Super Mario player because my daughters cleaned the street up with me. But it is where I realized how much I depend on physical repition to learn.
In my job I had to learn computers in an out. Repetition taught me the codes I needed for repair. Why it took me so long to realize my learning technic, I've not clue. I should have remembered that in school we learned spelling and division by repetition. I've also come to realize I learn more now easier than when I was in school because of application.
Jen, for me, it's WRITING over and over again and each time hoping that THIS book will be the one I get JUST right!
Cele, you're right of course! I suppose it's all about being motivated. I wasn't motivated to keep getting my butt kicked on Super Mario :-)
Maureen, you always get it right? Aren't you the one who is NUMBER ONE on the Walden's list? I wanna be you!
I've written research analysis at least 5 times before I could sent it out. But each time I rewrite an analysis, my message improves.
Other than laundry and cleaning--oh wait, that's not something I *want* to do over and over.
Okay, I confess. It's writing for me too.
And it's nice for me to see I'm not the only one who needs to write and rewrite to get it right.
:) d
Yep, it's writing. I'll fiddle with a passage over and over again til it's just right. I do that for the whole book. Drives some people crazy! **cough**Maureen!!**cough**
Good luck with the writing, Jen!
Okay, going to defend myself here against some 'remarks' that some writers who will be nameless, Kate, have made.....
the rewriting I get. It's the constant TWEAKING I don't get!!
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