Go ahead and google it. I’ll wait. This quote has variously been attributed to Stephen King, William Faulkner, and King quoting Faulkner. Whatever. I’m not a big fan of quotes, but this one seems appropriate for the writer’s most odious task: revision.
Writing is like falling in love. At first everything is great: you’re funny; she laughs at all your jokes. There’re sparks and rollercoaster moments and meaningful silences. Then there’s the relationship. There comes the day when she doesn’t laugh; she rolls her eyes instead. Silence is now the warning of the coming storm. That’s when you have to reevaluate: Maybe you’re not as funny as you thought you were? Revision is like that. You are not as funny as you thought you were. So what are you going to do? Throw up your hands and walk away? You? No way! Get back here. Sit down. Get to work. That’s my slightly overworked analogy for the writing process. In the comment box below, come up with one of your own. Use your imagination.
And please make sure you read the other comments so you’re not all coming up with the same one! What’s your metaphor for revision?
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About this blogA blog is an online conversation. This one is for students of writing and is an extension of our face-to-face classroom. Here is where we can continue a discussion started in class, ask questions, and test new ideas. Archives
March 2020
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