Ceara Comeau's Blog: Lessons From A Struggling Writer - Posts Tagged "learning"
Editing...Editing...PROOFREAD!
"Oh, I've edited my manuscript so many times, I forgot which draft I'm on!"
If I had a dollar for every time I've said this, I'd have enough to hire a book publicist. But is it really about how many drafts you're on? Is that a good measurement of when you should stop editing or proofreading your manuscript? Absolutely not.
When I first started out writing, I was so impatient when it came to editing my work. I didn't care about how I should improve my craft, I just wanted the editing done yesterday. Editing is, by far, the longest process of writing a book, but for me it was even longer. Was it to do with my impatience? Partly, but the real reason? I'll let you in on a secret. I'm terrible when it comes to English. In fact, I had to take remedial English class in college just so I could graduate!
To this day, I wish I had paid more attention in English class during my school years, but nothing can be done about that now. Sooo what did I do to improve? I read! I read as many books in the genre I was interested in and some even outside of that genre. I learned from other authors what writing style I liked best and from there I grew. Now, I'm not saying to forgo English classes as they are extremely important to a writer's life, but there are other ways to learn.
With my latest book, I didn't even bother counting how many drafts I went through. To me, it was about the learning process. I even told my editor that I wanted her to highlight areas that needed to be fixed so that I could improve. Even after she went through it, and she did a good job, I re-read my book from a reader's point of view and found several weak areas within certain explanations.
In truth, the editing process is never-ending only because as writers we always want to strive for our best to give our readers the best experience possible.
If I had a dollar for every time I've said this, I'd have enough to hire a book publicist. But is it really about how many drafts you're on? Is that a good measurement of when you should stop editing or proofreading your manuscript? Absolutely not.
When I first started out writing, I was so impatient when it came to editing my work. I didn't care about how I should improve my craft, I just wanted the editing done yesterday. Editing is, by far, the longest process of writing a book, but for me it was even longer. Was it to do with my impatience? Partly, but the real reason? I'll let you in on a secret. I'm terrible when it comes to English. In fact, I had to take remedial English class in college just so I could graduate!
To this day, I wish I had paid more attention in English class during my school years, but nothing can be done about that now. Sooo what did I do to improve? I read! I read as many books in the genre I was interested in and some even outside of that genre. I learned from other authors what writing style I liked best and from there I grew. Now, I'm not saying to forgo English classes as they are extremely important to a writer's life, but there are other ways to learn.
With my latest book, I didn't even bother counting how many drafts I went through. To me, it was about the learning process. I even told my editor that I wanted her to highlight areas that needed to be fixed so that I could improve. Even after she went through it, and she did a good job, I re-read my book from a reader's point of view and found several weak areas within certain explanations.
In truth, the editing process is never-ending only because as writers we always want to strive for our best to give our readers the best experience possible.
Artists of Tomorrow
Attention all writers! I have an amazing experience to share with you. And if you’re not a writer, don’t tune me out just yet. This post is really for anyone in the realm of the arts.
Within the last several weeks, I’ve been given the honor of conducting a writer’s workshop for a charter school in my area. And as each week goes by, I can’t help but be inspired by these students and their creativity! One student is working on a magical fantasy world, another student is learning the ropes of the horror genre, another student is developing her spy novel, and there’s even one working on an amazing historical fantasy! But, there’s one student, in particular, who absolutely amazed me. This past week, he finally welcomed me into his amazing science fiction world that blew me away! He showed me dozens of scrolls which had family trees and decrees written out on them. He had countless binders filled with ideas for his world and he’s got fifteen languages going! These ideas span throughout over ninety books! But the most amazing part was, he JUST started formulating these ideas only a year ago.
“Okay, Ceara, you’re bragging now.”
Heck yes, I’m bragging! Want to know why? Because these students are the future. Crazy thought, right? Well, not really. See, writers and artists of today aren’t going to live forever, sad to say, but it’s true. And we don’t often think about that. But maybe we should start.
If you’re a writer or really deal with any art form, might I encourage you to go into the schools near you and talk to students? Teachers are always looking for new workshops that their students might enjoy and they don’t know that you’re out there unless you introduce yourselves.
“I’m not a teacher, I can’t talk to the students!”
(Teachers, please skip over what I’m about to say).
YOU. DON’T. HAVE. TO. BE! Think I said that loud enough 😉 I’m not a teacher, not by a long shot, nor do I intend to go on out and get a degree in teaching. It’s simply not necessary. Experience is sometimes the best “teaching degree”. And, you want to know a secret that many people miss? Most, if not all, times students will listen more to people who AREN’T teachers.
“Well, okay, so I don’t have to be a teacher. But what if I don’t want to teach kids? I’ve got to focus on my (fill in art form here)!”
Sure, that’s totally your prerogative. Consider this, though. Your art form, whatever it may be, could potentially die out. *GASP* Yes, I just said that. It might seem dramatic, I understand, but Baby Boomers and Generation X are in their 50-70s. And the youngest Millennials have reached (approximately) the age of 20! Generation Z is our future, people.
I’ve heard it time and time again of the older generations complaining about kids. “They’re too lazy”, “They’re ungrateful”, “They’re too impatient”, “They’re (fill in the blank)”. We can change that, in fact, we’re the only ones who can!
Let me be real with you. Whether you’re an actor, digital artist, painter, cartoonist, writer, poet, musician, or any other medium of art. We ALL have an obligation to encourage the youth. Educate them in their field of interest. Show them they’re not alone and that we have their backs. Because the children of today will become the artists of tomorrow.
Within the last several weeks, I’ve been given the honor of conducting a writer’s workshop for a charter school in my area. And as each week goes by, I can’t help but be inspired by these students and their creativity! One student is working on a magical fantasy world, another student is learning the ropes of the horror genre, another student is developing her spy novel, and there’s even one working on an amazing historical fantasy! But, there’s one student, in particular, who absolutely amazed me. This past week, he finally welcomed me into his amazing science fiction world that blew me away! He showed me dozens of scrolls which had family trees and decrees written out on them. He had countless binders filled with ideas for his world and he’s got fifteen languages going! These ideas span throughout over ninety books! But the most amazing part was, he JUST started formulating these ideas only a year ago.
“Okay, Ceara, you’re bragging now.”
Heck yes, I’m bragging! Want to know why? Because these students are the future. Crazy thought, right? Well, not really. See, writers and artists of today aren’t going to live forever, sad to say, but it’s true. And we don’t often think about that. But maybe we should start.
If you’re a writer or really deal with any art form, might I encourage you to go into the schools near you and talk to students? Teachers are always looking for new workshops that their students might enjoy and they don’t know that you’re out there unless you introduce yourselves.
“I’m not a teacher, I can’t talk to the students!”
(Teachers, please skip over what I’m about to say).
YOU. DON’T. HAVE. TO. BE! Think I said that loud enough 😉 I’m not a teacher, not by a long shot, nor do I intend to go on out and get a degree in teaching. It’s simply not necessary. Experience is sometimes the best “teaching degree”. And, you want to know a secret that many people miss? Most, if not all, times students will listen more to people who AREN’T teachers.
“Well, okay, so I don’t have to be a teacher. But what if I don’t want to teach kids? I’ve got to focus on my (fill in art form here)!”
Sure, that’s totally your prerogative. Consider this, though. Your art form, whatever it may be, could potentially die out. *GASP* Yes, I just said that. It might seem dramatic, I understand, but Baby Boomers and Generation X are in their 50-70s. And the youngest Millennials have reached (approximately) the age of 20! Generation Z is our future, people.
I’ve heard it time and time again of the older generations complaining about kids. “They’re too lazy”, “They’re ungrateful”, “They’re too impatient”, “They’re (fill in the blank)”. We can change that, in fact, we’re the only ones who can!
Let me be real with you. Whether you’re an actor, digital artist, painter, cartoonist, writer, poet, musician, or any other medium of art. We ALL have an obligation to encourage the youth. Educate them in their field of interest. Show them they’re not alone and that we have their backs. Because the children of today will become the artists of tomorrow.
What a Waste
At some point in everyone’s life, we all go through a situation that makes us question what we are doing. And sometimes a very familiar phrase will cross our minds, “This is such a waste of my time.”
Over the years, I have found myself saying that all too often, whether it be an Algebra class in high school or a new, artistic endeavor. See, that was one of my biggest fears not too long ago. I had a principal in middle school who once said to me, “I don’t mind wasting money, that’s something I can get back. But my time? I can’t get that back.”
And this stuck with me and any new choice I made in my life; I had his words echoing in my memory. Which, honestly made me steer clear of anything that I thought wouldn’t serve me a purpose.
But this past month has greatly changed my perception of wasting time.
As I’ve probably mentioned in the past, I LOVE doing family research for my family and for others. I’ve been doing it for about as long as I’ve been writing and through those years, there are still unanswered questions that I have. Sometimes I find different methods to further my “investigation” and sometimes my theories lead to a dead end and I have to wait for another theory to emerge. But, is each method a waste of my time? Absolutely not, because not only do I find more ways of utilizing the different DNA websites out there, but the stories I learn about my ancestors give me inspiration for the characters that I write. It gives them more life.
So, I want to encourage you to change your way of thinking this coming month. If you’re in a situation that you think is a “waste” of your time, ask yourself—how can you apply the situation to your career or passion? Because, if you can learn from something, then, it’s not really a waste of time!
Over the years, I have found myself saying that all too often, whether it be an Algebra class in high school or a new, artistic endeavor. See, that was one of my biggest fears not too long ago. I had a principal in middle school who once said to me, “I don’t mind wasting money, that’s something I can get back. But my time? I can’t get that back.”
And this stuck with me and any new choice I made in my life; I had his words echoing in my memory. Which, honestly made me steer clear of anything that I thought wouldn’t serve me a purpose.
But this past month has greatly changed my perception of wasting time.
As I’ve probably mentioned in the past, I LOVE doing family research for my family and for others. I’ve been doing it for about as long as I’ve been writing and through those years, there are still unanswered questions that I have. Sometimes I find different methods to further my “investigation” and sometimes my theories lead to a dead end and I have to wait for another theory to emerge. But, is each method a waste of my time? Absolutely not, because not only do I find more ways of utilizing the different DNA websites out there, but the stories I learn about my ancestors give me inspiration for the characters that I write. It gives them more life.
So, I want to encourage you to change your way of thinking this coming month. If you’re in a situation that you think is a “waste” of your time, ask yourself—how can you apply the situation to your career or passion? Because, if you can learn from something, then, it’s not really a waste of time!
