Writing Process Oddments

Still proofing—although the end is in sight: yay!

There's not a lot more to say about proofing itself, other than that it's line-by-line work that requires a great deal of concentration and so is also quite exhausting, especially given the tight timeframe for "doin' the thing" in.

Mind you, a great deal of the writing process is intensive, only in different ways—for example, the line-by-line fine detail checking of the proof is a whole different universe than getting out the first draft, when there is this huge idea in your head and a blank page or screen in front of you, and the need and desire to transpose the former to the latter in a way that is true and retains fire and passion and colour—i.e. that is a tale worth reading as well as telling.

In the first draft phase I find that I do a lot of other creative things as well: not just reading, but listening to music, working in the garden, going for long walks—these are all activities that I find nourish creativity. As does a glass of wine and good conversation with friends, or a road trip to some colurful and vibrant, or wild and beautiful place.

Getting through the proofing is almost the opposite. Coffee, I find, becomes a staple, while magazines supersede books as reading material: the sort of magazines that are light on words but big on photo shots of the beautiful and picturesque (I'm talking about landscapes, design, and food here folks, by the way, not people!), easily picked up while you're waiting for the coffee to brew—and then as easily put down again. In terms of conversation, this is a time when the passing word for, and brief quality time with, the cat comes into its own. As for long walks, or walks at all—who needs them when one can restrict oneself to the twenty or so paces between the front door and the letter box?

So there you have it—a few thoughts on the the mechanics of getting through the varying different stages of the writing process!