To Write is to Rewrite

Copy. Paste. Reread. Erase.

Stare blearily out the window. Get more coffee. Check my email. Read it over again.

That's what it means, rewriting. I am in the throes of changing Part 2 of my Great American Novel from a book-within-a-book to a dialogue between two characters, and right now, this is what my life consists of:

Copy. Paste. Reread. Erase.

Pick up kids at carpool. Buy some groceries. Make tuna casserole. Help with first grade homework. Feed rabbits. Fret about bills. Make breakfast. Make lunch. Make dinner. Sit down in front of the computer and read it again.

Only this time, I like it. I hesitate with my finger poised over the Delete button. It's good, I say to myself. I allow myself a smile. I save. And move on to the next section.
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Published on March 13, 2012 12:55 Tags: editing, fiction, manuscript, on-writing
Comments Showing 1-2 of 2 (2 new)    post a comment »
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message 1: by Elana (new)

Elana Sztokman Helen
love this....
so honest... so descriptive.... knowing when to be hard on yourself and when to be kind... love that
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message 2: by Helen (new)

Helen Thanks, Elana! You know how it goes.


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