Deep Not Wide

This has been such a nice writing week. My novel revision is going well.  My editor was right that taking out a whole thread is making me focus on smaller things, which is good for this book. I'm being reminded of my favorite quote during revision.  

Go deep, not wide. --Andrew Wyeth


Bailey Island, Maine. Photo by my husband, John

Andrew Wyeth was talking about art, but it really speaks to me about revision. Writing with depth takes time and it comes through revision for me. It also takes a courage that I don't often have in early drafts.  I throw way too much into those early drafts, because I don't have the confidence to say, "This small, intimate story about these people in this moment is enough."

There's a whole world in those small, intimate moments, though.  And as Catherine says at the end of Rules, I need to "let that be enough." 

Because it is.