“To write is human, to edit is divine.”
“Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open.”
― both quotes from Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
I agree wholeheartedly that when you’re in your first rough draft, keep the door closed, i.e., don’t let others see it until it’s had time to “cook” on the page.
But after that first draft, it’s time to get tough-skinned and be willing to allow another trusted writer or editor to go over your writing and help you tighten it, with a keen eye for what to keep in and what to throw out. This is what separates amateurs from seasoned writers.
Remember, every story you’ve ever read since you were six years old had the input of an editor intermingled with the author’s words throughout.
Writing is Rewriting. Hemingway was write … I mean, right.
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Author: Valerie Serrano
Valerie Serrano has a master of fine arts degree in creative writing and a bachelor of arts in psychology.
Valerie taught English and writing in New York for seven years (1996-2003), and has been teaching creative writing classes online through www.LetsWrite.com and in Santa Rosa, California, where she now resides, since 2012. Her small business is called Let's Write! from which she also offers editing, self-publishing help, and more (such as motivation to good but scared writers).
Val loves every minute of it, especially when students have the gumption to take their writing from first (very) rough draft to (self) published. Valerie has self-published her own novel called The Archangel of Hamilton Beach and a children’s picture book, Horses Talk Funny, both available on Amazon and via her blog.
Val loves to say: So, Let's Write!
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I just love the Stephen King quotes. I have read that book several times. Hemingway was a great writer and a great drinker. Writing is Rewriting. Think he had trouble reading his own writing after a few drinks?
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I think that’s a good guess on Hemingway and his own writing (and drinking). On King, yes, On Writing is a lot less scary than all his other stuff and a great reference for writers. The book is unique in that King blended memoir with craft, even using both those terms in the subtitle. I just wish he’d added an index! Thanks for visiting.
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