I have worked on a book for a year. I feel good about it. It seems set. Coherent. I send it to my editor. If I am lucky, my editor can make one comment—not necessarily a criticism—as much as an observation, a question. When I begin to work with that one point, everything changes. The story shifts. The characters move, act, and talk differently. The plot goes toward a new unfolding. Even the title changes.
This has happened to me any number of times during my career and I am deeply grateful for it.
Trying to think of a metaphor to suggest what happens, may I suggest its like being fitted with a new pair of glasses with a new prescription. It is not that you could not see before. It is that now you see things with much greater clarity.
The gift of a good editor is that they let you see what you are doing.
5 thoughts on “Then everything changes”
So well said, Avi.
Avi, you summed this up so nicely in the last sentence. Thanks for acknowledging the role that good editorial guidance can play in the development of a story.
Well said. =) How do you find a good editor or know your editor is doing a good job?
I love this post! I have shown my students (5th grade) your interview where you talk about all the revisions you do and how writing is ‘hard’, even to an accomplished writer such as yourself. I am hoping this helps them be more patient with the ‘areas of growth’ that the revising process unearths. Thanks for the great metaphor of the new pair of glasses!
This post is a good example that your first draft is not your last draft. you will have to rewrite it a Lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!