People often ask me if I reread my books after they come out.
1. No. Never. Ew, David, ew. No.
2. I have no interest in reading my writing unless I'm writing/editing it. There is so much else to read.
3. I read the thing so many goddamned times while writing and revising. So many. YET STILL I ERR
1. No. Never. Ew, David, ew. No.
2. I have no interest in reading my writing unless I'm writing/editing it. There is so much else to read.
3. I read the thing so many goddamned times while writing and revising. So many. YET STILL I ERR
Comments
Before you get to make that criticism spend months or years agonizing over something you made; brainstorming, pitches, thousands of hours of research, drafts, edits, reorganizations, tear-ups, copy edits, legal reviews, top edits, final reviews...
And now do that again
And again. And again
Cool. Way to be a supportive artist.
If you were any good at writing I think you could make yourself come across more likable
my writing after the 7th revision or so.
Ew.
Gross.
Never again.
in my house.”
*What could go wrong?
“Wow that tiny mark doesn’t belong there. It has to go”
Takes down, fixes.
[10 days]
“Oh! that horse’s leg just doesn’t
look natural.”
[4 days]
“The background is in distinct on
one side.”
&c
So….I kind of get it
Then boom, the imposter on your shoulder stares you down with a derisive, "Do I know you?"
Devine was in John Waters movies and isn't relevant to this discourse.
And geez, you just keep finding mistakes and things you wish you did better forever.
I wouldn’t read my own books from beginning to end, but I often go back and revisit sections months or even years later.
And to yerr is human.
"This is pretty good, who wrote it? Really? I seriously don't remember ever writing this."
I thought I was having a problem there for a second.
So, yeah, I sympathize.
When writing a series, you HAVE to revisit your work. It’s important to reflect on your weaknesses, and taking another look at your strengths compels you to out do them… but for funsies? No way… there’s too much to write and so little time!
I write what I enjoy reading.
A couple weeks ago, I picked up one of my books. "Crap! This is good! Who wrote this, anyway?"
Yeah, I read my own stuff. And I like it. If that's arrogant, it's also factual.
I am asking as someone with stories to tell but having issues getting out of my head for it.
Is that Jewish?
(You connect the dots...)
But outside that? Nah.
Besides, once a work of art is out to the public, most of its interpretation now is up in the hand of the readers.
I liked doing it, but I doubt I'd have read it for myself.
DO NOT WANT.”
🤣