I didn't know that the "blah" I've been feeling lately had a name, but after reading Nathan Bradford's post How to Deal with Revision Fatigue, I now know exactly what I've got.
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| Source: blog.itssimplyplaced.com |
A bad case of Revision Fatigue...dum dum dum!
My symptoms:
--Disgust when looking at "the pile"
--Feelings of self-doubt
--avoidance of "the pile"
--filling time with anything else, but "the pile"
--general blah feeling within 10 ft of "the pile"
As you can see, most of the symptoms are related to "the pile" -- that partially finished stack of scratched out, added in, and completely rewritten words, that resembles a garbage dump. Someday, that horrid mess will be a book. And, it will be a better book for undergoing major surgery.
But, the natural consequence of doing a book revision is fatigue. The only cure is to complete the surgery, as painful as it might be.
So, if you too are in the throws of this dreaded disease, like I am, make sure you read Nathan's post. It's encouraging and there is a cure.
Just finish the dang thing!
I have that same problem! I will have to check out his post.
ReplyDeleteGood luck getting past "the pile"!
Krista, I know, it's rough! Good luck with your "piles"!
DeleteGood work, Dawn! I just read a quote by Sonya Friedman who said, "Recognizing a problem is the first step to solving it." I knew you could lick this! Go (with God), Girlfriend!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pam. I appreciate your constant support!
DeleteI'm just waiting for "the pile" to begin and I'm pretty sure it's gonna be a HUGE one. I will definitely check out Nathan's post but I do agree, ya gotta dive in and get the work done, it's the only cure.
ReplyDeleteCathy, Yep, it is the only cure...and I can't wait to be cured!
DeleteI tend to get this from the first day of revision (the end seems so very far away). i find setting myslef a deadline (or better yet having one set for me) helps a lot.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
Mood,
DeleteYes, a deadline would have been very good. I did not have a deadline. Hence, the problem. LOL.
Yup. Just finish the dang thing.
ReplyDeleteHugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Shelly,
DeleteHugs back to you! And yes, bring the chocolate!
Problem is, how many times does one revise? I'm in the third and final revision, I decided, for my current book. I keep having "growth spurts," which enable me to improve the WIP. But I am quite certain that with this revision, it will be as good as I am able to do.
ReplyDeleteOh man, you are really going to discourage me! I am not doing a 2nd or 3rd rewrite. This was the Big Kahuna. The rest will be just polish and shine (man, I hope!).
DeleteBest of luck on your revision! I sure hope you are on your last one (for this book)!
Ah-ha, so what you're saying is, you've got piles! LOL. No worries - there's a cure for that. I hear a sitz bath works wonders. Or even better, for the writer under duress, try a nice long bubble bath with soothing music and candles :)
ReplyDeleteSusan, Your comment had me in stitches! I sure needed that laugh! No matter what I've got, there is nothing like a bubble bath.
Delete...Calgon, take me away.
Hey, Dawn, glad to give you a dose of the best medicine of all - laughter! And thanks for the comments on my blog and on the Inscribe blog, too. Your vote did count!
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