Editing is such a strange process. It’s ephemeral, more thought than action, more taking away than putting in–at least for me. I find it hard to quantify, which often makes me feel like I’ve just wasted hours doing nothing, when in fact I’ve been doing some pretty intensive think-work. But there’s nothing to show for it, initially! Writing a new story: bam! 500 words. Check. But editing those words? How do I measure that? How do I celebrate those wins and feel like I’ve done something during that oh-so-precious writing time?
At the moment, I earn a big sticker if I work for 2 hours, quantifying the time vs. the word count like I might in a new project. I get a small sticker if I touch the project on an off-day (because that, it turns out, is hard). So I got a big sticker today! But I find I’m still unimpressed with my work for the day, even though I read through the entirety of the project, made notes, and mapped out the redraft. It probably doesn’t help that I’ve been reading TWO books on editing (because that’s where April’s headed–rereading and mapping out the edits for the novel), and I’ve got too much in mind to keep an eye on all of it. So this pass, I’m looking at character motivation. It’s a bigger edit than I’d like it to be, but that’s how it goes, sometimes.
Man, I’m in a mood today. Anyway…
What’s inspiring me–
I’ve been plowing through The Artful Edit by Susan Bell, which has got my brain all up in knots. There’s just so much to consider when approaching an edit like this, and I have to also balance my own tendency to be much too harsh on the work and too aggressive with the edit. I need a more cool, zen-like mindset, but I just find I don’t have the mental reserves right now.
I’ve also been reading Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, which is fabulous. I also picked up A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher, which I’m enjoying, but haven’t been reading enough of. I’m over halfway through the audiobook for Slewfoot by Brom, which I’m enjoying, but which is also stressing me out (witch trials–yeaaaaaaa…) And that damn Selfie book by Will Storr is just…woof. It’s a bit of a pill. It’s not uninteresting, but it’s got a real heaviness to it that I can’t quite shake, which probably also isn’t helping my mood lately. At least at night, I’ve been reading The Golden Spiders by Rex Stout to the boys, and they seem to be really enjoying it, which is fun.
TV-wise, we’ve been back at Fargo for Season 3, and yeah, that’s definitely one source of “meh”ness in the day-to-day. It’s just nothing like Season 1 and 2, and I’m longing for that rollercoaster thrill-ride which this one just…isn’t. It’s fine. It’s not bad. It’s just not what I wanted right now. Ah well.
Gaming-wise, I’ve been picking at the last 6% of Spiritfarer, but it’s feeling rather unsatisfying at the moment, too, with endless spirit requests that don’t seem to wrap up to any specific end. I’m ready for it to be done, but it’s just dragging on and on…
I think the main thing we’re dealing with here is LIMBO. The construction project is so, so, SO close to being done, but isn’t done yet, and these final details are just taking forever. It’s stressful for us, stressful for the dog, stressful for my folks. It also means any personal projects I might want to do around the house–i.e. going through our stuff and simplifying things/making chore habits more functional/establishing my own routines–is kind of stuck in neutral. We’re so close to starting this next chapter, but NOT YET. It’s honestly driving us all a little batty.
What’s Challenging Me?
Life? Can I put that as an answer?
But in all seriousness, I think it’s just a pileup of stressors and pet peeves and everything individually is small potatoes, but heaped up together is a BARN of potatoes, which gets to be a lot when it’s piled up on your back.
I also just really want to get this story wrapped up and done so I can work on something else, but I don’t want to rush it just to check the box. I want to do a good job. I want to take the time. I just wish it didn’t take SO MUCH time.