Yesterday I had big plans for my revision work
and except for using 12-pt font and choosing the counter over the hair-covered floor,
I stuck to my plan.
Here is my original ending in all its glory.
And here, after hours of agonizing and brain-sweating,
is the cut and paste version of my revised ending.
I don’t think I could’ve slogged through all that without
a huge visual aid.
Word processors are grand
but nothing beats paper and scissors.
Not even rock
(sorry, couldn’t resist).
Tracy Abell 
I do something very similar!! Several of my to-be-revised chapters are collections of scissored and stapled-together scenes. It’s a hot mess, but lots less confusing (for me, anyway) than trying to cut-copy-paste on the computer. I cringe, but for lack of a better word, I think it’s more, uh, organic.
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It IS a hot mess, isn’t it? But it works so very well. That first cut is the toughest, I think.
I think “organic” is the perfect word here.
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It IS a hot mess, isn’t it? But it works so very well. That first cut is the toughest, I think.
I think “organic” is the perfect word here.
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I do something very similar!! Several of my to-be-revised chapters are collections of scissored and stapled-together scenes. It’s a hot mess, but lots less confusing (for me, anyway) than trying to cut-copy-paste on the computer. I cringe, but for lack of a better word, I think it’s more, uh, organic.
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Wow! Just wow, Tracy! I’m so glad all your hard work paid off. (And you all are inspiring me this morning.)
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Thank you, Lorraine. It was actually so satisfying once I got past the paralysis. I highly recommend this if you ever find yourself stuck in Groundhog Day.
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Thank you, Lorraine. It was actually so satisfying once I got past the paralysis. I highly recommend this if you ever find yourself stuck in Groundhog Day.
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Wow! Just wow, Tracy! I’m so glad all your hard work paid off. (And you all are inspiring me this morning.)
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Your papers intimidate me.
I mostly wanted to comment to say, “What a cute doggie!”
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Do not be intimidated!
Here’s a close-up of the doggie and her friend:
http://tracyworld.livejournal.com/117211.html
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awwwwwww! I need an Awwww! icon.
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Those two dogs are one big collective Awww. Mostly, that is.
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Those two dogs are one big collective Awww. Mostly, that is.
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awwwwwww! I need an Awwww! icon.
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Do not be intimidated!
Here’s a close-up of the doggie and her friend:
http://tracyworld.livejournal.com/117211.html
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Your papers intimidate me.
I mostly wanted to comment to say, “What a cute doggie!”
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Your papers intimidate me.
I mostly wanted to comment to say, “What a cute doggie!”
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It IS a hot mess, isn’t it? But it works so very well. That first cut is the toughest, I think.
I think “organic” is the perfect word here.
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Do not be intimidated!
Here’s a close-up of the doggie and her friend:
http://tracyworld.livejournal.com/117211.html
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Very impressive looking!
I hope you find it looks as good close up.
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It does look good close up!!!
Thank you, Jeannine. 🙂
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It does look good close up!!!
Thank you, Jeannine. 🙂
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Very impressive looking!
I hope you find it looks as good close up.
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Very impressive looking!
I hope you find it looks as good close up.
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It does look good close up!!!
Thank you, Jeannine. 🙂
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Call me a freak, but I love pictures like this, and I love doing hands-on revision instead of keyboard stuff. I printed out my manuscript on Monday and am working with highlighters and post-its. Something about handling actual pages is much more gratifying, isn’t it?
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I know exactly what you mean. That hands-on work feels so real and immediate whereas shuffling stuff around in a Word document can seem meaningless. It’s much easier for my mind to jump the rails when I’m working on the computer than it is when I’m moving around paper.
I’ve been carrying my highlighter and sticky note pack with me for the past week or so. I love it!
Have fun!
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I know exactly what you mean. That hands-on work feels so real and immediate whereas shuffling stuff around in a Word document can seem meaningless. It’s much easier for my mind to jump the rails when I’m working on the computer than it is when I’m moving around paper.
I’ve been carrying my highlighter and sticky note pack with me for the past week or so. I love it!
Have fun!
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Call me a freak, but I love pictures like this, and I love doing hands-on revision instead of keyboard stuff. I printed out my manuscript on Monday and am working with highlighters and post-its. Something about handling actual pages is much more gratifying, isn’t it?
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Hope you don’t mind my posting and friending! I’ve been enjoying your comment on Jeannine’s and Lorraine’s blogs — and I *love* these photos. I’ve been stepping away from the computer and getting hands-on for my own revisions, too. But you make me think it’s time to get out the scissors, too!
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Just visited your blog and saw you’re deep in revisions, too. I highly recommend scissors!
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Just visited your blog and saw you’re deep in revisions, too. I highly recommend scissors!
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Hope you don’t mind my posting and friending! I’ve been enjoying your comment on Jeannine’s and Lorraine’s blogs — and I *love* these photos. I’ve been stepping away from the computer and getting hands-on for my own revisions, too. But you make me think it’s time to get out the scissors, too!
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Wow, I can’t believe I didn’t ever think about actually cutting and pasting! Thanks for the tip!
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Cutting and pasting doesn’t help me with all dilemmas but for those times I’m having trouble seeing the forest for the trees, it helps me gain perspective again. Plus, it’s fun.
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Cutting and pasting doesn’t help me with all dilemmas but for those times I’m having trouble seeing the forest for the trees, it helps me gain perspective again. Plus, it’s fun.
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Wow, I can’t believe I didn’t ever think about actually cutting and pasting! Thanks for the tip!
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I know exactly what you mean. That hands-on work feels so real and immediate whereas shuffling stuff around in a Word document can seem meaningless. It’s much easier for my mind to jump the rails when I’m working on the computer than it is when I’m moving around paper.
I’ve been carrying my highlighter and sticky note pack with me for the past week or so. I love it!
Have fun!
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amazing….
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Do you ever cut and paste like that? I don’t know why but you strike me as another writer who needs that kind of concrete process sometimes.
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Nope. I’m not that organized!
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I need that organization to survive, sometimes. But apparently you can find your way without a map! 🙂
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My method = printing out stuff and spreading it all over the floor. Yes, it’s a little crazy.
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Um, that does sound a bit crazy. But I know all writers have their own processes and systems. However, I know you either must not have dogs and cats or that you’re way tidier than me! (Wait, I think you have a cat which means you’re tidier. Go figure!)
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Um, that does sound a bit crazy. But I know all writers have their own processes and systems. However, I know you either must not have dogs and cats or that you’re way tidier than me! (Wait, I think you have a cat which means you’re tidier. Go figure!)
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My method = printing out stuff and spreading it all over the floor. Yes, it’s a little crazy.
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I need that organization to survive, sometimes. But apparently you can find your way without a map! 🙂
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Nope. I’m not that organized!
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Do you ever cut and paste like that? I don’t know why but you strike me as another writer who needs that kind of concrete process sometimes.
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amazing….
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