The Sage Continues
More on the sage.
As a solid mass of rock
Is not moved by the wind,
So a sage is not moved
By praise and blame.
~Dhammapada 81
I know writers who, because of a single rejection letter, will rewrite their entire book, suddenly losing ALL faith in the work based on ONE editor's opinion. I have know writers who will leap from one gimmick to the next, shoehorning the manuscript into the latest and greatest "hook"--never holding faithful to the original at all until the original idea has been lost in a morass of hooky concept. I know some who cannot handle criticism at all--never, ever, ever shopping what's a very polished manuscript.
I know writers who, despite multitudes of rejection and what anyone, I presume, with any sort of editorial expertise can see is a very flawed project, will not lower themselves to change a single word. Writers who are so blind to obvious missteps in their own writing.
Somehow, this Buddhist passage has it right, I think. It's this constant struggle to find, through honing your own work, a Middle Path. Neither unable to see a flaw because you think you are the next Steinbeck, nor so beset by insecurity that you won't ever hold fast to what's good.
I have said before on this blog, that I had been asked to read through some query letters for an editor-friend of mine. I was spending some time with him, and he had a mass of slush, and said, "Comb through it and see if anything jumps out at you." Nothing did.
Worse, there was actually an author who compared himself to the greats, "Not since Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath has there been a work like mine . . . ." If you are going to draw a comparison to Steinbeck? Pal, you have better be up to the task.
So it is that we must use some inner divining rod. Become the sage.
Thoughts?
As a solid mass of rock
Is not moved by the wind,
So a sage is not moved
By praise and blame.
~Dhammapada 81
I know writers who, because of a single rejection letter, will rewrite their entire book, suddenly losing ALL faith in the work based on ONE editor's opinion. I have know writers who will leap from one gimmick to the next, shoehorning the manuscript into the latest and greatest "hook"--never holding faithful to the original at all until the original idea has been lost in a morass of hooky concept. I know some who cannot handle criticism at all--never, ever, ever shopping what's a very polished manuscript.
I know writers who, despite multitudes of rejection and what anyone, I presume, with any sort of editorial expertise can see is a very flawed project, will not lower themselves to change a single word. Writers who are so blind to obvious missteps in their own writing.
Somehow, this Buddhist passage has it right, I think. It's this constant struggle to find, through honing your own work, a Middle Path. Neither unable to see a flaw because you think you are the next Steinbeck, nor so beset by insecurity that you won't ever hold fast to what's good.
I have said before on this blog, that I had been asked to read through some query letters for an editor-friend of mine. I was spending some time with him, and he had a mass of slush, and said, "Comb through it and see if anything jumps out at you." Nothing did.
Worse, there was actually an author who compared himself to the greats, "Not since Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath has there been a work like mine . . . ." If you are going to draw a comparison to Steinbeck? Pal, you have better be up to the task.
So it is that we must use some inner divining rod. Become the sage.
Thoughts?
Labels: Buddhism and writing
posted by Erica Orloff at 12:20 PM
19 Comments:
Wow ... I was just working on a post sorta not really but kinda talking about this. Me, the writer, seems able to take the middle path. Me, the piano teacher, not so much.
Either way, sometimes I fall off the middle path and have to find my way back. It's always there, thank goodness.
Spy:
It's always nice when we find our way again.
E
This is so true, Erica. And many times it's hard to know which way to go. I shopped a manuscript last year and got a lot of requests for partials and fulls, but it was ultimately rejected. That wasn't really a problem. But every agent who commented (which I really appreciated) had opposing opinions. One agent said the character was great and I needed to up her game. Another agent said she just never connected with the character. I've gone through the comments several times and can't find a common thread. Eventually I'll do another edit on it and maybe I'll see the problems. Or maybe it will end up on a virtual shelf forever.
But there are times when it's easier to see where that little negative voice is coming from. Last night I wrote about 2K on my WIP, after writing copy all day. By the time I went to bed my little voice was telling me that it was all crap. I told my little voice to shut up and went to bed...LOL.
Hi Liz:
I tend to like characters that are "mouthy." So if that isn't your kind of gal then . . . you're not going to like my heroines. So I do try to tell myself . . . this is who my character is . . . SOME of this will be personal taste--while at the same time being "open" to something that resonates in terms of criticism.
E
This sounds like a laundry list of reasons why I left my first critique group. They didn't want any parts of the sage because they were too busy trying to write themselves into Oprah's next book club pick. I just wanted to be published. Period.
As with most things in life, I like to keep it simple. Any time my WIPs start driving me crazy, I'll do one of two things depending upon where I am with it. I'll either put it aside or send it out. Writing is my is supposed to be my "zen" when I'm away from the real world or day job. I protect it like a mama bear would her cub, even from myself. The last thing I need is to become my own enemy.
Nice post Erica, and very true. While it's certainly possible to edit the soul out of a project, it's also important to be flexible and not treat anything as if it's written in stone.
I'm rewriting on my own terms at the moment; but, if an editor came to me and suggested a page-one rewrite, I think I would need a firm offer in hand before undertaking it. I've heard of too many authors chasing their tails around revision suggestions and then not getting a deal anyway.
Exactly, Erica. This particular character is a little bit terse and has a pretty big wall up between her and others -- but it's with good reason. After I finish the current wip, I might take another look at that one and see what I can do with it.
BTW, your posts always give me something to think about with my writing. I really enjoy reading your perspective on different topics.
Great post! And in a business as subjective as this, you've got to believe in your work, but you also need a realistic view of it as well.
Steinbeck? Please!
I have a quote from the Tao posted to my computer that has a similar message to that- it's a good reminder, even on the days I'd prefer to ignore it!
I've revised per comments made by agents and editors. These were revisions I knew in my gut were right. I've also had comments that made me think "WTF?" And I ignored them.
I don't think I'm a sage, but if it feels wrong I won't do it. Unless, as Jude said, it came with a firm offer in hand. :)
My position is exactly the same as Edie's. When someone points out a flaw or weakness, my gut knows the criticism is right. (My gut might need a few days, but it gets there.)
When my gut reaction is WTF???, I ignore it for the time being and move on.
Thanks for a nice illustration of "the middle way."
Hi Marcia:
I also try to protect my writing--it's why I do books I really want to do and don't "chase" the hot market. What I write is what I REALLY want to write.
Jude:
Well . . . I have heard of that, too. On the other hand, most editors don't want to jerk your chain, so sometimes . . . for a first book deal, you have to deal with it.
E
Alyson:
Striking a balance. The Middle Way . . . I'm all for it. :-)
E
Hi Edie:
TOTALLY. I revise. I don't hand in something and expect to get no notes from my editor . . . but a lot of time, when they tell me something, I KNWO they're right. It's a lightbulb moment. Sometimes, it's not quite a WTF, but definitely, "it wouldn't work for me in this book."
E
Stephen:
Exactly. Sometimes I have to sit with it a few days. But often I recognize the value of what's said.
E
You know...even if "not since the grapes of wrath has their been a work like mine" somehow turned out to be true. Who the Hell wants to work with someone with that kind of ego? From what I understand books are not created overnight and require more than one conversation generally with an editor or agent. Who really wants to engage in any sort of long term type relationship with someone like this. Ick.
Though it is very telling about the nothing jumping out at you from the slush pile. As writers I think we all think we're competing with millions of other people, but really we're not. We're competing with the top ten percent. And if we aren't, we need to get our butts to where we're competing with the top ten percent.
Hey Liz, On one of my wips I had one reader say: "The pace is too fast." And another person said: "This slows it down." They were talking about the exact same thing, it was all in how they perceived it personally, so maybe some of the editors/agents are reacting to the same things in different ways?
Zoe;
That is a theme on this blog over and over. I really DO think if you know what you're doing, you're competing with the top 3% (not 10--trust me, not ten).
E
Hahaha Awesome Erica! That makes me feel better. Now all I have to do is focus on getting to that top 3%. If I can get there, publication is only a matter of time.
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