It is a strange thing to finish a first draft. In an instant, the flowering story turns from a piece to be nurtured, encouraged, and pampered to a work that badly needs pruning, grafting, and sometimes burning.
It is as though some one's life has come to a screeching halt and it is now time to scrutinize the past with a fine toothed comb. The editing doesn't restrict itself to just the odd typo and the occasional grammatical issue. Instead its spreads its scope to character, plot, and description: quizzing them with a magnifying eyeglass to see if they stand up to scrutiny. If they do, they are allowed to remain, old and solid remainders of the original structure, holding up the framework so carefully crafted. However, should they fail this close examination, they are dissected, probed, prodded, and rearranged. Sometimes they are thrown out all together to be replaced with another scene or piece of dialogue, new words to hopefully do an even better job of explaining, portraying, or describing something essential.
I have always dreaded this part of the process, taking my precious writing apart. But, as mother, I find that I have more practical point of view in regards to my latest creation. I can see that as much as I detest editing, it is vital. Everything has pieces that need to be removed in order for the whole to shine. With children and ourselves, it is the sin in our lives. With the written word, it is the weak scenes, the rambling dialogue, and the wordy descriptions that need my attention. And like every mother, I do not enjoy some aspects of my job, yet I cannot ignore them or let them gather dust. I must attack them at once with energy and prayer. The longer the dishes, diapers, or mess is left to wait, the worse it becomes and the more it settles in to stay.
So, I am setting off. Tackling my least favorite task. With the Lord's help, it will make the novel shine all the brighter for His glory.
- Rachel Rossano
