How Revising a Novel is Akin to Cleaning Your Closet

Since I’ve gone “quiet” (disengaged from Social Media, pressed pause on Substack to concentrate on my novel), enough people have reached out to make sure I’m still breathing, that I thought a quick update might be in order. So, here goes..

First Up: Writing Update or….

How Revising a Novel is Akin to Cleaning your Closet

I’ve always thought the two acts of editing were pretty similar. There’s a “first pass” that happens that’s pretty easy—that’s when you let go of the obvious no-goes—the shirts with holes and stains, the sweaters that are pilled beyond repair. That horrible blouse in the bilious yellow that for the life of you, you can’t remember what in the world possessed you to buy it. Those things are obvious: as is the “purple prose” that exists in the embarrassingly overwritten Chapter 41. You know if it makes you cringe, (like that awful yellow blouse), the reader will be cringing too.

But then….as with those once precious items in your closet…it starts to get a bit more challenging. You still kinda love that dress, even though it’s too short for your 60-something self to wear on any day other than Halloween, and it hasn’t fit you since…I dunno…you were so thin you looked like a swizzle stick.

And those 6-inch Jimmy Choos! Oh, how you used to strut your stuff around the bathroom as you got ready to go out, wearing those sexy shoes and thinking you were all that. And to give yourself a little credit, every now and then, you actually were.

But let’s be real, if you tried to wear those things now…even if you could achieve a modicum of balance—versus teetering precariously as you took tiny bird-like steps—your back would need at least 5 trips to the chiropractor to undo the damage 2 hours of wear-time would do.

And this is where it definitely gets tricky, because you know how much those damn shoes cost you. Like those first 100 pages of your novel that you wrote when you were still trying to learn the craft. At the time when—as is true with every fledgling artist—your taste exceeded your ability.

“But!!!” you screech when contemplating massive edits—in the same way you do when someone is trying to yank that designer dress from your reticent hands. “I’ve invested so much time! Put in so many hours trying to get it right! How could I possibly let this go!!”

Well kid…(that was me channeling my inner Harrison Ford from Shrinking) here’s what I’d say: Face it; it’s a sunk cost.

With respect to those items in your closet, maybe you get pennies on the dollar at consignment, or your “feel good” bank account rises when you donate them to places where they might actually do some good. But in strictly financial terms, it’s not going to amount to much.

And those first 100 pages? Forget pennies on the dollar, if you continue holding on to them, they’re going to cost you way more than those Jimmy Choos ever did.

So…let’s get back to closet cleaning…which, interestingly, I’ve chosen to do as I’ve been working on this next draft.

All those things you never wear create noise, and that “noise” makes it difficult for you to discern what actually works—what fits into the life you have now—versus the life you no longer do.

But when you force yourself to start whittling away—getting rid of the items that no longer serve you—it starts to get easier, and you start to grow more bold—ruthless even—until you finally get down to the bones, and from there you have a solid foundation. And from that foundation your “style” starts to emerge and eventually, a new you is born.

For those of you who are less fashion-minded, this analogy may seem a bit overdone, but for me it works because it reminds me how hard it is to let go…and not just of the “things” but the emotions and memories behind them.

In this round, I let go of so much…of what I thought the book was supposed to be—of what it started out as—before I had the skill that could allow it to become the book it was meant to be.

And once I did, once I pressed (with both confidence and delight) the delete button on my computer, oh lordy, not only did I suddenly feel free, but the writing got so much easier than it had ever been before.

Here’s the final thought I’d like to leave you with…just as it’s true that you often need someone to help you clean your closets—someone who will give you an honest opinion and help you see what you can’t see on your own, there are times you need other readers—professional editors—to help you see what is right there under your nose. And there are plenty of people out there willing to help, with the caveat that not just anyone can. You have to find the right fit, but when you do, it’s pure gold.

Some Helpful Links:

Ira Glass: The Gap Between Talent and Taste (I LOVE this clip. I’ve listened to it 1000 times—maybe more. It was so helpful to me, especially when I was first starting out.)

When Pivoting Not Only Makes Sense, but leads you to bigger success than you might have otherwise thought possible:

Bonnie Garmus, (Lessons in Chemistry): Interview on CBS Sunday Morning

Happy Writing, all…and Onward!

xo Diana