From the Writer’s Soul: Planning & Prepping the Manuscript with a Collective

Writers go through it, even when they decide they want to write a book.  It was always a goal…that’s what we say right, it’s always been a goal. And you try.  You give it what you feel is full effort.  And you hate your manuscript, you’re embarrassed by it.  So you try again.  And somehow you become satisfied with the work.  But it needs editing; anxiety rises, imagination goes wild with what the editor might say.  You sit down for a drink (insert coffee, tea, or the whisky of your choice) and decide, the goal is now a dream.  I can’t deal with the emotional turmoil.

Anxiety is normal. It ranks right up there with that knot called pessimism that rest in your belly, then visits you at 3 am when you think the manuscript is done.  Anxiety and pessimism will lead to that other wonderful P—Procrastination.  

This is where the work happens.

There’s an old adage that says: opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.  This is a popular saying because if you’re dressed in overalls you’re prepared to get messy.  Writing is messy, our emotions about our writing is even messier.  

Do the work. Put on overalls literally if you must.  But do the work. When the work is working, the writer is winning—win writer! Work!

Part of writing work is clarity.  Some alcoholics know this concept very well—they call it a moment of clarity.  It’s when they not only see their mistakes, they can own them, and even seek help at this point.  Clarity is not a single celled organism, it is not a single use item like toilet paper or q-tips.  Clarity is collective.  The collective gives you perspectives, and it is those perspectives that help you gain clarity.

Every writers’ collective is different.  We all have friends, and we all have friends who will read and critique our work.  There is also family, that favorite auntie, or opinionated uncle who will praise the manuscript, or rip it to shreds.  These people are important to have, but are they objective; are they your target audience?  

One of the best things a writer can do is find a good editor.  An editor will provide good feedback for changes or highlight things that are great in your manuscript.  When working with an editor it’s really good when you’re able to speak directly to the editor rather than just text, IM or DM back and forth.  When there is a conversation there is voice inflection and real time understanding that doesn’t lose it’s translation when texting or DM’ing.  Editors are really good when it comes to something that didn’t read very well.  Or they are able to tell you, this section or paragraph confused me, what were you trying to say?  The process of working with an editor is also very good for anxiety.  One of the causes of anxiety is not knowing.  Writers can be unsure of many things in their manuscript, having conversations with an editor clears things up.  Whether the writing works or it doesn’t, knowing and being able to rework things is key.

Another part of the collective for clarification are beta readers.  Beta readers are people who will read your work and give you feedback.  The great thing about beta readers is that you can find some within the criteria of your target audience.  Beta readers are also great because while editors can put a financial dent in your budget, beta readers come relatively economical to free.  

Anxiety is an emotion that’s real.  Writers are emotional about their writing.  Life, emotions, and writing is messy.  In order to clean, writers must do the work.  Work=winning.  A writer’s work requires a collective for perspective.  The collective includes family, friends, an editor, and some beta readers.  Be messy in your writing, be clever; get clarity.  

Don’t be afraid to buy a pair of overalls, and write comfortably in them.  🙂