5 Tips For Your (my) Best Writing

I’ve spent the last month working on my book. The few mental writing energies I possess have been thrust wholeheartedly into the first full edit required by my publisher. The release date for “Stuff I Hate About God” (October 1^st!) will soon be here! Some of my mental energies have also been focused on my failing septic tank, but that story is for another blog. I have a friend who is a germaphobe to the fullest extent. But in what seems to be divine retribution and irony, he has countless horrifying public bathroom stories. One is so horrifying he refuses to speak of it no matter how hard we prod. I’m starting to think some of my septic stories should fall into the same unspeakable category.

Anyway (great segue, eh?) in the midst of writing and rewriting my book, I realized a couple things about my writing style. Here’s  5 things I’ve learned while rewriting my book. Hopefully they’ll help you, as well.

No, those are not my hands. My knuckles are much hairier.

1) Change is good (bad).

At one point in my rewrite, I found myself making changes, per my editor’s request, to a chapter all about how much I hate change. I laughed out loud because I was struggling through the rewrite, and I realized why as I read through the chapter. I had written truth, and it showed itself in my disdain for the changes I was making. But my editor was right; the changes were needed. So I made them. Although I told her I was making them begrudgingly. The chapter turned out well, and now I know for sure that I’ve written truth: change is my arch-nemesis. It’s the Tom to my Jerry. But change is good (bad).

2) The delete button is your friend.

It’s amazing how much of my writing I simply delete. I write some really pitiful stuff sometimes. I’ve tried to figure out why some pieces come out better than others, and I really haven’t figured out why yet. Sometimes the words flow smoothly and the ideas all come together like long lost loved ones. Other times, the words flow like my dad trying to rap and the ideas get lost somewhere between Facebook, Twitter, and daydreams about duck-billed platypuses.

So what’s the secret? Where does the magic come from? What must I do when I write to assure that what comes out will be of the highest quality? There is an answer: it’s called “rewriting.”

And that leads us to point #3. Which you can read on the next line… (it’s the one just below this one)

3) My best thought is never my first thought.

(Glad to see you found it! I hoped my directions were clear enough to get you here.) My first thoughts are typically filled with grandeur and sarcasm. And I’ve found that these two things don’t mix very well, unless of course it’s a moment of grandeur sarcasm (which I have quite often, or so I believe). For this reason, though, typically my first idea—first draft—first thought—is never the best. My best writing happens only in the rewriting. And if for some reason I do believe my first writing to be great, I always find that I’m thoroughly wrong (as my wife often reminds me).

4) When you get it right, you’ll know it.

I have a favorite chapter in the book. The original title of the chapter was “Tiny the Giant and the Complicated Simplicity of God.” That title’s now been tweaked a bit, but when I finally finished rewriting the chapter, I remember nailing the final line. When I found the perfect final line, I literally got up out of my chair and jumped around the room pumping my fist in the air. Yes, I’m a dork, but I got that one right and I knew it. I love words, and when I find the perfect words I’m always thoroughly excited. When you finally get it right, you’ll know it.

5) Eventually, you just have to let it go.

Every time I reread my writing, I see something that makes me cringe—a word, a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph that could be better. At some point, though, I’ve learned that I simply have to let it go. (Typically when the deadline is looming, or more likely once it’s 5 days late.) I know I’m called to write. It’s a new calling for me, but a calling nonetheless. So at some point I simply have to trust my abilities and God’s giftedness, and let it go. I always hate hitting the send button and officially releasing my work, but if I don’t, no one would ever be able to read it. So I’m learning to, at some point, trust that it’s good enough to let go. It’s difficult, but it’s worth it.

So, those are my random thoughts on writing. Maybe this will help you fellow writers out there. Maybe it won’t. Either way, at least I can go back to daydreaming about my imaginary duck-billed platypus.

I think I’ll call him…

Bill.

Get it? Bill? Anybody?

ANYBODY?

I told you my first thoughts are never my best.