Thursday, June 16, 2011

Revisions are taking over my life.

It really hit me today. A realization of the extent to which revisions take over my life.

The little things. 

Like conversations at the dinner table alluding to things that are supposed to be common knowledge. Except that I don't know about it. 

Or the fact that I'm missing my blogging friends because I haven't been around as much as usual. I'm three days behind visiting commenters.  

My voice is slow on the take-off during solo-lessons because I hardly speak. 

Where I never had a TBR pile, I suddenly have a back-log of fourteen books. Not counting the fourteen books that I gave back to the library because I gave up on the idea of reading them. 

I (and this is big to those who know me) haven't been to the movies since February. 

I'm starting to get cabin fever. 

It's just that I'm getting into this place in my head where I feel what's going on. I get sucked in so much that I don't realize just how deep in I am.


So... part of me wants to take a break. Catch up with the world. The other part of me is pulling me to go on. That part I get. That's the part that's been pulling me through to page 115 yesterday.


I am going to go back to university this coming semester, so the more revisions I get done, the better.


Still, I can't help being a little afraid that I'm losing me somewhere in there.


Has anyone felt like this before? How do you deal with it? What should I do? Take a break or keep going?


Posted by at
Labels: , ,

21 comments:

  1. hire a web programmerJune 16, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    Nice life history you had in your life. I wish you a better and secured future in your further life. Hope for the best and keep enjoying.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Christine MurrayJune 16, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    It depends how long you've got to go with your edits. If you're almost there, I'd keep on going. If you have a few more weeks to go, I'd take some time off. It sounds like you need a break x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Paul Anthony ShorttJune 16, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    Take a break. I was getting close to burnout just working on a follow-up to my first novel so I took a long weekend off, which turned into a full week of not-writing. By the end of it was I dying to get back at it, and now I've de-stressed and given myself a secondary WIP to work on when I want to unwind with some writing that's a little less important.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Michael Offutt, Phantom ReaderJune 16, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    Misha...you need an intervention. This isn't healthy. Pace yourself and enjoy life.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AmyJune 16, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    Hi Misha! Hang in there, and maybe take a short break. That way you can get a little breathing room, but still be able to be in the zone.

    Yesterday I got The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award and I nominate you to be next! You can check it out for the information here:

    http://amylunderman.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Rebecca BradleyJune 16, 2011 at 1:28 PM

    I agree with everyone else. It sounds as though you know you need a break. It doesn't have to be a huge one, but you need to have some time to be you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Leigh CaronJune 16, 2011 at 2:43 PM

    You'll eventually find a balance. Every author has to. No one's looking over your shoulder being critical or judgmental...except you. Relax.

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownJune 16, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    I vote with taking a break too. Don't think of movies and reading as a distraction from your writing because watching a story on the big screen or reading a story in a book can help your own revisions come together. Good luck with your revisions.

    ReplyDelete
  9. D. U. OkonkwoJune 16, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    You need to take a break. I tend to not start revising now until I've put my ms away for a month at least - two is ideal. It allows you to then go back to it much later and look at it with fresh eyes. You'll be able to spot more changes that you want to make. My debut novel took ages to revise simply because I didn't put it away for a bit, and I kept coming back to it, and coming back to it, over and over again.

    My advice would be to plan your next novel and give this one a break to get your thoughts together. It's actually what many bestselling authors recommend, too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. LibbyJune 16, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    I'm a bit of a slacker so I say to take one full day off and do whatever you want. My full days off usually involve either reading or watching movies, something lazy.

    ReplyDelete
  11. G BlechmanJune 16, 2011 at 6:10 PM

    I basically live in writing and revision world. I love it, but, I must say, it's not for everyone. It's normal to take breaks and split your time with the outside world and all that fun stuff. I'm not really normal per say, but, what else is new? :-)

    <3 Gina Blechman

    ReplyDelete
  12. J.L. CampbellJune 16, 2011 at 8:43 PM

    I was editing for a 21 day period and with blogging and reading and life, I felt the month of May slipped without me living it. I have another book to edit and I'm reluctant to delve into it because I fear the same thing will happen. But I can't avoid it forever. Finding balance is important. Sometimes there's nothing for it, but to step away from the computer and live a little.

    ReplyDelete
  13. anthony stemkeJune 17, 2011 at 2:39 AM

    I think a break is in order. If you are close to finishing, than you have to decide.
    Often, at the ending, last minute details crop up and if you're not careful, a small slip-up (after months of diligence)can derail the whole project.
    Please be careful, whatever you decide.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Steph SchmidtJune 17, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    If you don't miss knowing the common knowledge gossip about this show or that scandal clogging up your brain, then it's okay. The fact that you're noticing this is a sign that either it's a good thing or your uncomfortable. Change one thing at a time compromising between edits and whatever else until you feel comfortable. Like go to the movies this weekend and edit only up until Friday.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Jolene PerryJune 17, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    I'm not one to ask, because the more I write, the more lost I get. Now, I allow myself to get to a stopping point in my WIP, and then I HAVE to get up and do something "normal" before I can go back to it.
    It helps, and makes me a little less dazed... Good luck finding your balance!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Misha GerrickJune 17, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    Thanks, Programmer. :-)

    Christine I've still got plenty to do. (about 400 pages left).

    Paul, you have a good point. Maybe I do need some time away this weekend.

    Thanks Michael. I knew I could count on you.

    Thanks for the award, Amy! I'm thinking that I should take that break.

    Rebecca, good point. I just need to break the routine for a bit.

    Em, that is so true. I have to snap out of it.

    So true, Carrie. I really have to replenish my tanks.

    DUO I did take a break. Didn't write anything for a month. Now my revisions keep sucking me in.

    Libby, that's an idea. One full day to do what I want.

    Hahaha Gina, that's so true. I think I get to a point where I enjoy revisions too much. I lose balance and neglect everything else. That gets to me in the end.

    JL that's so true. I'm still hunting for that balance.

    Thanks, Anthony. I'm also worried that my rushing now will harm my progress in the long run.

    Steph, now that you mention it, some of the stuff I don't mind so much, but other ones I'll do. So I just have to sort that out and fix the ones I care about.

    Jolene, I also feel dazed after a long session in front of my writing. It's good in that I get into a zone. Bad, because I need adaption time to return to reality. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Maria ZanniniJune 17, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    Unless you're on a deadline by a publisher, take the time to catch your breath and reconnect.

    I know the common myth is that a writer should closet himself, but the truth is we don't write (or edit) well without a little balance in our lives. The manuscript will be there when you're ready to come back.

    ReplyDelete
  18. mooderinoJune 18, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    You seem to be approaching it in an all or nothing manner. Couldn't you set yourself a set time each day, maybe a couple of hours, and then stop when your time is up, even if you're in the middle of things? Hemingway would do that on purpose so he could jumo straight back into things in the nextr session.

    mood
    Moody Writing
    @mooderino

    ReplyDelete
  19. Misha GerrickJune 18, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    Maria, that's so true. I really have to find some balance. :-)

    Mood that's an excellent tip. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Shannon LawrenceJune 19, 2011 at 7:53 AM

    As someone who is currently taking a bit of a break from revisions, I definitely recommend a short break! Go see a movie! For me, I finally had to reach the point where I would give myself freedom in the evenings to do something if I accomplished something in the writing world during the day. I wouldn't want to burn out on something I love so much. Good luck with revisions (and your break, if you take/took one)!

    Tina @ Life is Good
    and I are joining forces in another challenge. We're going to visit and comment at each of the participants, starting with the reflections post. We hope you'll join us!

    Shannon @ The Warrior Muse

    ReplyDelete
  21. Misha GerrickJune 25, 2011 at 12:36 AM

    Shannon, this was great advice. I took some time off and it definitely helped. :-)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for commenting! I love to read what you think.

Feel free to ignore the check-box saying "Prove you're not a robot." My word verification is off, but I moderate comments to posts older than two weeks.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)