Saturday, August 7, 2010

New Eyes


Happy summer, everybody!

So, I was weeding for hours in the hot sun the other day. My children and I call weeds "Wilburs." Let me tell you, these Wilburs were hiding among my dianthus and zinnias with James Bond-like stealth. Sneaky Wilburs are the worst! By the time I went inside to get a cold drink, I had spiders in my shirt. I don't know how they get there, but the daddy long legs always go for the shirt. (This is a joke in my family because it happens every time I go outside.) I also had a praying mantis on my shoulder. I turned and looked around and there the mantis was, staring me in the eye. I imagine we were both thinking the same thing, "Holy crap, what is that?!" I shimmied the insect off and it fell into the ceramic flower pot on my porch . . . (My kids tell me they haven't seen me move that fast since 1997.) *prolonged shudder* Obviously, I need to talk to my charming bug guy about spraying more around the planters.

Anyway, after the daddy long legs/praying mantis excitement, I went back out to weed. I proudly surveyed the area I had been working on. Not pretty, people. It had looked perfect to me before I took my break, and still, a few morning glory and milk weed stalks remained. They were so conspicuous. How did I miss them? Does this happen to you, readers? You think you've weeded out the bad things in your project only to find problems where you least expected them.


This applies to writing as well as gardens. Occasionally, you need to allow your work in progress to rest. Time away can definitely help you see your manuscript with new eyes.

Relax, blogging buddies. Enjoy doing something different for a while if you're weary. Your story will thank you for it.

22 comments:

  1. A praying mantis?!?! Now that's just lovely!! As for daddy long legs - I just wish they'd stop attacking me whenever they panic - i.e. they see a light, enter the house, panic, attack and next day they're dying. I mean come ON silly insects stop playing to stereotype!!

    Anyway!! Well done with the Wilbur Weeding! Poor Wilburs! Give anything a name and they're alive, I tell you alive!

    I so agree about resting and calling temporary time out on any wips going. And moreso having a break to re-charge!

    Have a great weekend lovely Roxy!!!

    Take care
    x

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  2. I cannot imagine a time when I'll read something I wrote and not want to change something. Even just one little thing. I've printed one of WIPs out like four or five times in completion, read it on the computer countless times and I'm still finding little things. Madness.

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  3. I have a love-hate relationship with morning glories. I love them when they're where I want them to be. But they volunteer EVERYWHERE.

    I have a total HATE thing happening with bigs/spiders on me! Yipes! But I can't kill them. They might be Charlotte. The screeching and flailing to get it off me and back outside is not pretty.

    Also, I love the comparison. Gardening is indeed much like writing. Starting with the seed.

    Happy weekend, Roxy!
    Love,
    Lola

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  4. Yikes! I hate weeding and I'm not too fond of bugs either.

    It's funny how it always happens like you say. You weed, rooting out all the bad stuff and when you come back from a break you see all the stuff you didn't notice to root out before. Weeding, editing, it's all the same.

    Jai

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  5. spiders....shudders....ick! I have no green thumb its more black, lol but I'm always finding improvements that need to be done in my writing

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  6. Very good advice, I tend to wear myself out re-editing. When in Africa had a praying mantis on the arm of a chair beside me, could have sworn it was reading my book...hugs..

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  7. Wilbur weed seems far too friendly a name for something that is a deadly enemy!
    I love praying mantises, but spiders in the shirt, No thanks!

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  8. I think taking a break definitely helps me see the story in a different way. I think it's because I know so well what the story should say, my brain subs that in instead of letting me read what it does say. :)

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  9. Love that and very good lesson for writing too :)

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  10. Great analogy. I too, have spiders on me after I hang the laundry. Are they lying in wait for just such an occasion?

    I always find something when I go back to week out my ms. Ugh!

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  11. My husband accidently brought in a baby preying mantis on a head of lettuce. Amazing. I look at weeds as a healthy sign. As long as they don't affect yield, I let a few of them go. Just as I will never find all the mistakes in my manuscript. I'm about ready to let it go.

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  12. My goodness, I'd freak out if either one was on me. You're pretty brave, Roxy!

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  13. LOL. Bugs rarely bug me when they appear. Except the biting or stinging kind. I'm no nature lover type, but as long as the bug is outside, I figure I should let it alone.

    But yes, I have lots of places in my novel where I think its as perfect as can be, celebrate with a well deserved break, only to return sometime and go eeeeekkk.

    Nature of the beast. What do you do but get back at it.

    .........dhole

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  14. I think the taking a break applies to pretty much everything. Cleaning house, especially. I take a break because I think I've made so much progress only to realize when I come back I'm nowhere near as far along as I thought. Ugh

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  15. Spiders in your SHIRT!! And a praying mantis on your SHOULDER!! You have now given me the worst ever case of the shivers. Eeeew. I can't stand bugs. You poor woman :)

    i missed you Roxy :) I'm glad you seem to be feeling better. you're an amazing woman and your writing is fantastic. maybe this little break is just what you needed. i think I'll take your advice and have one too :)

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  16. Wilburs, that really cute. I'm actually impressed that you know the real names of your weeds. You must be a gardener. I find that I miss "weeds" in my work all the time. And they're the same ones over and over. Thank goodness for great Beta readers!

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  17. It's so important to reread and put the MS away and reread again.

    It's such an icky feeling to have critters land on me and go unnoticed.

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  18. Distance always provides perspective. Also, it helps you detach your emotions from it. Instead of saying "Oh, my precious words how can I cut you?" You say, "This is a weed, yank it out."

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  19. You know you're absolutely right about taking breaks. I did that today and I'm so excited to hit the keyboard tomorrow.

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  20. Thanks for joining my blog. Sweet. And I so get the whole weeding scenario. Oye! In fact, it just happened today. Thankfully I didn't have a daddy long legs or a praying mantis on my body. Ugh. Sorry you did. As for the WIP, I agree, a break is nice and necessary. =D

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  21. I don't have a single green finger on either of my hands, but appreciated the analogy for writing and 'weeding' out the bad. Sweet advice :)
    Happy gardening xx and writing!

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  22. I love the analogy. I recently read part of my revision-in-progress that I haven't read in a while, and it gave me heebie jeebies worthy of a spider in my shirt. UGH. Must get to weeding!

    And by the way, I tagged you in a fun meme over at my blog.

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