Gather Ye Rosebuds: What Stubborn Weeds and Good Writing Have in Common

Many authors believe that only bad writers need editing and revision. I can assure you, that idea is false. Every author needs editing; savvy writers actually get it. Here’s why:

The process of writing is quite a bit like having a big backyard. I can plant beautiful, bountiful blooms. I can water them. I can watch with delight as those seedlings break ground into grand, gorgeous displays.

But around those blooming plants leaves will fall from the trees above. Naughty weeds will sprout in and try to camouflage themselves as if they belong amongst my flowers. Birds will drop twigs, rabbits will gnaw, and insects will plague those shooting bulbs from the moment they finally start to bear the fruit of my efforts.

This is where editing and revision come in.

Editing is gardening. Weeding. Cleaning. Shaping. Fertilizing. Trimming. Nurturing. Protecting. Manicuring.

Just plain ol’ showing off.

Everyone who owns a garden must weed it and feed it and help it grow; from a lone tree planted on an inner-city apartment balcony, to the lawn of Central Park, to the lush topiaries and botanicals of the Palace of Versailles. However simple or grand, they all have gardening in common.

Write the same way you grow a garden. Plant your thoughts like seeds, and watch them grow.

Write the first chapter without self-editing. Just write. Simply plant seeds for 30 minutes every day, until it’s done. When you’re finished, don’t keep poking and peeking at the seeds; set the first chapter aside while you move on. After the last chapter is finished, then go back to reread and revise that first chapter. You’ll probably find that your overall focus and message is much sharper. Cut and trim, add and fill in as necessary.

Repeat chapter by chapter. Till the ground, plant the seeds, water and fertilize the ground.

Once your story is written; it’s time to garden. 

You’re probably going to need help with this one. Especially if you want something really magnificent. Disney doesn’t hire a standard homeowner to craft it’s trees into exact replicas of their uber-recognizable characters; they hire a landscape architect. The level of attention you give to this phase—the revision and editing phase—will determine the level of beauty and craftsmanship in the final product.

You have a story to tell, but you alone carry the seeds. Without your attention and effort, those seeds will go unplanted, unseen and will never wow an audience with their dazzling display. But once they’ve begun to bloom, remember: editing and revision are the tools that make it truly beautiful.