We writers wear a lot of hats.
In fact, Elana Johnson just blogged about this. I’ve been wearing my editing hat since August when I finished the first draft of Hatshepsut. I did manage to put my writing hat on for a while while the MS was curing, but it’s been buried in the closet since November. The poor dear is dusty.
I really need two heads (I’ve always liked the god Janus) because I’m currently wearing my querying hat, but I need to brush off the writing hat and get going on Book #2 again.
Now here’s my little secret. Of all my writer’s hats (Writing, Editing, Critiquing, Querying), the writing hat is my least favorite.
Shhh!
I’m pretty sure I’m in the minority here. I’m one of those people who has to know what is happening all the time. ALL the time. I’m the only teacher I know who plans out a quarter in advance (sometimes more). I would shrivel up and die without my planner. First drafts are scary because I don’t know where they’re going 100% of the time. In Book #2 I know the ending (that’s what inspired the book- thanks Herodotus!), but I don’t have a formula for how to get there. I like editing- that’s when I get to play and have fun without wondering if what I’m writing is going to get chopped later on or if I’ve just killed the story with a new plot twist.
What about you? Which of your writer hats is the most uncomfortable? What do you do to make it better?
On a side note, I’ll be exchanging my writing hats for mouse ears and a sombrero the next week- I’m headed to Disneyland and a Mexican cruise. However, I’ve got some pre-set posts that should come up while I’m gone. See you all when I get back!
Enjoy your vacation!
Editing is my least favorite right now. But that's because it's the hat I'm wearing.
Editing is my least favorite– but not all editing, just the nitty-gritty-detail-line-editing. When I'm doing broad sweeping editing, like the first revision, where there's a lot of cutting and rewriting and new writing, I get pretty excited about it. 🙂
Have an awesome vacation!
Your writing hat is your least fave? Really?? Mine is the organization hat. (did you mention that one? It's the one single hat that pulls everything else together somehow, or at least that's the idea…)
I'm with you on this, Stephanie. The editing hat is easily my favorite of the bunch. My first drafts are sometimes a struggle to get everything out, but revisions are where I seem to do my best.
All the hats are challenging to me. Wow. It sounds like you're going on a great vacation. I hope you have an awesome time. I posted an award for you at my blog.
The writing hat is definitely the most comfy, although it's a tight race with the research hat. I have separate hats for those because sometimes I get really carried away with the research and don't get any writing done at all.
Have a great trip!
The querying hat. Ugh. I think it would be more comfortable if I had a few more short fiction pubs under my belt (sent two pieces out this week)–and, of course, Elena's book to get my skilz up to snuff!
Have a fabulous time on vaycay. And don't forget the sunscreen!
Love my writing hat. Enjoy your vacation!
I think the Writing Hat is my favorite, followed by the Editing hat. I'm wearing both right now, one on top of the other. It looks awkward but it works!
Have a wonderful vacation, Stephanie! My favourite hat is the research hat, it's hard for me to take it off.
By the way, any post which features the Mad Hatter wins with me!
Ha! You might like my post from a weeks back called "Writing Sucks." I struggle too with the initial writing. I am nervous. Anxious! I have a hard time moving forward and not revising what is already there. I am a perfectionist so it is hard for me to leave unpolished turds in my wake. (Yes, I just write turds.)
Pre-set posts… you really are a planner. I like hats anytime… means I don't have to brush my hair 🙂
The querying hat is my least favorite – no contest.
Have a fabulous time! I envy you. 🙂
Have tons of fun, sun, and something else that ends with -un on your trip!
I know you're heading out, but I am giving you an award on my blog tomorrow. 🙂
I find first drafts aren't so scary if you know where they're going. I have a detailed sheet I fill out for every single scene in the book. It's much easier to edit these sheets than rewrite a draft. Once I have the outline complete I feel completely organized and in control. Yay!
P.S. Have fun on vaca.
Have a wonderful vacation! I hope you come home to lots of requests!!