At one point, I remember, I used to really like rewriting. I enjoyed that wordsmithing act, finding just exactly the right word, the right phrase or metaphor or simile, and polishing the text. I lost some of that, quite frankly, it’s been missing for a couple of years now.

The important thing though is that I’ve found it again.


There are several reasons why I stopped enjoying rewriting. I’m still figuring them out.

What has caused me to rediscover that joy? Several things, I think. One is that I really am a creature of habit. If I write every day, or do rewriting every day, eventually, I get back into the groove of it. It isn’t easy. I spend a lot of time struggling with a sentence, going over and over a paragraph. But getting into the work is smoother, getting my brain to flow in that direction takes less effort. The paths to the work are more clear, less weed-choked. So that makes it easier.

In addition, I’ve found that I need to focus on time, not word or page count, when doing rewriting. I completely want to focus on amount, as I do when I’m writing first draft. But that isn’t, for me, an accurate measure of effort. So telling myself that I must spend at least 30 minutes a day doing rewriting I am making visible headway into these difficult chapters, even if it’s maybe only a scene or a few paragraphs covered in those 30 minutes.

Another thing is rediscovering how to trust myself, that I can not just see these problems in the prose but to actually fix them. I think that’s the hardest part of all — when your self-confidence starts to fail, how do you bolster it back up? When should you say, “No, it’s okay,” as opposed to, “You really do need to do this better”?

So though I’m not posting much on the rewriting, I have started to truly enjoy it again. I’m still on chapter 7. Don’t know how long I’ll be on this chapter. Don’t really care. I’ll be here as long as I need to be to fix it, to make it right. Plus, as I’m fixing this chapter I’m going back to previous chapters (and the previous novel) and fixing stuff there as well. It’s a long process, and I think I’m okay with that again.

Pen Porn!

I missed last week because I was in Phoenix visiting a friend. So two pens today! Three, actually, though the last one doesn’t really count because it isn’t a ball point. I still lust after it.


Caran d'Ache 1001 Nights
Caran d’Ache 1001 Nights
I love the color of this pen, and the detail work. No idea what it would feel like, if it would have the proper weight, but it’s a very, very pretty pen. More about it here.
Caran d'Ache Harmony Limited Edition
Caran d’Ache Harmony Limited Edition
Again, such a beautiful pen. I love this design. Again, I don’t know what it would write like, but it’s so very pretty. You’ll find more information about it here.
Presidential pens
Presidential pens

It has his signature on it! Look at that! I kind of do really want it. Just cause.


Comments (12)

  1. love the blue pen. love it. gorgeous. but my heart belongs to that silver spiderwebs and black lacquer number that can’t be found anywhere anymore. alas, i fear it shall forever elude me. (holly black has a photo of it on her writing resources page.) 🙂

    • I don’t know for certain, but I think that’s an antique Parker pen from the 20s. A pen matching that description was recently up for sale (November) as part of an auction. The starting price was $540. I don’t know what the final price was. If you really have your heart set on that one and are willing to pay that kind of money for it, I’m sure you can get it. There are auction houses you can apply to, let them know that you’re looking for it.

      If not, and if you’re willing to settle for a ballpoint, this one is generally available:

      http://thewritersedge.com/twe.spider.cfm

      • somehow i just knew you were the right one to come to with my unrequited pen lust. i went ahead and bought the $28 number — even if it’s a ball point. 😉 i’ll be super willing to pay that amount later… when the book is sold. just can’t do it right now. in the meantime, i’ve a surrogate. yay! thanks!

  2. love the blue pen. love it. gorgeous. but my heart belongs to that silver spiderwebs and black lacquer number that can’t be found anywhere anymore. alas, i fear it shall forever elude me. (holly black has a photo of it on her writing resources page.) 🙂

    • I don’t know for certain, but I think that’s an antique Parker pen from the 20s. A pen matching that description was recently up for sale (November) as part of an auction. The starting price was $540. I don’t know what the final price was. If you really have your heart set on that one and are willing to pay that kind of money for it, I’m sure you can get it. There are auction houses you can apply to, let them know that you’re looking for it.

      If not, and if you’re willing to settle for a ballpoint, this one is generally available:

      http://thewritersedge.com/twe.spider.cfm

      • somehow i just knew you were the right one to come to with my unrequited pen lust. i went ahead and bought the $28 number — even if it’s a ball point. 😉 i’ll be super willing to pay that amount later… when the book is sold. just can’t do it right now. in the meantime, i’ve a surrogate. yay! thanks!

Comments are closed.