Once again, I've gone through my bedraggled manila folder to shred drafts I’ve made progress on via my computer and old Calls for Submission I’ve missed. I found a couple of drafts that I apparently meant to revisit much sooner. One was last touched 8/6/18! I did submit it back then, and it was rejected, and back then, I believed rejections meant instant failure and never returned to the story though I do believe they gave me positive and constructive feedback.
It was a historical flash based on a news article I’d read. Here is the headline: Missing Swiss couple found frozen in Alps after 75 years. It is a fascinating story with a tiny hook that prompted me to write something. Unfortunately, what I just re-read is in fact, NOT fascinating! I mean it was barely okay and more flowery then I remember ever being. Maybe I was caught in the romance of the story, but d*mn. I am going to slug through until I am floating through though because I do believe it can be a very good story.
A line: She never went with him to the meadow before that morning...
And here's a prompt: Talk it out!
Is there an old piece that you've been drawn back to recently or you want to revisit? I am a big supporter of recording yourself reading your work aloud. First off, it's grounding and makes you comfortable with your voice both artistically and sonically? I tend to read my work differently in my head then aloud. I stop in different places, emphasize different words, I stumble sometimes and now know when I do, something is cluttering up the line. Sometimes I run out of breath or steam as I'm reading, realizing the fizzle in the story as it ends. Sometimes, I edit as I am playing the recording back which is probably not the best idea, but is how my mind works. I have to force myself to listen through a piece without pausing. Just an idea that might be an old chestnut but it bears repeating.
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Keep writing, keep revising, Tiffany!
I agree with reading out loud, Tiffany! It makes all the difference sometimes. I pulled out a series of old pieces from 2016-2017 and reworked them last week into what became Saturday’s post. I was dismayed at how many bits needed tweaking! It’s a good reminder to keep writing because we can only get better, right?