I’m getting a little peeved with my site going down randomly. I’m not sure if it’s a coincidence or not, but the trackback spam has resurged at the same time.

But I sent in the second round of edits on 72 Hours, which is good.

And speaking of edits…

I’m sure y’all have seen the dicussion Author as Artist, Novel as Art: Between commerce and creation, we have a big discussion here at the ol’ Bitchery over at the SB’s. It’s an excellent discussion with great points made for every point of view. I thought about posting in comments there, but I find that you can’t give just a random point of view in somebody else’s discussion—it’s assumed you’re taking a side.

Well, here’s my random point of view: While I prefer the word passion to art, writing is mine. Until I ask somebody to plunk down their hard-earned cash for it, and then it’s a consumer product. Cold? I don’t know. I’ve never wanted to write for my own amusement or to have a love affair with my own words. My goal was always to write for publication.

That doesn’t mean there’s no Miz Tempermental Arteest in me. I didn’t think there was—you will never find me thinking I’m above editing. Ever. But the first time I found a little bubble comment attached to a phrase I was very fond of, Miz Arteest raised her obnoxious head and introduced herself. And I was really surprised to make her acquaintance. After all, my confidence in my writing usually resembles Humpty Dumpty after the fall during a duct tape shortage. Those comments—the ones that bring her out—I leave and come back to during edits, usually once Miz Professional has managed to stomp Miz Arteest into submission. And I think there have only been a couple of words I’ve held out for. But I’m very lucky to have two editors who totally rock. I think if I were to encounter an editor particularly intrusive as to voice, then Miz Arteest would take over the asylum.

I think, for me, it’s probably a passion (art?) during creation, and morphs into the consumer product during the editing. And just like with any product, if you don’t meet a reader’s expectations one time too many, she’s switching brands.

Anyway, OMG, how ’bout the last 30 seconds of CSI? Dayum!

This entry was posted on Friday, May 19th, 2006 at 10:38 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.