E. B. White on the Meaning of It All

I picked up a remainder copy of Peter E. Neumeyer's The Annotated Charlotte's Web last weekend, and I'm so glad I did. It's a fascinating look at E. B. White's creative process, with extensive descriptions of various references from within the story, snippets of White's detailed spider research, and samples of his correspondence with famed children's editor Ursula Nordstrom.

Combine all that with the kid-lit masterpiece that is Charlotte's Web, and — as a reader — I'm in piggy heaven. I'm terribly happy as a writer, too, of course. (Fellow Smackdowners take note: Mr. White took this little piece of work through eight full drafts, with plenty of editorial input and acute bouts of writerly angst.)

Get a load of this hilarious White quote, uttered after reading a critical analysis of his novel:

"It is an extraordinary document, any way you look at it, and it makes me realize how lucky I was (when I was writing the book) that I didn't know what in hell was going on."

One of the earliest lessons I learned as a rabid-for-story English-lit major some 25 years ago was that there are as many possible interpretations of any given work as there are eager-for-As interpreters. What makes a great story great is, quite often, mere simplicity. And Charlotte's Web has that in razor-sharp farm implements. (Plus, you know, universally relatable themes, engaging action, genuinely adorable characters, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous language pulling it all together.)

As much as I love deconstructing a wonderful piece of literature . . . just to see how it ticks or try to assign "meaning" . . . I love, love, LOVE it even more when a magnificent talent like Mr. White (ever so gently) calls foul on the pretension surrounding the practice.

He wrote the story he was interested in, and he — simply — kept at it until all the parts fit to make a sparkling, cohesive whole.

THE END.

Does Summer Always Go This Fast?

Of course it does. Faster every year, as we all know.

When summertime was still "coming up" this year, I thought of it as this long, sunshiny stretch of found time to have more fun (in general) and get more personal writing done (in particular). Although I am as predictably shocked as everyone else that mid July is upon us — and mildly panicked that the season will slip through my fingers before I even notice — if I take a truly objective look at my activity schedule and extra, non-work-related writing output, it's clear that I've been succeeding at actually finding a little time . . . and using it, too.

The trick for me on days like this hectic wish-it-was-a-May-Sunday Monday, I think, is to take a moment to deeply appreciate that summer fun has actually happened, fully acknowledge that personal writing HAS progressed (thanks, SRS, for adding some oomph!), and remember to eagerly anticipate whatever may come from any of it.

Bloggy break over. Back to work now.

Okay, Checking In

So. Late-day yesterday, I realized I'd done nothing to further my current revision project this week. Won't do when you've signed on for the Smackdown.

Early this morning before getting down to my regular business, I read the agent's post I'd flagged and checked in on today's revision tips on the Brimstone Soup and Cuppa Jolie blogs. If nothing else revisiony happens today, at least I've got lots of helpful reminders about the process floating around in the back of my head.

I've decided that my Week 2 goals have to stay somewhat modest in order to align with my deadline-heavy workweek. It's okay, I think, to not have a grand plan at all times but instead to sometimes just do what I can. So from now till Monday, I'll be sneaking in an hour or two (or just 10 minutes if that's all there is) of focused revision time as opportunities present themselves.

As luck would have it, Opportunity is knocking right now. I'd better go!

Smackdown Week 2 (Almost) Under Way

Oh boy, it's Week 2 of the Summer Revision Smackdown.

Firstly, I'll report that I met all of my Week 1 goals. So there. Revision-related progress included choosing one first-draft manuscript to focus on (bingo!), creating a slide show of setting photos (bonus!), making a few notes/changes (bam!), and mercilessly deleting several pages of useless filler (boring!).

Secondly. Hmm. Well, dang. Deep breath. Secondly, I'll report that it's basically Week 2's Wednesday already (since my office is shut down for the night and I'm just dashing off a quick blog on the laptop while waiting for my husband to pick me up for dinner) and . . .

I. Have. No. Plan.

Yikes. I feel rushed and pulled in other directions this week, but I don't want to let the whole Smackdown challenge slide. Therefore, I vow to check in tomorrow with a doable goal or three.

Anyone have any ideas???

Meantime, here's a link to today's post about revision on literary agent Nathan Bransford's blog. I haven't read it yet, but I just noticed the title in my sidebar and wanted to flag it for later.

I will hop back on the horse tomorrow!

Can't Resist a Good Smackdown

Earlier this year I set a goal of revising two (2!!) manuscripts over the summer. These pups are first-draft chapter books that, once upon a time, I got paid to write. But because the original publisher lost its production budget for the line of books they belonged to, they need a new home. I want to give the books a new life, too.

Last week at this time I'd made no formal plan to actually start my revisions. Oh, I'd had the printed manuscripts stashed in my bag for a while. (Er, has anyone seen that bag? Seriously. HAS ANYONE SEEN IT!?!) But "summer" still seemed a lot like "later" to me.

Well, official calendars be hanged, summer IS here, and we all know it. Now is the time to make good on my own revision threats. And lucky for me, I am not alone in needing to follow through. I get to share the experience with a fab group of like-minded writers participating in the Summer Revision Smackdown, a month-long revision event masterminded/hosted by Jolie Stekly and Holly Cupala. (Thanks, you two!)

This challenge popped up at the perfect time for me, so I decided to take it as a sign to get crackin'. No slackin'.

My goals for Smackdown Week 1:

• get reacquainted with my manuscript (yes, that's manuscript singular; I have no business planning two revisions at a time)
• make big-picture notes about what I think needs to happen to take the story to the next level (did I mention that I think the draft is a bit shaky?)
• implement any super-easy-and-clearly-beneficial changes I see right off the bat
  
• create a manageable revision plan for the rest of the month using either iWork or Notebook
• report Week 1 progress to the Smackdown group on Friday

All this has to be done on breaks from my regular writing and editing work (read: project work dictated by paying clients' schedules) . . . and in addition to what I'm considering an "extra" summer writing gig (read: low-paying-but-fun project I want to do and so I'm handling it after hours in order to keep up with better-paying work during normal workdays). Oh, and don't even get me started about my real-life summer plans and how I probably can't do everything I want to . . .

But. I can do this! Hey, I figure the Smackdown goals are mine for the setting.

This is the type of thing I tend to put off and off and off because the only one benefiting from the work is me. I'm ready to break that habit!