Author Intrusion - Editor’s Note: Always Rewrite!

I recently read an interview with John Irving, the author of such classics as The World According to Garp and (one of my personal favorites, A Prayer for Owen Meany. Irving explained that he didn’t consider himself a great writer, but did believe that he is a great rewriter. Reading that quote, and finding a brilliant editor within the walls of Sterlinghouse Publisher, changed my entire writing career.

You must rewrite! Don’t let anyone tell you any different. Of course, the great author that lives inside of us all would have you believe that you nailed it on the first draft, but I have been writing long enough to know that it certainly isn’t the case. I am almost embarrassed to send the first draft in. I feel that my editor is sitting there, shaking her head, wondering what made me believe I could write.

Yet there is always hope. Each draft makes the story better. Every corrected grammatical error allows the story to flow more smoothly.

The one major rewrite lesson of my life concerned my book, Desperation. Of course, I felt as if I had nailed it – I had written my Grapes of Wrath but my editors felt differently.

“I need you to change the point-of-view,” my publisher explained.
“Okay,” I said. “Sounds easy enough.”

Ten minutes later, after hanging up the telephone, it hit me that changing my point-of-view was not easy at all.

“I need to rewrite the whole book!” I screamed.

Yet months later, knee-deep in the process, I knew that my publisher and editor had been right. I made it a much better book by putting in the time, distancing myself and establishing the story lines.

Just as a way of clarification: One thing that drives me absolutely crazy is when someone posts a sign with a misspelled word. Who could ever do that?

Cliff Fazzolari is a professional writer and prolific author. He is on the Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo PICU Parent Advisory Council. He currently resides in Blasdell, New York.