I still don't stick to the three draft rule, but it's helped me SO much to let go of that a bit.
And that has been very healthy for you. I'm not really a perfectionist with my writing. Maybe I just have a sense of my own limits. When I refer to my "talent" I'm mostly talking about knowing the outer edge of a finite resource. Also, while my revising process isn't programmatic or mechanical, it is fairly disciplined.
There are specific things I try to improve and when I meet those particular standards they're done. I make five or six passes with a particular filter in mind. 1 - remove the passive constructions and use the active verb as much as possible. 2 - Find more vivid, sensual language to evoke it physically. Strong specific verbs, smelly nouns. Anglo over latinate when possible. 3 - Vary the rhythm in the sentences so the paragraphs work better. When I've done my due diligence like that I can almost always make my writing better.
(Slooowwwly catching up)
The greatest hits of the Insecurity Demons that live in my head include chart-topers like Everyone is Just Humoring You Because You're Crazy, Yes, He's Eventually Going to Leave Because You're Driving Him Away, You'll Never Lose Weight (with the follow-up smash hit You'll Just Gain it All Back), and the all-time sing-along favorite of Someday They'll Figure Out You're a Big Fake (You're Not That Smart).
Most of the time, I can ignore all of those. But there are days, they get in my head and nothing will shake them.
---
Happy birthday, Sail! I hope you have a lovely day.
Yes, He's Eventually Going to Leave Because You're Driving Him Away
Clovis would never leave you.
Clovis would never leave you.
There are days (thankfully, not very often), where holding Clovis and remembering that he will never leave is the only way to stop the Insecurity Demons. We will not discuss the huge, HUGE issues I have with
The Velveteen Rabbit.
the all-time sing-along favorite of Someday They'll Figure Out You're a Big Fake (You're Not That Smart)
I have the original copy of that! On 45!
It's my most-played (constantly running, actually) tape, outside of ones that have to do with parenting. My old boss/mentor used to call it the fear of Being Found Out, and he pegged me as scared of it from the minute we met.
I know those tunes, Jilli! Along with
All Your Friends Think You're A Failure But Are Too Nice To Tell You
and
The Reason You Look Ugly In Photos Is Because You Are Ugly
and
You Will Be Broke And Renting Until The Day You Die
We will not discuss the huge, HUGE issues I have with The Velveteen Rabbit.
I'm right there with you.
You Will Be Broke And Renting Until The Day You Die
I have that one, too!
We need to make a ginormous mix CD -- and then have a ritual stomping/burning ceremony.
You Will Be Broke And Renting Until The Day You Die
And the b-side
You'll Be Too Broke To Rent and Die In A Box Under An Over-pass
Rather than the Velveteen Rabbit, I seem to have a Velveteen Cat, except he's already Real--I think. He breathes and meows and follows me around, but he's also wearing off his fur in patches and he looks Very Loved.
You Will Be Broke And Renting Until The Day You Die
I know that one and the B side: Why Didn't You Buy A Condo When You Were Younger and They Were Cheap Instead Of Wasting Your Money?
