Revising Ourselves

There’s a quote about revision attributed to Margaret Atwood – “We were revisionists; what we revised was ourselves.”

I’m on my umpteenth revision of my current work-in-progress. I used this novel as my primary work in the MFA in Creative Writing program that I’ve just finished. So, in effect, I’ve been revising the story in bits and pieces for the last two years.

As Margaret Atwood said, I’ve been revising myself as a writer, too. With the guidance of great mentors, I’ve learned to trust that the readers will understand a scene without my stepping outside that scene to explain.  I’ve learned to allow myself to be vulnerable in a way that lets me connect emotionally with my characters and, as a result, let the reader connect emotionally with the characters too.

Now that I’m more comfortable in my own skin as a writer, it’s easier to shut down that inner voice that questions whether or not I’m good enough.