December 17, 2022

Revising, waiting for paint to dry to finish my Granny Smiths.

As for the revising, so much of it is finding alternatives to “to be.” This includes my reflexive use of the form “he was driving” rather than the simpler, and almost always better, “he drove.”  Part is putting in contractions where more formal expression had been. Part is seeing how many little words can be cut from a line and still maintain my rhythm. I can be elliptical. Many passages have to be filled out as to meaning even as they’re being reduced as to diction. I explain the wrong things, and cut long paragraphs while asking myself why I thought anyone would need to know that. 

The absolute joy of being assured I don’t have rehearsal this morning.