Sunday, October 28, 2012

An Ode to Autumn and Editing

Autumn has always been my favorite season, even though in Florida we don't have much of one. Cooler weather, the earthy smell of leaves and the spicy tang of burning fires. Pumpkins and pumpkin lattes and pumpkin cupcakes and pumpkin pie. Halloween, which is spooky and wicked and childlike and fantastic. Tall boots (and I have an amazing new pair) and leggings and sweaters and scarves. Full moons in cold, sapphire skies (like tonight).

I find myself reminiscing about this time last year, when I set off to my first big writing conference, World Fantasy Con, all by myself, not knowing a soul. I was about halfway through the first draft of Martinis with the Devil, and Everdream had not even crept into my mind yet. And now, a year later, I've finished both and am slowly editing, editing, editing the latter. Trying to get it as flawless as I can. And it seems like autumn is the metaphorical equivalent of editing. That slow, meticulous time of patience and steadfastness. If spring is the time of the bright, shiny idea and summer is the hot, fast-moving first draft, then autumn represents editing for sure. And winter? Maybe winter is when you're finally done and you feel like hibernating :)

What season of writing do you find yourselves in now? Do you love autumn as much as I do (literally or metaphorically)?

I'll leave you with a fun pic of me and my sister at a haunted castle last night being greeted by the doorman. I think I was ruining the mood with my peace sign...

12 comments:

  1. I've also been into the season. I love cooking and not having to worry about heating my house up. Soups, stews, roasts...my hubby and I need to schedule our holiday jam-making session. That's the stuff of fall for me. My neighbor's grapes are so ripe that when we walk outside my three-year-old says, "It smells like grape juice, Mommy." I LOVE autumn. Right there with ya.

    Alexia, you've come far in the last year and a half. I can't wait to see where you are next year. Have fun this fall. :)

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  2. That's a great analogy, and it'd be an awesome way to write a book in a year - spring to plot and brainstorm, summer to write the entire thing, autumn to revise and edit, and winter to query. Sounds pretty sweet :)

    Jamie

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  3. Autumn has always been my favorite season too. Autumn and winter are my most productive writing seasons. It's summer that puts my brain into hibernation. The heat and I don't mix well.

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  4. I do love autumn - the nights closing in and everything all crisp and cosy! I find autumn always really busy but a productive time, too.

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  5. Autumn is my most favorite season. Top of my list is getting a roaring fire going in the wood stove. Ahhhh, a little bit of heaven.

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  6. Enjoyed your post. With the wind, it's feeling like winter is moving in fast.

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  7. Now that's almost November, we are finally getting some fall weather.
    And I am editing as well!

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  8. Texas has had an unusually long autumn this year. It's so pleasant and comforting!

    I don't think there is a season for the stage I'm at in my writing.

    Jai

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  9. I live in FL too, although quite a ways from you in SW FL! I'm in the same season . . . edits, edits, and more edits--kinda making me hate fall, lol.

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  10. Oh man, I can't handle haunted houses!

    I REALLY want to go to World Fantasy some day. Have fun!

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  11. I like your seasons of writing. I was indeed drafting this summer and I'm currently editing.

    I'm enjoying the cooler weather.

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  12. I am rewriting a book I wrote four years back. No NaNo for me this year too.

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