Not too long ago, agent Rachelle Gardner asked on her blog if writers would rather publish or perfect their work. Let's admit that we can't have both. To properly consider this question, we must resort to Tevye's mode of evaluation.
On the one hand, why would I want to put anything out there that is less than my best? I have one opportunity to impress, and I don't want to waste it. One must dress for success. Plus, we all know this is the answer the agents want to see. Case closed.
On the other hand, my work will never match the ideal I have in my head. The novel is perfect. Until I translate it onto page. If I wait until perfection, I'll never publish. (Perhaps some of you have better luck with attaining the unflawed and unblemished.)
On the other hand, settling for mediocre art leaves a bad taste in my mouth (although that could be last night's garlic sauce). Art and excellence go together like beans and rice. If choosing publishing over perfection means settling (such a dirty word), I'll have none of that, thank you very much.
On the other hand, even Bruckner, the 19th-century composer known for his constant revisions, performed his works. While we can't know the reason for his addiction to rewrites (bending to the opinions of others? lack of confidence? attempt to match the ideal in his head?), his numerous revisions give musicologists and performers headaches. Bracelets have been made: WWBP? (Which Would Bruckner Perform?). If I choose this path--and some writers have, publishing numerous versions of their short stories, perhaps in search of the perfect composition--I limit the characters I discover, the stories I explore.
On the other hand, if I don't properly explore these characters, this story, I do it an injustice, perhaps leaving threads at the edges instead of working them in or giving room for sentimentalism (say three Hail Marys for even mentioning the word).
In the end, as we all suspected, we must find a balance. Admitting that we will never attain perfection, that it may never be what we want it to be, we must choose to publish (or seek publication) anyway. Some may compose, write, paint, etc. for their own pleasure without any intention to share with the public. But others (like myself) compose, write, paint, etc. so that others may know they're not alone, so that we can work through the triumphs and sorrows of humanity together. In this case, to hoard my work until achieving perfection could be construed as selfish or self-serving. Am I willing to be cast to the critics, risking my reputation, so that this art can be communal?
This is not to say we don't polish, revise, mark up with red pen. We strive toward perfection, knowing we fall short. We work and rework. We commit blood, sweat and tears. And someday, we close our eyes and press "send."
As a musician, performance dates loomed on the calendar. Ready or not, here they come. We practiced until our fingers and lips fell off. But no matter where the music stood, on May 21st at 7:00 p.m. in concert black, we took the stage.
In the end, given the choice between publish or perfect, I'd say publish. Polish, yes. But publish.
Heather A. Goodman polishes her writing, her music, and occasionally her toenails, but she refuses to polish silver.
A drowning mad would never chastise you for not using the perfect stroke when you saved his life.
Posted by: Pamela | July 20, 2010 at 01:47 PM
Interesting thoughts. Without really having to choose, I choose polish. Not in an obsessive way (I like the joke: how many people does it take to paint a picture? Two - one to paint and the other to shoot him when it's done), but I would rather write one excellent book than fifty okay ones. And to respond to Pamela's comment, maybe a sloppy stroke won't get you to the drowning person.
Oh, and send me your silver. I looooove polishing silver. There's a satisfying before and after to it.
Posted by: susan fish | July 20, 2010 at 01:52 PM
Susan, a secret: I don't own any real silver or else you could have at them!
Also, to clarify, the question is not whether you'd publish or polish but publish or perfect. Don't mean to be the panties-in-a-wad girl, but I think there's a difference. We all want to polish to achieve excellence. But is perfection necessary for excellence?
Posted by: Heather | July 20, 2010 at 02:11 PM
Good questions to ask and answer. I definitely think there comes a time when you have to send your story on out there, trusting that you've polished it enough, and knowing that--if a publisher buys it--the book will go through several more edits before it ever sees the light of day anyway.
God is the best artist ever and does exactly what He wants to do, and He didn't make us perfect. Our flaws make us more interesting. (At least that's what I'm counting on.)
Love,
Jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne Damoff | July 20, 2010 at 04:59 PM
I will still really vote for aiming at perfection. And again, not in an obsessive way and not in a way that means you would never send something out, but really going for the moon. There are people who err on both sides of the equation, but I honestly believe we owe it to God and to the canon of literature to offer our very very very best.
Posted by: susan fish | July 21, 2010 at 06:20 AM
I don't know. As an editor by day and a writer by night, I guess I'm inclined to revise-as-I-go when it comes to my own work (and I will revise over and over and over again until it's as close to perfection as I can manage) so by the time my work actually reaches the publication stage, there's very little to be done with it.
I guess I'm Team Polish. I'd rather be known for one excellent novel (like Harper Lee) than two dozen mediocre ones (not naming any names here 'cause I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings...)
I think it helps you professionally to be a merciless revisionist too - if you take the time to *really* analyze and edit your work before you send it out, your chances are better of getting published in the first place.
Posted by: Kellye Parish | July 21, 2010 at 08:35 AM
Susan and Kellye--yes, I agree that we aim for perfection. I think I should have done a better job of defining terms. I absolutely believe in revisions! I believe we should work toward offering our best. I say that both as an artist and as a believer.
Jeanne--It's funny how much our artistic life intertwines with our spiritual life. As a believer, I aim for holiness (because God is holy) through his grace knowing I will not achieve it until Christ returns.
Posted by: Heather | July 21, 2010 at 08:47 AM
Yep. I say aim for perfection, but don't let that keep you from obeying Him in the day to day. If we wait till we're perfect specimens of holiness, we won't do anything this side of eternity.
As for polishing our work, I definitely fall on the side of better/fewer books per author. I don't know how many times I've heard testimony along these lines: "I spent ten years polishing my first novel, and then the publisher only gave me six months to turn in my second." There has to be a healthy balance somewhere. Good stories need a little fermentation time.
Like Kellye, I edit as I write. I have to. (There's no one right way to create the "first" draft, no matter what anyone says.) By the time I reach the end, every page has been revised multiple times and will be at least a few more. I agree with Susan that "we owe it to God and the canon of literature to offer our very best." And I know you do, too, Heather. I think your point here is that we should recognize perfection is an unattainable goal in any area of life. Our best will not be perfect. But it should definitely be as shiny as we can get it.
Good discussion! Thanks again.
Posted by: Jeanne Damoff | July 21, 2010 at 12:09 PM
My self-published book is as broken as me.
Ironic, seeing as how I grew up a perfectionist ~ so much so, that severe depression and struggles with suicidal thoughts marked much of my life. If I let this stop me from sharing the message God gave me for a very small, niche group, it would never have been written. My prayer is that He is glorified and His strength made perfect in my weakness. He knows I did my best, and I can rest in that.
1 Cor. 1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”
Posted by: Broken Vessel | July 22, 2010 at 08:50 AM