The rainy weather today disabused the notion of any kind of hair indulgence as I was going through my morning routine. I knew that any curl I added to my naturally board straight hair, any teasing to plump up the volume in my baby fine tresses would not stand up to Fall’s fine show of gusty winds and pelting, sideways sheets of rain. I realized that I’d have to do some creative hair styling today; I’d need to refine my (I know, I know) outdated ‘bordering on big hair’ look and tone it down to something sleek, chic and deceptively simple. This got me thinking about indulgence in writing ( doesn’t everything we do in our day to day life lead us back to our writing?). Is my style overblown? Would my story benefit from a make-over? Do I dare part the 18,018 word strands I’ve so lovingly grown and snip a little here and highlight a little there? Should I add low lights – more importantly – do I have the time to add low lights and still reach my goal on December 1st? Should I pare down my natural effusiveness into something ‘deceptively simple?’
Yes! And…No! Yes I should be ruthless and start chopping off extraneous words and split ends if I want to eventually market my novel but no, I shouldn’t touch it right now. Not only do I need the word count, but I want to indulge myself in the vain pleasure of wallowing in the beauty of my phrases.
I think I’ll grow my novel a little while longer then start thinning it out. I can always cut out the shiny locks of carefully groomed words, but as everyone knows, once they’re gone, they’re gone. There’s nothing for it but to either wear the new sleek, chic and deceptively simple style with panache or start the long growth process all over again.
What I like in a good author is not what he says, but what he whispers. ~ Logan Pearsall Smith, "All Trivia," Afterthoughts, 1931
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By all means, add the highlights, and maybe do a bit fluffing up. Who's to know but you?
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