You Can't Fix Stupid (Mary Strand)

This month at YA Outside the Lines, we’re talking about editing, or being edited.

Sure, that topic doesn't EXACTLY call for the title I gave this blog post, but where else will I ever be able to use such a great quote, right? Anyone? Bueller?

Anyway.

For me, this topic is applicable to both writing and music. A little over a week ago, I attended a songwriting workshop led by (the brilliant) Beth Nielsen Chapman. Among other things, we took turns in the hot seat while Beth critiqued a song we'd written. One woman who was visibly uncomfortable when it was her turn said, "Well, NO one likes being critiqued."

I do.

I'm currently recording my second album, and we frequently say, "It's all about the album." As in, I have to do — and WANT to do — whatever it takes to make this the best album possible. I feel the same way about my books. You simply have to check your ego at the door and focus ONLY on whether a revision of any kind will improve what you're creating. A third party with a clear eye for what works is critical to that.

In my songs, editing refers to the lyrics I write and also the finished (recorded) project. I'm spending a lot of time right now tweaking my lyrics and making sure that the recorded tracks sound like "Mary Strand" as I envision her to be. In my novels, it's really the same thing but involves a few hundred pages of words (and my voice as a writer) instead of a two-page chart of chords and lyrics and a three-minute track.

If anyone I'm working with (editor, guitar teacher, band member, or recording engineer) suggests an improvement, I listen hard. They may be wrong, but they're right more often than not. Or as someone once told me, they may not know HOW to fix something (books, lyrics, songs), but if they think something feels wrong, it probably IS wrong. And it's my job to figure out exactly which fix is correct.

All suggestions are good. At a minimum, they help me know when I need to do something differently.

I love Harry Potter. I remember when the books were coming out, never fast enough for the demands of the readers, and specifically when we all heard that J.K. Rowling was running behind the publishing schedule, especially on book 5. The publishers were pushing hard to deliver book 5 as close as possible to the originally scheduled date. I love book 5, but they clearly didn't leave time in their publishing schedule to edit it. I think any editor could've sliced 100 pages from it, and a good editor could've sliced 200. They should've just told all those readers (like me) to wait.

Twenty years ago, I was at a hands-on writers' workshop led by Jennifer Crusie that included critiques of the opening of our books. Before we started, Jenny basically told us to suck it up and take it. Her suggestion: never interrupt, challenge, or try to explain to the critiquer, just keep your head down and take notes. Don't react in the moment. And maybe a day later, really look at the critique and glean as much as possible from it.

I still follow that advice today, although I don't have to put my head down and don't get upset by critiques. I appreciate ANYTHING that makes me a better writer, songwriter, or musician. If someone doesn't love every little (or big) thing I've done, there's probably a good reason for it.

It's all about the book. Or the album. More importantly, it's not about me.

Mary Strand is the author of Pride, Prejudice, and Push-Up Bras and three other novels in the Bennet Sisters YA series. You can find out more about her books and music at marystrand.com.