The Geranium File
I brought my geraniums in from outside yesterday. They formerly graced my porch and the front steps in large pots framed by petunias that cascaded over the edges where they lifted their heads, ever so slightly, to the sun. The fuchsia and bubble gum pink geraniums bloomed through three seasons with blooms as large as a small melon. Walkers who passed by gasped at their beauty. But the predicted temperature for tonight is a frigid 29 degrees so they had to either come inside or be disposed of. I couldn’t bear for them to die so I rummaged in my basement for smaller pots, separated the plants, replanted the geraniums and prepared them for a season, indoors. They went along with it quite willingly, their bobbing fuchsia heads perking up once they were watered and positioned in the window. Every time I walk into the dining room now, they greet me, “Thank you for saving us!” and I am soothed that I did the right thing.
Not only is there beauty in gardening, but there are beautiful moments in writing as well. One sentence or paragraph may lead me to ask the question – “Did I really write this amazing piece of prose?” It’s a heady feeling when those beautiful words weave themselves into the flow of the story or the narrative quite naturally. But sometimes they stand alone like a piece that is forced into a puzzle but doesn’t quite fit and you wonder if those gorgeous scribbles should remain in your story or be cut. Sigh... They are such a thing of beauty that I can’t bear to let them lose, edit them out and let them die.
Editing is tough, really tough, especially if your word count is too high. So many words to cut, but how? For me, I have used a process where I copy and paste the deleted parts; scenes, dialogue, backstory into another file, especially if I think they are beautifully written. At least I know where they are, in case I need them or could use them in another way. I do not let them die. It is a comfort to me to know that they are there.
When I edit, I ask myself, is this information essential to the story, the character or the setting? Do I need all of it or just some of it? Am I moving the story along with these words or slowing the story down? I picture each scene of my story as part of a movie. What do I want the character(s) to see, hear, smell, taste, feel and do at this particular time? All else is extraneous.
When I get in an editing groove, it becomes easy to throw out the petunias. I am more open to what should stay and what should go. But there are times when a writer hedges about deleting a certain passage or sentence. That’s the time to pull out the geranium file and save it from death. Have it waiting there, for another season.