This summer, aside from having 8 weeks off while school is out for the summer, we have been busy raising tortoiseshell and cabbage white butterflies. Always one to see connections in things, I can’t help but feel that metamorphosis is somewhat symbolic of a writer’s life. A writer begins a new novel, poetry or short story collection by writing a first draft – the larva stage if you like. From there, it’s onto the chrysalis stage – the editing process – before the final, polished draft is ready to spread it’s wings and fly out into the big, wide world.
The caterpillar stage – believing in your own project
It’s your idea, so write it already… Ideas are no good stuck in your head… Get your draft written and worry about cleaning it up later…
I’m sure you’ve heard all of the above, or variations of it. But it’s easier said than done, especially if you have no literary agent or publisher breathing down your neck with deadlines looming. If, like me, you’re writing because you’re passionate about the stories or poems in your head, then it takes a good deal of self-motivation and self-belief to get a writing project finished. Caterpillars eat, eat and eat. They think nothing of how much more they have to eat to pupate. They are simply eating machines. (Don’t I know it? The amount I’ve spent on kale, pampering my spoiled caterpillars is shocking, lol). Writers should be like caterpillars. We need to write, without worrying about how many words we need to do each day. We should just write, write and write some more. Before we know it, we’ll be pupating in no time.
The chrysalis stage – not giving up on editing
Just like a caterpillar loses its head, literally, before becoming a chrysalis, a story may sometimes need a bit of self-decapitation to move forward and become something beautiful. Okay, so editing is an ugly business. Writers might erase whole chapters, giving them the red pen treatment. For me, putting on my editing hat means putting my ego aside; sometimes if you go for the chop it can improve the story.
The butterfly emerges – the final manuscript is polished
When your book is finished, it may still need a few final, minor tweaks. Just like a newly hatched butterfly needs to sit still until its wings are dry, your polished book might need to ‘hang’ for a few days. Writers, now is not the time for self-doubt. You’ve done it; you have a polished work that is individual in its beauty and will soon be ready for the world. Now is the time to think of how best to put it out in the world. Get that query letter ready if you’re submitting to agents or publishers. If you’re gearing up to self-publish, this is the time to think about categories, bisacs, key words and general market research.
The butterfly spreads its wings – your book is ready for the wide world
You have written a book. Whether it’s a novel, a poetry collection or book of short stories, give yourself a pat on the back. Having some self-belief means knowing you are providing a literary work that offers something a little different than what is currently out there. Having some self-confidence means feeling good that readers will want to discover your story, and that they need to get to know your characters.
Go on – let your book-butterfly spread its pages and fly out into the wide world!
Leilanie Stewart 