Revision can be a long process

What I've learned revising my 4th book

Photo by RetroSupply on Unsplash

I’ve written 4 academic books. I remember when I was a graduate student, someone told me that books are the way to establish a career and to receive promotions. I found myself pondering this statement as that just has not been my experience … yet.

I like to add “yet” to the end of a speculative experience because the future is not yet written so it is possible that I will one day be in an environment where knowledge productions matters!!!

And I still believe that that is what an academic is in the business of - producing knowledge.

I’m currently revising my book #4 and I’ve been in a process of revision for this book for much longer than I anticipated, and I’m beginning to understand why.

First, I was in the middle of a very trying (un)professional issue that was extremely negative and negativity and writing, for me, just don’t work. The situation drained a lot of my time and energy so that caused a delay. I am now so mindful of not allowing external forces to interfere in the writing process.

Second, this is the hardest book I’ve ever written. Without giving too much away, the book covers the time between the 1890s and 1910s and in the context of Canada where I live, write from and about, this is an underexamined time especially when it comes to race and ethnic histories. So writing into this period meant I am literally blazing the trail - they never tell you how hard that can be!

But what I’ve learned through the process of revision is three-fold:

1. Be kind to yourself. Sometimes we’re just too hard on ourselves if something is taking longer than anticipated or if we realize we have to go in a different direction or even start over. I have gone back to the beginning of this manuscript three times, and I’m OK with that. I continue to use positive language about the process.

2. As much as you can, ignore negativity. There are always going to be people who do not like you not because you’ve done anything to them, but simply because you exist. I have learned this in my own life experience that most people who have treated me poorly don’t know me at all so whatever their issues are reflect more on them than me. So it is hard but I try to block those people out and remind myself that talent trumps talentless every time.

3. Be patient. Writing is a process. Processes are not linear. Processes require a lot of stop and go and go back over and cut that, add this. Especially academic writing. Academic writing is challenging because you are telling a story but not storytelling in the sense of fiction; you’re telling a story as you’re also producing knowledge which requires engagement with secondary and primary sources; and because you (or at least I do) want your work to be read, it has to be accessible to the lay reader of all levels, so the syntax, diction, flow, grammar, etc. and your use of FANBOYS has to be on point:

   For

   And

   Nor

   But

   Or

   Yet

   So

   FANBOYS are your connecting words when you’re linking independent clauses or sentences together for flow and readability. I have become so aware of FANBOYS while writing this 4th book. They matter!

So if you’re writing anything or thinking of writing something, be kind, block out negativity, and be patient.