Thin Read Line

I don't know why my red pencil makes me so damn happy. I really, truly enjoy editing work. Why the hell is that?

Personally, I think that editing is more difficult than creating. During the creation process anyone can justify tossing just about anything on the pile because they are constructing an entirely new thing. The hard part is weeding out what doesn't quite belong - the refinement, polishing and tightening of a piece: the finish work.

The finish work has so long been my preferred portion of the process that it has lead me to either never completing a project or starting the project in the first place. Completion eluded me due to the massive amount of time spent fussing over the final "polish". Failures to launch were simply because I could not get to the self editorializing within a satisfying time frame.

I suppose my red pencil makes me happy for the same reason that a fresh, glossy coat of paint on the sanded out body of a '59 Chevy makes a car buff happy: we both get to watch our ugly ducklings become swans.