When Trash Becomes Art and Art Becomes Trash: When Your Editor Tells You to Start Cutting

When Trash Becomes Art and Art Becomes Trash: When Your Editor Tells You to Start Cutting

I have always been a wordsmith, but the visual arts were never innate for me. So, when I took an art class in college and the assignment was to paint an object in the room, I chose something simple. It was a giant, round, gray construction-sized can, with years of colorful paint dripped down the sides.

It actually was quite lovely, and my painting was... perfect. I completely nailed the aesthetic of it. The shading was right, the colors popped, and it captured the art of what it was: an artist's garbage can.

Thinking of it today is bittersweet, because I'm still very proud of that piece. But I can't share a picture of it with you because my teacher had other plans. You see, after we were done with our paintings, she had us take out our scissors and cut them up into many pieces. And then paste them onto a posterboard to make a collage. That was her end goal all along. And she thought it turned out great.

Me? I hated it. I still want to cry when I think about it. Collages are great, and they are an art form of their own, no doubt. But the subject matters. And the artist's intent counts for even more.

Looking back, that teacher was focused on the 'exercise,' but she missed the 'soul.' In the world of writing, it's the same. You spend weeks forging a scene, only for a cold editor to tell you to "cut it" because it doesn't fit a generic formula.

My goal at The Write Author is the opposite. I don't want to cut your work into a collage. I want to help you find the right shading and the perfect pop of color so the 'Artist's Garbage Can,' or whatever your WIP may be, best connects with your readers while staying true to your intention.

Your masterpiece deserves to stay whole. Forge ahead, wordsmith.

When you're ready for a red pen, I'm your honesty with heart editor. I won't blindly tell you to cut or collage anything without telling you how it landed with me as a reader first. The control goes back to you. Always.

Get a Forensic Narrative Audit for just $.015/word or book a 2500-word Focused Narrative Diagnostic for just $50. See what's included here: Manuscript Review Services.

Looking to keep the ink warm? Join The Writers' Forge today and sharpen your sword with real-time support.

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