Comments land like a stone in a pond: they ripple through the work. Last weekend I had critique sessions with writing buddies. This week I followed those ripples and made minor changes in a couple of chapters. I feel satisfied with the changes, even though I know these scenes will certainly change again at some point.

One of my writing teachers has suggested that it’s better to move on after critique, not make changes but, rather, keep track of things that should be changed in the next draft. This resonated with me, because I know I’m the kind of person who wants to tinker endlessly before moving on.

Wait, the reader might be thinking, didn’t you just spend time this week tinkering?

I give myself permission to tinker on small bits, but I also keep a file of larger changes that should be made at a later point. An example of the former (small bit) might be to add nuance to a conversation: for example, have character B show that they relate to character A’s distress in a scene. An example of the latter might be to add in an interaction or a flashback that reinforces or explains something: for example, character C observes family dynamics and compares it to an opera because he was forced as a child to listen to opera, which he considers to be full of tragedy and dysfunctional families.

Changes to the large bits take more time and are better done in the next draft, when the arc of the story will be (I hope) clearer.

I’m not consistent, but I keep writing.