Ever use a tuning fork? It gives you the true pitch and you tune your instrument to it, playing the same note. And a funny thing happens; when it’s really off, it doesn’t sound too bad. But the closer you get as you keep tuning while remaining just off-pitch, it starts to make the most awful, nerve-grinding discordant NOISE. It’s worst right before you come on pitch and then the note sings and the tension of WRONG is dissolved.
A novel is like that. You know things are wrong, so you start fine-tuning. You get a little closer, a little closer, closer but still off, and it grates on your senses like a just-off-pitch note. The closer you get to right, the worse it sounds and feels.
I’m at that stage. Ow, my ears. Sing, book, sing.
What an awesome comparison! (I’m sorry you’re at that stage though – I’ll cross fingers that you get in tune quickly *s*)
Erin, I will get through this stage. It’s been a long slog, but I’m really close now.
Ouch! That’s always tough. But when you get it tuned, it will be music to your ears.
Hang in there.
Thanks, NJ. I will be sending it to you soon. Brace yourself.