Revising the writing of that other guy (who is also me).

Black and white. A wooden tabletop, on which is a printed manuscript, a clipboard with a sheet of notes, a pen, and a pencil. — Revising dissertation chapter 3.
August 3, 2022
Humanities Institute, Penn State

I think there’s a Seinfeld episode where someone tells George he should think about the consequences of the thing he’s about to do, and then George says something like, “Eh, that’s the tomorrow guy’s problem. I’m the tonight guy.”

I think about that quote (the exact version of which I’ve yet to find*, so it could be apocryphal) frequently while writing because I try and think of myself as distinct persons at different stages of the writing process.

There’s outline-me, drafting-me, and revising-me as three different people. And each successive one is picking up the work done by the previous, scrutinizing it and following their instructions as appropriate.

It makes it a little easier to let go of things that aren’t working, and it also makes it easier to push ahead when I feel stuck.

“Hm. I’m not so sure about this bit, but outline guy said to write it, so I’m going to write it.” - drafting-me

Now I’m revising-me, a little annoyed with the opaque, slapdash prose that’s been strewn about by drafting-me.

But that’s the process, and with lots of work and repetition of it, I hope to one day be doctor-me.

At which point, I will take a nap, and soon after I’ll be outline-me yet again.

*August 4, 2022 update: A thank you to my friend Jason, for sending me a link to the Seinfeld bit in question (below).