Monday 3 June 2024
This fourth entry for THE REVISION DIARIES series traces a difficult week while revising my Katyn manuscript. Reviewing the daily entries found below, I’m not sure if I fully convey the struggles I encountered while working on BOOK 5. Last night while reflecting on today’s blog, I decided that once I finish the revision of the Katyn manuscript and hence ending THE REVISION DIARIES, I must write a final reflection-essay on the revision process. Many of the daily entries found in THE REVISION DIARIES tend to be raw and immediate; they’re not carefully polished essays. I do offer, I think, “takeaways;” however, I need to offer you, Reader, a conclusion that better captures the struggles, setbacks, and yes, victories of the revision process.
Sunday 26 May 2024
Went to Boston, MA for the day to visit the two memorials (The New England Holocaust Memorial and The Partisans). Nicholas joined me; his first time in Boston. I always love visiting Boston! This second time visiting each memorial has provoked new thinking. I’m glad I decided to come here. I discovered new perspectives, and they will play important roles when I revise the sections I wrote about them in the manuscript.
Afterward, we lunched in a restaurant across the street from the Holocaust memorial. Overheard a young family talking about the “glass towers;” the young kid asked, “Why are people going there?” The parents said nothing. Strange response.
On our way back from visiting The Partisans memorial, Nicholas and I discovered another, relevant monument: Hungarian Memorial, a moving and emotional statue dedicated to the men, women, and children who participated in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. First time seeing it! Provocative public art. Need to inform others to see it!
Monday 27 May 2024
Took a day off from revising. Did some clerical work on the blogsite.
Tuesday 28 May 2024
Doctor’s appointment mishaps—ugh. Hectic is an understatement!
After correcting the problem, I began work on BOOK 5, the Katyn Survivor Memoirs section. Picked up from where I left off from last Saturday’s revision session. Continued to cut and rephrase sentences. I find I can’t perform this BOOK 5 revision on the screen: it’s easier and less painful doing so on the paper printout of the manuscript. Nonetheless, so far, this revision session has become the most difficult. At first, I wasn’t keen on cutting it; however, I see that some of the original doesn’t benefit the purpose and vision of the manuscript. Very emotional session.
Wednesday 29 May 2024
Heavy cutting and rewriting on the Czapski chapter of BOOK 5. Not easy. Considering he is my personal hero, every word felt needed to be there. What lessened the sting of cutting was employing my old method of cutting/revising: first conduct the revision on the paper version of the chapter. Marking it with a pen. It’s out but I still see the original content. I can come back again to it, read it, and then determine if the original needs to be brought back or if the message of the chapter benefits from the cut. So far, it’s working.
Thursday 30 May 2024
In the morning, worked on some transitional paragraphs while revising BOOK 5, the section where I review Katyn survivor memoirs and provide some pivotal information on the discovery of the Katyn Forest pits. Hit upon an insight about the theme running through this section. And how in fact it is running throughout the manuscript—going back to the other sections to bring it onto the surface.
Video-conferenced with King Arthur. We discussed FADING OUTRO. He suggested several cuts. He reminded me that this Afterward/Epilogue by its nature must be a short piece. I agreed. He also recommended I transplant one part of this original draft and place it BOOK 9. The ones we couldn’t save are excellent and interesting pieces; however, they don’t serve the needs of the manuscript. In fact, that insight was a major takeaway. Sometimes, written content might be important for the artist/writer but is that content important for the whole piece.
I’m grateful for working with King Arthur as my editor. He has been a true advocate for the project, always mindful and protective of the integrity of the manuscript’s purpose.
The parts recommended to be cut were pieces I had intended to publish originally as blog for my website. They are better suited, after all, for the blog, not the manuscript. I wouldn’t have known of I didn’t take the risk of moving written content around. If it works, great; if it doesn’t, at least I know.
Friday 31 May 2024
Simply ran out of time, even in the morning, to write!
Saturday 1 June 2024
I think I do my best writing in the early morning hours. The house is quiet. I can concentrate. Falling into my creative unconscious also is easier. I completed the revision of BOOK 5—at least I think I have. The second half of the original draft of BOOK 5 has been omitted; however, the last few pages of it are REALLY important. Thinking of pasting it to the new BOOK 2—which I still need to (re)write.
Not only did I cut out portions of BOOK 5, but I wrote stronger transitions between the individual sections. Like my Melville dissertation, I realize how important transitions are between sections and chapters. Transitions not only make the reading experience smoother, but they also show how the sections are connected, not just to improve the “flow” of individual paragraphs but the “flow” of themes and ideas.
Decided to work on BOOK 6, the first trip to Miednoje—the one King Arthur and I sponsored, taking several cadets on a summer study abroad course on WW2 war crimes, focusing on the Katyn Massacres (going to the death pits in Miednoje) and the Nazi death camp, Auschwitz.