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nished version on my website。
which brings me to revising。
revising as i said； when i type the handwritten words； i am also carrying out my first major stage of revision。
however； i usually have to go through at least two revision stages after that。 the first of these is when i first print out the typed chapter。 i go through it and make changes in pen； which i will incorporate later。 the second stage （and sometimes a third time as well） occurs when the entire manuscript is finished for the first time。 i leave that big； beautiful pile of printout on the shelf for a few weeks； then sit down and read the whole thing； making corrections as i go。
finally； i bundle the ms。 off to my australian and u。s。 publishers and wait for their reaction（s）； which generally will include some suggestions for revision and occasionally a request for rewriting。 sometimes these will be good； worthwhile changes and i work them in。 sometimes they are not； and i argue about them and — unless i can be convinced otherwise — refuse to alter the text。 basically； i try and keep an open mind； since there is nearly always room for improvement。
staying motivated i’m often asked by aspiring writers how i can invest a year or more in writing a full…length novel。
my stock answer is that i never sit down and think “i have to write a novel today。” i sit down and think “i have to write a chapter；” or “revise a chapter；”
or “finish the chapter。” that way； it’s only ever ；…； words that are the immediate goal。
as a further motivational gimmick； i always use the word count utility when i’ve finished typing a chapter； and write that down； with a running total of words and the date in the front of my first notebook for the current work （each novel takes between five and six of those red and black numbers）。
i also write down the music i’ve been listening to as i write and anything else that might be interesting to look back upon。 like the fact that i uploaded my first home page on april ！ the word count is a relatively small thing； but it has an amazing psychological effect； particularly as more and more chapters appear and the word total grows。 i find it very encouraging； particularly in the first third of the book； which always seems to take the majority of the time。
summary here are several one…liners that sum up my writing philosophy。 some i’ve made up and some are probably paraphrases of other people’s sayings； only i can’t remember who said what。 （though i think the “read； write； revise” one is from robert heinlein。） “you can’t write if you don’t read。”
“just write one chapter at a time and one day you’ll be surprised by your own finished novel。”
“writing anything is better than not writing something perfect。”
“read； write； revise； submit； repeat。”
“expect rejection； but don’t let it stop you submitting again。”
“submit the very best work you can； not the first draft。 always read it again before you send it。”
about the author garth nix was born in and grew up in canberra； australia。 after taking his degree in professional writing from the university of canberra； he slowly sank into the morass of the publishing industry； steadily devolving from sales rep through publicist； until in he became a senior editor with a major multinational publisher。 after a period traveling in eastern europe； the middle east； and asia in ； he left publishing to work as a marketing munications consultant。 in ； he was lured back to the publishing world to bee a part…time literary agent。 he now lives in sydney； a five…minute walk from coogee beach； with his wife； anna； and lots of books。
garth is the author of； among other books； sabriel； lirael； and shade’s chldren。
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