Comments on: Still More Answers on Self-Editing http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:34:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Daan Van der Merwe http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3107 Daan Van der Merwe Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:41:41 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3107 Excellent! Well done. I fully agree with your introductory words. Matter of fact, I'm a sucker for celebrations. Unfortunately, I still have another six hours of work to do, on completion of which I shall give that lovely notion its due attention. Excellent! Well done. I fully agree with your introductory words. Matter of fact, I’m a sucker for celebrations. Unfortunately, I still have another six hours of work to do, on completion of which I shall give that lovely notion its due attention.

]]> By: Lynda http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3108 Lynda Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:08:57 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3108 Hehe. For me the secret to reading Crichton is to literally take notes as the characters appear. How comes he's successful when he does everything I've been taught is death? Hehe. For me the secret to reading Crichton is to literally take notes as the characters appear. How comes he’s successful when he does everything I’ve been taught is death?

]]> By: Pamela Cosel http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3110 Pamela Cosel Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:13:41 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3110 In regard to what Christophe posted here and asks, my comment is more of a question to Randy versus a suggestion to solve Christophe. Since you are so stuck on that chapter, Christophe, is it possible that portions of the chapter can be broken up and used in the chapter preceding and following the one that is a "problem?" Are you trying to make events and reactions stand alone when they may belong in other parts of the book? Just a thought (and thus a question for our expert and blog host, Randy). In regard to what Christophe posted here and asks, my comment is more of a question to Randy versus a suggestion to solve Christophe. Since you are so stuck on that chapter, Christophe, is it possible that portions of the chapter can be broken up and used in the chapter preceding and following the one that is a “problem?” Are you trying to make events and reactions stand alone when they may belong in other parts of the book? Just a thought (and thus a question for our expert and blog host, Randy).

]]> By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3111 Camille Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:13:50 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3111 Whoo Hoo! Way to go, man. Here's a virtual pat on the back for ya, Randy! I'm curious, what does a completed 'Snowflake analysis' look like for you, Ultimate Snowflake Guy? If you don't mind... How far did you go with it, how many separate docs, pages? And as you get into the novel, if/when things change, do you usually go back and change your snowflake? God's Blessings & best for you, Randy. Thanks for coaching all of us, by the way, in addition to having a career & life of your own. :) Whoo Hoo! Way to go, man. Here’s a virtual pat on the back for ya, Randy!

I’m curious, what does a completed ‘Snowflake analysis’ look like for you, Ultimate Snowflake Guy? If you don’t mind… How far did you go with it, how many separate docs, pages?

And as you get into the novel, if/when things change, do you usually go back and change your snowflake?

God’s Blessings & best for you, Randy. Thanks for coaching all of us, by the way, in addition to having a career & life of your own. :)

]]> By: Robert Treskillard http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3112 Robert Treskillard Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:15:37 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3112 Thanks, Randy and Renni for covering self-editing. I own Renni's book, so it was good to hear her answer people's specific questions. I also liked your last bit of advice about lean vs. rich writing. I tend to write lean, and that helps me feel better about not cutting too much when I edit. Thanks, Randy and Renni for covering self-editing. I own Renni’s book, so it was good to hear her answer people’s specific questions. I also liked your last bit of advice about lean vs. rich writing. I tend to write lean, and that helps me feel better about not cutting too much when I edit.

]]> By: Karla Akins http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3113 Karla Akins Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:36:20 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3113 Am I the only one who realizes that the more I know about writing the more I realize I don't know? I am envious of your "writing group," Randy. That sounds like such a blast. The nearest B & N to me is an hour away. (Horrors!) I live in the boonies. What do you actually do during your get-togethers? My parents have a writing group at their retirement home. I guess I have that to look forward to. :-) I am also envious that you have a NEW Crichton book. Oh, for the time to read something like that! Dec. 26 cometh! ;-) (That's when I finally get some time for things like reading fiction!) On another note, I finally got to listen to the first session on the Speaking Biz seminar you did recently. Yummy stuff! Am I the only one who realizes that the more I know about writing the more I realize I don’t know?

I am envious of your “writing group,” Randy. That sounds like such a blast. The nearest B & N to me is an hour away. (Horrors!) I live in the boonies. What do you actually do during your get-togethers?

My parents have a writing group at their retirement home. I guess I have that to look forward to. :-)

I am also envious that you have a NEW Crichton book. Oh, for the time to read something like that! Dec. 26 cometh! ;-) (That’s when I finally get some time for things like reading fiction!)

On another note, I finally got to listen to the first session on the Speaking Biz seminar you did recently. Yummy stuff!

]]> By: D.E. Hale http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3114 D.E. Hale Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:37:19 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3114 Thanks Randy! My trilogy is one big story, but I've tried very hard to make sure that each book can be read alone too. I think doing one big snowflake is really going to help me see the "big picture." I mean, I thought I "knew" my story before I even started, but now that they're all done, I find that some things just aren't working. Hopefully the snowflake will show me why, so I can fix it. Thanks Randy! My trilogy is one big story, but I’ve tried very hard to make sure that each book can be read alone too. I think doing one big snowflake is really going to help me see the “big picture.” I mean, I thought I “knew” my story before I even started, but now that they’re all done, I find that some things just aren’t working. Hopefully the snowflake will show me why, so I can fix it.

]]> By: Holly http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3117 Holly Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:08:11 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/11/15/still-more-answers-on-self-editing/#comment-3117 Thank you Renni and Randy for answering my question! It's nice to know it's ok to write lean. The writers I really admire have lean prose so it just comes that way for me. Well, revision of that statement; I used to have lean prose intermixed with pages of internal monologue which explained the lean prose. Now I've progressed to lean prose. Unconscious time-saver? I do find that when I edit I often have a similar or higher word count than when I started--I rarely hunt to delete so much as simply to make the words do their duty, strengthen nouns and verbs and imagery and whatnot. So as long as I keep to changing and adding rather than just cutting, I guess I'll be ok! My pen is blue, by the way. Red's too much like the big fat revisions gradeschool teachers slapped on my tests. Thank you Renni and Randy for answering my question!

It’s nice to know it’s ok to write lean. The writers I really admire have lean prose so it just comes that way for me. Well, revision of that statement; I used to have lean prose intermixed with pages of internal monologue which explained the lean prose. Now I’ve progressed to lean prose. Unconscious time-saver?

I do find that when I edit I often have a similar or higher word count than when I started–I rarely hunt to delete so much as simply to make the words do their duty, strengthen nouns and verbs and imagery and whatnot. So as long as I keep to changing and adding rather than just cutting, I guess I’ll be ok!

My pen is blue, by the way. Red’s too much like the big fat revisions gradeschool teachers slapped on my tests.

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