Struggling Writers discussion

So, the idea of popping a novel out is mostly supported by the "not to edit" crowd. The theory is if you get that first draft down you have something to work with; whereas if you try to edit as you go you will spend so much time perfecting that you will never finish. So what do you think? Which path will you take as you go down the noveling path?

I like to just write, get the entire story down, and then see what it looks like. Once the draft is done, I find that going over it line by line helps to straighten it out and provides prompts where additional material can be inserted and may highlight inconsistencies. I usually go over it at least three times before I print it out and seriously proof it.

I like following the nano method of writing first, editing later.

I like writing first and then editing, but I would be lying if I didn't say that I like editing WAY BETTER. However, it's not productive, so I try to only go back and edit things that are real problems or show major inconsistencies until I get the first draft down. That way there's a balance. :)

You like editing, Tara? Hahha I'm the exact opposite. I hate editing so much, even though I know that it has to be done.

It's not that I like it, but I like to improve my writing. My editing process it basically...

START: Terrible, crappy writing. EDIT! Okay writing. EDIT! Pretty decent writing.

I like to get it all to the "okay" stage before moving on, but that can take a while so I don't always. Lol. :) My pickiness is probably part of the reason that I haven't yet gotten a whole draft down on any of my book ideas. But I've decided now that I MUST write 750 words before allowing myself the privilege of going back and improving. :) And it seems to be working. Yesterday I exceeded my word count by about 400 words and went back to edit a chapter of another piece. (I have so many drafts going, I'm a crazy person, I really am.)

I think of editing as the most awful process of it all. I'd take receiving 20 answers to queries saying "thanks but no thanks" than only editing for a whole week. It makes me cringe. I write as if I'm writing for NaNo all the time -- fast and as much as possible with no looking back. But editing is basically saying, "okay, this is horrible. Let's try to fix this" and it's... stressing and depressing and makes me question my writing skills big time.

So, yeah, NaNo style, and then sitting in a corner and crying like a baby for a while before editing starts.

I hate that editing makes me realize how terrible of a writer I am, but I am also glad that it will help my writing be better. So, I have conflicting feelings on this issue.

Selina wrote: "I hate that editing makes me realize how terrible of a writer I am, but I am also glad that it will help my writing be better. So, I have conflicting feelings on this issue."

Totally know what you mean re: editing making the writing better, I in fact couldn't agree more. It's just my least favorite part of the writing process because... well, a brilliant first draft is yet to be seen, isn't it?

Interesting thread. When I wrote my first novel, I wrote a couple chapters then I went back and edited.

The second book, I wrote and edited one chapter at a time. It was definitely a longer process, but after editing the chapter I just wrote, it seemed I was able to progress into the next chapter more smoothly.

Third Book, I wrote the entire book and edited at the end, with only a couple chapters gone over once in process (More because I really liked the chapter)

Here's what I learned ...
On the first book, I was a really bad writer ... having never written before. Didn't really understand sentence structure (for readability and cadence), paragraph structure (POV based vs. subject) and the nuances of structured subject intimacy. While I was writing, I was reading anything I could get my hands on to better understand style. I think, because I took the write a couple chapters then edit on the first book, my style evolved much faster, with a lot less rework in the long run (over the series).

Now the first book took a lot (and I mean a lot) of reEdits to get it where I want it. In fact, after finishing the third book, I've only just gotten the first to sound how I want it.

Now, on the second book, because of the growth from the constant work throughout the first, the writing was far tighter, and the edit work was significantly less.

By the time I got to the third, I really only had to proof and edit twice, and only after all the writing was done (with a couple exceptions).

My last round of editing was more to elevate the sexual tension in all the books and improve the aforementioned structured subject intimacy, and that was the result of growth in my style.

One thing I do question, the write a first draft manuscript and send it to an editor for final work-up. Looking back at the growth in my style, I question whether the first draft and editor approach sanitizes the unique style of the writer. Is the style we experience on the most popular writer's books more the style of the editor then the actual writer?

G wrote: "I think of editing as the most awful process of it all. I'd take receiving 20 answers to queries saying "thanks but no thanks" than only editing for a whole week. It makes me cringe. I write as if ..."

I pretty much go with this style too, though, if I have a major scene change I will take the time to sit down and fix it (like in the beginning of the story I decided to take out a emotionally tense scene and move it forward so it could build to that).

RabidReader wrote: "Interesting thread. When I wrote my first novel, I wrote a couple chapters then I went back and edited.

The second book, I wrote and edited one chapter at a time. It was definitely a longer pro..."

Interesting take on it, particularly the bit at the end. I find that if I try to edit as I go I get hung up on how many different ways a scene can go, and then add the fact that I am nit picky when it comes to editing my own stuff, I get no where.

So you say you edit as you go (overall), right? Are you the type who plans everything out (or most everything) or do you just write?

As for the 'sanitizes the unique style of the writer' you have an interesting point. I don't know that I can say anything, because I have never tried to get anything published, but it would seem that the editor is most certainly a major factor.

Irene wrote: "RabidReader wrote: "Interesting thread. When I wrote my first novel, I wrote a couple chapters then I went back and edited.

The second book, I wrote and edited one chapter at a time. It was def..."

In general, yeah I do edit as I go. I think more out of need to keep the snowball small. I think, for me, going back to edit an entire book beginning to end. Just thinking about editing a 100K-word book, knowing the massive number of errors likely present - depressing. As I mentioned, on my third book, I just edited (in process) on a couple chapters. Those I did because those chapters were so good in my eyes, I just wanted to go back and enjoy them. Editing was just the necessary evil.

In answer to your question ... " Are you the type who plans everything out (or most everything) or do you just write?" I wish. On the frst book I tried to ... but the story changed so much in process. The second was just the opposite. The third was in the middle. I defined all the chapter headings from the beginning. I use the heading as foreshadowing techniques, for me as much as the reader. That way I know what supposed to happen in each chapter (in general).

RabidReader wrote: "Irene wrote: "RabidReader wrote: "Interesting thread. When I wrote my first novel, I wrote a couple chapters then I went back and edited.

The second book, I wrote and edited one chapter at a ti..."

Interesting. I can't edit as I go because I drive myself nuts, I also don't plan things out either. However, I have never met someone who doesn't plan but can successfully go back and edit without ending up in an endless circle.

Irene wrote: "RabidReader wrote: "Irene wrote: "RabidReader wrote: "Interesting thread. When I wrote my first novel, I wrote a couple chapters then I went back and edited.

The second book, I wrote and edited..."

It helps that when I get an idea, it comes to me in excruciating detail or I should rephrase, insomniac detail. Most of the time I'm editing, I'm trying to find the story gaps that will make the story collapse on itself.

I guess I cycle back and review every chapter after I edit - sometimes more than once. Then I read the whole book to make sure I have the characters developed the way I want. Then I read the whole book again, reading it out loud and listening to how the characters are speaking, changing dialog to make sure the character's voices are true.

I know Kirouac claims to have written On The Road straight through without editing (in fact I read one place that he claims to have written it on a continuous roll of paper), but I have also read that he said that just for the sake of publicity and that he went back and edited it just like anyone else.

I finished the first draft of my first novel. I was planning on editing it but I am lazy! So I have started the second one and have done little to no edifying and I definately don't edit as I go XD

With my first two novels I was in a hurry, snatching time as I could -- I wrote the first book in two weeks and the second book in three weeks. The person who edits for me was through marking up a lot faster, but it took me nearly two months to get everything straightened out. There's always that temptation to tweak a little extra, and it usually leads to other edits.

Now I take a bit of extra time, and I try to get things as right as possible while I go. It's easier for me to scan through it before handing it off for my editor to look at.

My way is a bit different. I go back to read and edit the previous section prior to moving forward. So, to give an example, prior to beginning chapter 2, I go back and re-read and edit chapter 1. Before 3 I re-read and edit 2. I do this for two reasons: 1) I find mistakes in spelling, grammar, etc; and 2) I get the flow of the story. I could also add that when it comes back from my editor, there is far less red on it than if I hadn't gone through the process of self-editing. At the end of the day, though, I realize that self-editing, for me, is a fool's game. I get to know the story too well to make unbiased, objective decisions about it.

KeNzI wrote: "I finished the first draft of my first novel. I was planning on editing it but I am lazy! So I have started the second one and have done little to no edifying and I definately don't edit as I go XD"

I, as of right now, plan on writing out my current story line. I have been informed it will probably be more suited to two books (or even three) since there are so many elements to the major plot line, but I don't know that I am going to split it as I write.

I am definitely an edit as I go. I usually can't help it my story changes and I just need to feel like everything clicks as I go on. Plus, I may be editing a scene and find inspiration or spark an idea for a later scene. And like RabidReader I cringe at having to go back.

It's great to see how much writing styles differ.

I write without a plot. It unveils itself as i type. It's cool, it's like I'm the first person to get to read the story, which I have no prior knowledge of before I type. Sometimes I have an idea, but as I type, the words take it somewhere else.

I try to write the whole thing before editing but sometimes I think of a better way to have a scene and I will go back and changes things a bit so it works then continue till it's done

write the whole thing first. if you have a terribly glaring plot hole that you absolutely need to fix then maybe fix, but more often than not i recommend you just keep going. edit after.

Trisha wrote: "I try to write the whole thing before editing but sometimes I think of a better way to have a scene and I will go back and changes things a bit so it works then continue till it's done"

That's how I go, I suppose, because I am trying to write it all but have gone back and changed a couple things.

Normally, I'll write the story down, then stop at an important chapter end, and then go into editing. I have to admit, I love editing because I can read my story up until the last word. It does indeed become tedious, but that is what makes it so attractive to me. I also go by my minimum word counts for each chapter and sub-chapter.