tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post88182593409261033..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: When Should I Start Editing?Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-7496454494146501522012-12-04T12:47:10.815-07:002012-12-04T12:47:10.815-07:00Chris, once again, you crack me up.
I do edit as ...Chris, once again, you crack me up.<br /><br />I do edit as I go along to a point, because doing so invariably leads me deeper into the story than I knew to go at the outset. This makes me happy. :)Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-53289163116585490972012-12-04T07:11:27.493-07:002012-12-04T07:11:27.493-07:00Great post! (eds, thanks for the reprint.)
I have ...Great post! (eds, thanks for the reprint.)<br />I have gotten it down to the point where, if there's an important edit for plot or character, I'll go back and leave a bare-bones note inline in the text, and there's usually enough there that it's a easier edit when I go back. It makes for a much messier first draft, but it's better (for me, anyway) than forgetting the edit altogether.<br />I avoid polishing prose in single drafts. It's a huge time-suck. It's why my first novel took 12 years...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17236473658796318350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-84184604510511295702012-12-04T06:32:56.697-07:002012-12-04T06:32:56.697-07:00I couldn't even finish this comment without a ...I couldn't even finish this comment without a thorough edit.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86905235169229940402012-12-04T02:58:02.145-07:002012-12-04T02:58:02.145-07:00The compulsive editor in me edits as I write. The ...The compulsive editor in me edits as I write. The practical editor, however, sits back and waits until the first draft is finished to begin working. I guess that means I do both.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-17985610789375032782008-10-10T10:10:00.000-06:002008-10-10T10:10:00.000-06:00Thanks for sharing when you edit.Maryann,Editing o...Thanks for sharing when you edit.<BR/><BR/>Maryann,<BR/>Editing other's people work certainly does make us better self-editors. <BR/><BR/>Morgan,<BR/>If there is a significant time lapse between writing sessions, it's good to go back to previous work to get back into the story. It's natural to edit at that point.Lillie Ammannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851121176224654240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-70698530930177196352008-10-09T19:53:00.000-06:002008-10-09T19:53:00.000-06:00I edit as I write. Since I don't write all at one ...I edit as I write. Since I don't write all at one time, I end up going back and little. I always find something to make better, then go on.<BR/><BR/>Morgan Mandel<BR/>www.morganmandel.com<BR/>http://morganmandel.blogspot.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-39860656046656795942008-10-09T18:54:00.000-06:002008-10-09T18:54:00.000-06:00Good topic, Lillie. I work a lot like Helen, tryin...Good topic, Lillie. I work a lot like Helen, trying to complete the whole first draft without doing a lot of editing along the way. And one thing I have notices since I have been editing so much for other writers, is that I do more self-editing as I write. If I just noted on a client's manuscript that he was not varying the length of his sentences enough, I tend to pay more attention to that in my own work.<BR/><BR/>And I hardly ever overuse adverbs in my first drafts anymore. :-)Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62071116102182790542008-10-09T18:18:00.000-06:002008-10-09T18:18:00.000-06:00Thanks to all for the great comments.Jenny, It sou...Thanks to all for the great comments.<BR/><BR/>Jenny, It sounds like getting the bones down before doing major editing works well for you.<BR/><BR/>Jayne, Clever idea to "bribe" yourself with editing time as you write so you don't get distracted.<BR/><BR/>Dani, I'm glad the links are helpful.<BR/><BR/>Helen, The suggestion of reading what you wrote the day before to get back into the story is excellent. I usually do the same thing and sometimes do some minor editing as I'm re-reading.<BR/><BR/>Ghostposts, Some pieces do need more editing for some reason.<BR/><BR/>Gayle, Setting your manuscript aside for several weeks is an excellent technique, and editing when you're stuck (not blocked) is also a good idea.<BR/><BR/>Mark, I like the idea of editing if the tone isn't right. It's better to go back and edit at that point rather than carry on and continue to get off track.Lillie Ammannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851121176224654240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33970607621349099202008-10-09T11:20:00.000-06:002008-10-09T11:20:00.000-06:00Great article. I use the promise of editing in th...Great article. I use the promise of editing in the future to get me through the first draft. "Just get it down. You can make it good later," is what i often tell myself. The exception to this is when I write a scene or chapter and then decide that the tone isn't right. I find that a change in tone, more than anything else, can set me off in the wrong direction.Mark Troyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10746027017657987261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13263348375754562882008-10-09T10:45:00.000-06:002008-10-09T10:45:00.000-06:00I edit in two places, timewise. One is after the b...I edit in two places, timewise. One is after the book is complete and I've put it aside for 4-6 weeks (if it's an article with a deadline, I give myself at least an hour). The other time is if I'm having a hard time thinking about what comes next (some call it writer's block, but I'm not going to go there). If I'm stuck, I read what I've already written, editing here and there as I go. By the time I get to the end, I know where I'm going again.Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-31549738484308782132008-10-09T10:34:00.000-06:002008-10-09T10:34:00.000-06:00I edit three times. When I write, when I transcrib...I edit three times. When I write, when I transcribe the work onto pc, and once more before I send it off. <BR/><BR/>I have to admit, though, sometimes I edit it four times: once to check for typos and once for content and internal logic. It depends on the piece.ghostpostshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10688790361449954681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64195401005312405012008-10-09T10:26:00.000-06:002008-10-09T10:26:00.000-06:00I do most of the editing after the first draft, bu...I do most of the editing after the first draft, but I do some while I write. I usually read what I wrote the day before to get me back into the story. While doing that, I do some small edits on the old stuff then start the new.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-83845177565276504792008-10-09T10:13:00.000-06:002008-10-09T10:13:00.000-06:00I like Jayne's approach because I tend to freewrit...I like Jayne's approach because I tend to freewrite forever, and never get back to the editing. LOL. I could start a few more raised beds in my garden with all that "dreck".<BR/><BR/>Good tips, Lillie, and thanks for all the additional links. A goldmine of editing information there.<BR/><BR/>Dani<BR/>http://twitter.com/blogbooktoursDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35566685935888209672008-10-09T07:59:00.000-06:002008-10-09T07:59:00.000-06:00I make myself a deal...once I get 5 days of writin...I make myself a deal...once I get 5 days of writing work done (any 5, don't really care which 5), I'll let myself have 30 minutes to glance over and edit that work. No more, sometimes less. Then I move on.<BR/><BR/>My A.D.D. mind just doesn't manage to not float back to what I've written, wanting to rework something. If I don't give myself that dedicated time, I'd never move forward.Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02712669782470396191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-67054939601472052722008-10-09T06:57:00.000-06:002008-10-09T06:57:00.000-06:00This is a great article, and I enjoyed reading it....This is a great article, and I enjoyed reading it. I personally do small editing, such as spelling that pops up as I write, but I save the important editing for when I'm finished with the first draft. For me, it's always been easier to lay down the bare bones of the story or article first, then go back in later and fill in. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.Jenny Melzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-40339375344598203662008-10-09T05:52:00.000-06:002008-10-09T05:52:00.000-06:00covewriter,So many writers don't smack their hands...covewriter,<BR/>So many writers don't smack their hands back when they're tempted to go into edit mode while they're still writing a piece. I know people who have been writing a novel for years but never get past the first chapter or first few chapters because they edit again and again instead of writing. Good for you for stopping yourself from falling into this trap.Lillie Ammannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851121176224654240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-75000345799903458802008-10-09T03:39:00.000-06:002008-10-09T03:39:00.000-06:00Wonderful colors, and content, on your site. I ten...Wonderful colors, and content, on your site. <BR/><BR/>I tend to want to edit as I write. I usually get a majority of the way through an article I writing, and then get the urge to edit. I start picking on things and then end up stopping myself, smacking my hands back. I prefer to edit at the end. I think editing is something you need to wait a little bit on. At least for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com