tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post2830762161579329200..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Shear Your DarlingsDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30412110637500351642013-08-08T20:12:10.401-06:002013-08-08T20:12:10.401-06:00I've always edited as I go, but normally only ...I've always edited as I go, but normally only the previous scene. This is a first time trial of this method. I'm not looking for "perfection" but I do try to take care of making sure there are no glaring holes. Since I'm an "organic" writer, I discover new stuff, so it helps me to go back an fill in the 'foreshadowing' and gaps. Right now, I've discovered there are problems with chronology, so I can fix those. Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-58285614742806830712013-08-07T15:39:26.751-06:002013-08-07T15:39:26.751-06:00Linda; It's a tough lesson to learn, isn't...Linda; It's a tough lesson to learn, isn't it?Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-12484903806096989622013-08-07T14:36:56.428-06:002013-08-07T14:36:56.428-06:00Heidi; Thanks!
Kathryn; You're so right. Tha...Heidi; Thanks! <br /><br />Kathryn; You're so right. Thank you for adding your wise words.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-63884496385015117912013-08-07T14:36:43.569-06:002013-08-07T14:36:43.569-06:00So true, so true, Elspeth. I cut more than 20,000 ...So true, so true, Elspeth. I cut more than 20,000 words from my first novel and nearly cried over some of the eloquent passages I sheered. But it was so much better without that tangled weight -- no matter how lovely I thought it was. Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-32980707605979694892013-08-07T13:58:13.839-06:002013-08-07T13:58:13.839-06:00First novelists always fear shearing the sheep. Th...First novelists always fear shearing the sheep. The novel looks so lean without the tangle you describe. But once they learn to weave a new coat from the underlying muscles and bones that provide movement, they find that instead of adding back more tangled wool, they've added back a fine garment interwoven with interesting and relevant threads. Okay, maybe not right away—it may take a few more shearings—but they'll get there, and be glad they did!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64883240087798638172013-08-07T13:03:14.816-06:002013-08-07T13:03:14.816-06:00This is great! Love the metaphor. And it's so ...This is great! Love the metaphor. And it's so true! Even though I also write spare and often need to flesh things out, there are phrases and words that can be cut, or finding better ways to say something. Good post!<br />Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-36020979290465860122013-08-07T11:41:15.199-06:002013-08-07T11:41:15.199-06:00Terry; Is this while working on a second draft or...Terry; Is this while working on a second draft or first? If it's a first draft, I know for sure I'd never get 50 pages written! I'd be stuck perfecting that first paragraph for the next year.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71622363361536241962013-08-07T11:08:43.636-06:002013-08-07T11:08:43.636-06:00Love the sheep. I've been trying something rec...Love the sheep. I've been trying something recommended by another author: For the 1st 50 pages, read from page 1 every time you start writing. Amazing how much leaner the work is (of course, if you watch word count, progress will seem slower, but the product will be stronger.)<br />Terry <br /><a href="http://terryodell.com/terrysplace" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a><br />Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-55589169678395213122013-08-07T11:04:04.775-06:002013-08-07T11:04:04.775-06:00Maryann; How lovely of you to say that you look fo...Maryann; How lovely of you to say that you look forward to my posts; thank you! As for the sheep...he/she/they tend to appear from time to time.<br /><br />Christine; I will!<br /><br />Patricia; We're there together. Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-77218149279436977102013-08-07T10:58:49.642-06:002013-08-07T10:58:49.642-06:00The sheep is back. Very funny, and I did catch on ...The sheep is back. Very funny, and I did catch on to the metaphor right away. Perfect description of where I am with my WIP.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-61101332074853917202013-08-07T10:57:26.503-06:002013-08-07T10:57:26.503-06:00Oh! Sheep at last! Contact me. I have an idea :)Oh! Sheep at last! Contact me. I have an idea :)Christine Hammarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14291339756674225110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-49904625690020612832013-08-07T10:16:04.524-06:002013-08-07T10:16:04.524-06:00What fun. I always look forward to your posts, and...What fun. I always look forward to your posts, and love the sheep. I'm sure he, or she, will be back with more subtle writing tips.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-66839701167275754392013-08-07T10:13:00.396-06:002013-08-07T10:13:00.396-06:00Morgan; It's not easy, is it? I always find th...Morgan; It's not easy, is it? I always find the discipline a real shock of cold water after the anything-goes approach with which I write first drafts.<br /><br />Betsy; Best of luck on your journey!<br /><br />Diana; Sometimes, that's what it means for me too! <br /><br />Christopher; Watch where you step!<br /><br />susanissima; Excellent point! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-78709111021709718732013-08-07T09:33:27.595-06:002013-08-07T09:33:27.595-06:00Love it. Editing isn't always about finding a...Love it. Editing isn't always about finding a better word or adding in more detail. We always have to ask of our masterpiece's components, "So what?" stilllifewithtortillas.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04080107013739048463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-89111283262582778562013-08-07T08:36:13.365-06:002013-08-07T08:36:13.365-06:00I think I've just had ... well, you-know-what ...I think I've just had ... well, you-know-what pulled over my eyes.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-6556154503994497182013-08-07T06:52:45.076-06:002013-08-07T06:52:45.076-06:00I write spare, so editing for me means adding word...I write spare, so editing for me means adding words. :)Diana Hurwitzhttp://www.dianahurwitz.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91370377910344508522013-08-07T06:08:50.780-06:002013-08-07T06:08:50.780-06:00I love the analogy. I agree with Morgan. It's ...I love the analogy. I agree with Morgan. It's hard to cut out words, but it feels so good (sorry, Morgan) when the book is leaner. I'm working on a bloated manuscript right now. I need to cut out about 40,000 words. As the book leans out, it reads so much quicker, better. Whew! Like losing weight. Just have to keep at it.Betsy Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06871010122475160477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-37437608686439940682013-08-07T05:57:42.697-06:002013-08-07T05:57:42.697-06:00Editing isn't easy. It's hard enough to ge...Editing isn't easy. It's hard enough to get the words out, and cutting them feels like torture!<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://www.morganmandel.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.com