Crank it out or cook it slow?
So here's a question for the writers out there - how much time do you spend editing short fiction, as opposed to novels and novellas? Do you go through multiple drafts for a 3000-word story, or do you tick it off as done with only some tinkering?
I'm pretty definitely in the latter camp. I find most of the work of developing a short story happens at the conception stage, because it's short enough that I can develop almost all the language and approach in my head before starting to write. Unless it's a complete failure and I have to scrap it - which has happened, albeit not often - I then do some fine-tuning to fix up any hiccups of style, and then I'm pretty much satisfied with it.
This also means that, for me, short fiction has an immediacy to it that I find enjoyable. If I suddenly get an idea that grabs me, and I can develop it to an interesting point in my imagination, I can have a short story written and available to read in less than a day, and I find that rapid rush of energy really exciting. With 'Dear Penthouse Forum: I Fucked Godzilla' I went from idea to story in about eight hours - and while I'm sure that shows, I also think that reckless energy comes through in the writing.
(Conversely, if I spend too much time working on a short story, I start to lose interest and have to push myself to finish it, which is a problem I'm having with a piece right now.)
How about the rest of you? Does it have to be perfect, no matter the size, or is the first cast the best cast when the subject matter is short?
I'm pretty definitely in the latter camp. I find most of the work of developing a short story happens at the conception stage, because it's short enough that I can develop almost all the language and approach in my head before starting to write. Unless it's a complete failure and I have to scrap it - which has happened, albeit not often - I then do some fine-tuning to fix up any hiccups of style, and then I'm pretty much satisfied with it.
This also means that, for me, short fiction has an immediacy to it that I find enjoyable. If I suddenly get an idea that grabs me, and I can develop it to an interesting point in my imagination, I can have a short story written and available to read in less than a day, and I find that rapid rush of energy really exciting. With 'Dear Penthouse Forum: I Fucked Godzilla' I went from idea to story in about eight hours - and while I'm sure that shows, I also think that reckless energy comes through in the writing.
(Conversely, if I spend too much time working on a short story, I start to lose interest and have to push myself to finish it, which is a problem I'm having with a piece right now.)
How about the rest of you? Does it have to be perfect, no matter the size, or is the first cast the best cast when the subject matter is short?