Re: Over EditingalphaflyerJanuary 22 2017, 11:18:37 UTC
There's a lot contained in your comment, so let me unpack it a bit.
First, the lack of confidence, Do NOT compare yourself to other writers. Ever. You are your own creator, not there to equal or supercede the work of people who think, write and ARE different from you. I get the willies when I see people producing great pieces overnight or effortlessly creating dialogue or scene-settings I would die for, but then I realize that working at my wn pace and in my own style is what makes me unique. Not necessarily "fantastic", but different enough that some people might enjoy what I produce in addition to all those other stories that look better than my own.
That over-editing thing. It's a symptom of the uncertainty, a tool that will allow you to procrastinate. I am the queen of procrastination in that regard myself, which is why I participate in so many exchanges - they take that cop-out opportunity away.
And the solution when I find myself trapped like that is to do what I call "laying down text" - without editing, to get at the story arc and scenes before I sweat the details. Those I fix in edits. It's a bit like sewing a garment, you cut out the rough shapes at first and then do the fitting, and the trimmng, and the refitting. Or like wallpapering, where you never measure the pieces precisely but cut to fit after they're up. So, plan to edit AFTER you're done, secure in the knowledge that you can fix all those imperfections later, when you have much more of the bigger picture of your story anyway. And yes, sometimes it's a slog (I laboured far too extensively on Locust Wind and Seventh Crow...)
So my suggestion is to take a hand at the Valentine's Day promptathon (make something you alrady have in your WIP folder fit one of the prompts), just to get the confidence back.
RE: Re: Over EditingmitchpellFebruary 8 2017, 00:48:37 UTC
Sorry, I took so long to respond to this. I really do appreciate your advice. I have read in other places about just writing and not allowing any edits until I'm finished. But my confidence has plummeted to the point where it can take me two hours to write one paragraph.
But as with most anything, it's just a matter of self-discipline. I have the whole story plotted out in my head and on paper, I just have to force myself to write. Not edit, not cop-out and go read, just write.
Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. I going to take your advice and try to find time for the Valentines Day promotathon.
First, the lack of confidence, Do NOT compare yourself to other writers. Ever. You are your own creator, not there to equal or supercede the work of people who think, write and ARE different from you. I get the willies when I see people producing great pieces overnight or effortlessly creating dialogue or scene-settings I would die for, but then I realize that working at my wn pace and in my own style is what makes me unique. Not necessarily "fantastic", but different enough that some people might enjoy what I produce in addition to all those other stories that look better than my own.
That over-editing thing. It's a symptom of the uncertainty, a tool that will allow you to procrastinate. I am the queen of procrastination in that regard myself, which is why I participate in so many exchanges - they take that cop-out opportunity away.
And the solution when I find myself trapped like that is to do what I call "laying down text" - without editing, to get at the story arc and scenes before I sweat the details. Those I fix in edits. It's a bit like sewing a garment, you cut out the rough shapes at first and then do the fitting, and the trimmng, and the refitting. Or like wallpapering, where you never measure the pieces precisely but cut to fit after they're up. So, plan to edit AFTER you're done, secure in the knowledge that you can fix all those imperfections later, when you have much more of the bigger picture of your story anyway. And yes, sometimes it's a slog (I laboured far too extensively on Locust Wind and Seventh Crow...)
So my suggestion is to take a hand at the Valentine's Day promptathon (make something you alrady have in your WIP folder fit one of the prompts), just to get the confidence back.
PS: Hawkeye novel for the win!!!!!
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But as with most anything, it's just a matter of self-discipline. I have the whole story plotted out in my head and on paper, I just have to force myself to write. Not edit, not cop-out and go read, just write.
Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. I going to take your advice and try to find time for the Valentines Day promotathon.
Thank you again!
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