It's Insecure Writer's Support Group time, hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh and his co-hosts: Chemist Ken, SL Hennessey, Michelle Wallace, and Joylene Nowell Butler.
And happy TWO YEAR anniversary to the IWSG! Woot! I'm so thankful for this amazing group and for a place to learn, grow, and chat with other writers!
I'm at 30K with my current manuscript. If I would quit going back through it to edit/revise, I'd probably be at 40-50K. I really wanted to write, to get it all out, then go back after the story is finished and start the revisions. The problem is I don't know how to turn off the "editor" part of it and save it for after. That internal/inner/whatever editor is ingrained in me to edit/revise as I go. Why can't I just overlook that extra space or squiggly red line under a misspelled word? Why can't I just add/delete that dialogue tag later or move this such and such part to that such and such part later?
*sigh* Anyone else deal with that, too?
I found some amazing quotes to share:
"Every character should want something, even if it is only for a glass of water." Kurt Vonnegut
"Write. Rewrite. When not writing or rewriting, read. I know of no shortcuts." Larry L. King
"If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it." Elmore Leonard
"Remember, writing doesn't love you. It doesn't care. Nevertheless, it can behave with remarkable generosity. Speak well of it, encourage others, pass it on." Al Kennedy
Have a great week!
Happy writing and happy reading!
I giggled when I read this because this is exactly what I do too. If for some reason I need to scroll back through my document, it's over. I'll end up stopping at some random spot and can't help but edit a few things. It's hard to just leave it and to come back to it later. But heck, 30k is great! Keep going. And love the quotes btw. (:
ReplyDeleteHee hee, you sound like me! I am sure my WIP would have been finished a long time ago if I hadn't edited it every five minutes. And you know what? It doesn't even help because I STILL have a bunch more to do now I've finished writing it!
ReplyDeleteThat's how I write. That's not normal? o.O Who knew?
ReplyDeleteKicking the editor out of the house can be tough. Sometimes I can and other times I can't.
ReplyDeleteI know I shouldn't, but I edit as I go too--at least one edit, if not fifteen. For the sake of finishing my last draft, I actually allowed myself to break the norm and just write (only editing over what I worked on the previous day.) It worked pretty well. I've decided the first draft just needs to get the basics down so that you can hack and slash for the 2nd draft, then smooth the mess out in the third. Good luck with your writing!
ReplyDeleteI do that - if I spot a problem mid-draft, I get the urge to fix it right away! But I've always worked like that. I've found that the more books I've written, the more polished my first drafts become!
ReplyDeleteI love that you include these quotes. :) Hey, you might be making slower progress getting that first draft done, but your second draft should fly by! I go in waves w/ revising as I write, depends on my mood.
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on your writing style, those who heavily outline tend to edit less as they write. I would say there is nothing wrong with how you do it. At least you are getting words down. Good luck on finishing.
ReplyDeleteSometimes my inner editor is more insistent than others. Yet I love the unhindered flow of a first draft. I'm not too fond of revising, but I know it's necessary.
ReplyDeleteJust say no! Maybe if you set a goal of so many words a day, something that consumes all of your time, leaving none for revisions, that might propel you forward.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I write my books during NaNo and BuNo. I do nothing but write.
I like the Larry L. King quote. Good luck pushing through that "editor" influence. Repeat: "Just keep writing, just keep writing, just..." :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a lot like you but I've found that if I start everyday reading (and editing) what I wrote the day before, I feel better at just producing for the rest of the day. Tomorrow I'll go back and make it better... Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips everyone! Awesome ideas!
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