tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post7836278658313581807..comments2024-03-28T03:02:16.508-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: One Simple Trick That Makes Editing Less PainfulJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-45359521923588575172013-03-24T18:44:36.719-04:002013-03-24T18:44:36.719-04:00As soon as I read that you save your deleted secti...As soon as I read that you save your deleted sections in a separate document, I giggled. I do that too. I think I am afraid I'll wish I still had them, or maybe I'll use them elsewhere. I read in "On Writing" by Stephen King that you should use as few words as possible in some situations. I tend to over-explain. I know this about myself. See, I'm doing it right now. LOLKelly Duffhttp://kellyduffwrites.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-48754617905784825922013-03-21T01:40:04.456-04:002013-03-21T01:40:04.456-04:00Not only have I always saved all my deletions in a...Not only have I always saved all my deletions in a separate file, I can't imagine any writer would *wouldn't* do that!bettye griffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04457387770524295498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-11148218446643978692013-03-19T22:45:01.220-04:002013-03-19T22:45:01.220-04:00I save a new copy of my story every time I do a re...I save a new copy of my story every time I do a revision pass. I rarely come back to it to get anything out, although I have once or twice. I also have a deleted scenes from my first novel up on my webpage, and it gets quite a few hits. It's fun to share some of the scenes I loved, but didn't make it into the final draft, with readers.Rinelle Greyhttp://www.rinellegrey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-59333341012604707412013-03-19T21:57:16.690-04:002013-03-19T21:57:16.690-04:00All that said, I think your point about saving mat...All that said, I think your point about saving material for promotion is an excellent one and I appreciate this insight from a published author!!Julia Tomiakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17999070457191845503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-43354999149571362742013-03-19T21:29:00.559-04:002013-03-19T21:29:00.559-04:00These are great ideas Jody. I save old drafts and...These are great ideas Jody. I save old drafts and can go back to look at them. Usually when I do, I think, "Oh, that's not very good. Let me try something better!" It's kind of like when my son's Lego creation falls apart. At first he's upset, but usually he rebuilds it and likes version two much better! Thanks Jody for starting a great conversation!Julia Tomiakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17999070457191845503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-77026850812735405842013-03-19T21:15:51.027-04:002013-03-19T21:15:51.027-04:00I under-write also. My rough drafts are mostly dia...I under-write also. My rough drafts are mostly dialogue so I have to put some meat on those bones!<br /><br />I do have a file for each book where I move large chunks or sentences/ paragraphs I'm especially fond of, but I definitely don't save much.<br /><br />Debra E. Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17853387871623424853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-63518238322110879782013-03-19T19:26:41.739-04:002013-03-19T19:26:41.739-04:00I use Scrivener, too. I have a "deleted scen...I use Scrivener, too. I have a "deleted scenes" folder. It has sub-folders for better organizing. That file is pretty large, but I just can't get rid of it! I'll keep it just in case. I probably won't use any of it, but I'd hate to go looking for something later...Laurie Evanshttp://www.handymancraftywoman.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-65767896132776501102013-03-19T17:41:07.236-04:002013-03-19T17:41:07.236-04:00This has been so helpful! Thank you for the tip!
...This has been so helpful! Thank you for the tip!<br /><br /><a href="http://thegreaterpurpose.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Tell the World</a> <br />Titi Funtóhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07839932580966688745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-32710910089985379192013-03-19T16:38:29.611-04:002013-03-19T16:38:29.611-04:00Hmmm . . . at what point should a writer let other...Hmmm . . . at what point should a writer let others read their work? I think I could write a whole blog post about it! LOL!! Maybe I will! :-)<br /><br />Here are my brief thoughts: Yes we are definitely too blinded to be able to spot everything that is wrong. But on the other hand, I think newer writers need to be careful about getting critiques too soon in their writing careers. The wrong kind of feedback can overly-discourage and crush the writerly spirit. I'd almost encourage you (like someone else mentioned below), to set aside your manuscript for a while and work on a new book. Then come back to the book in six months to a year. You'll have gained some objectivity and hopefully some new skills that will help you self-edit it again. And the perhaps it will be ready for outside feedback. <br />Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-46356693876045940462013-03-19T16:32:46.843-04:002013-03-19T16:32:46.843-04:00Hi Everyone!! I'm loving hearing all of your d...Hi Everyone!! I'm loving hearing all of your different strategies today! I'm learning so much! Thank you ALL for sharing!! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-14048232628995601752013-03-19T16:14:09.019-04:002013-03-19T16:14:09.019-04:00When I'm revising (largely cutting), I always ...When I'm revising (largely cutting), I always have a file called "Take Outs". Like you, I feel reassured that those words and lines I liked are SOMEWHERE and not lost in space (or cyberspace). Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-14378460356692844622013-03-19T15:24:30.003-04:002013-03-19T15:24:30.003-04:00I used to open a document like you, and put all my...I used to open a document like you, and put all my little lovely deletions there. Now I just save a new version of my manuscript calling it "Title 2." The next round is "Title 3." That way, I can always go back to an earlier version and find what I cut out during a later editing round. I don't very often go back.Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-2518299770283901492013-03-19T14:43:22.394-04:002013-03-19T14:43:22.394-04:00I do something similar, but I use MS Word's st...I do something similar, but I use MS Word's strikethrough feature, which shows me just how unnecessary those pieces I'm about to cut are, so when I do delete them, it's painless. I also keep my previous versions (and therefore deleted pieces) "safe" in my many backups, but I do like the idea of collecting everything into one document so those pieces stand out - good tip!Aria Glazkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17566964877939697962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-74374570549303293582013-03-19T14:13:50.113-04:002013-03-19T14:13:50.113-04:00There are two things that have helped me this time...There are two things that have helped me this time to really feel some confidence that I have something worth someone's time to read. First - I put it away for about a year. That gave me distance so I could objectively see what needed to go without feeling so emotional about it. The second thing I did was a complete rewrite. Much of it got transferred over, but it was easier for me to retype everything, changing wording or cutting paragraphs, adding new scenes - if I made a brand new document. Thanks for the tips today, Jody! It's helpful to know what helps others a little further down the road.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04044439788933168571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-60026025668419554022013-03-19T13:49:08.762-04:002013-03-19T13:49:08.762-04:00I have a separate folder for each draft. I write m...I have a separate folder for each draft. I write my first draft by scenes and label them D1S01 (draft one, scene one).<br /><br />Then it's time for rewrites. And as I work on each scene (or chapter when I get to that point), I save them as a new file in that folder (D2S01 and so on). This way I can go crazy on this second draft and not fear that I'll eliminate a sentence and realize later on that I needed it. I can go back to that previous draft and find just what I need. It's totally freeing.Sally Bradleyhttp://www.sallybradley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-63904627679132752232013-03-19T13:47:17.488-04:002013-03-19T13:47:17.488-04:00Great advice Jody! I usually use Evernote and ever...Great advice Jody! I usually use Evernote and every time I found some places to edit I would copy/paste into a new note and edit there. Doing the same for every page edited. I think your way is better. Less new notes and all the changes are in one spot! I like that idea. Thanks!Pamela Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11604819686280270139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-83115016891614203982013-03-19T11:01:49.193-04:002013-03-19T11:01:49.193-04:00I do the same thing conceptually, and it was a hug...I do the same thing conceptually, and it was a huge help, but I have an even easier way of doing it.<br /><br />I write in Scrivener (<a href="http://all-things-andy-gavin.com/2011/02/25/scrivener/" rel="nofollow">which is totally awesome by the way</a>) and I save a how compressed copy of my project from every day I write in a backup folder. That way I know that any version is available for consultation (and I do occasionally go back to them).<br /><br />And there is an even easier way to see what's going on between versions. I compile out both a current and some previous version I intend to compare with so they are nice and clean and then use the "compare documents" feature hidden in the Word "tools / track changes" menu. This allows two documents to be compared and a "track changes" document to be generated with the differences. Since Word 2011 they have really improved this feature too and it even notates relocated passages as such instead of merely showing them as deleted and inserted. This method of comparing changes is light years ahead of traditional track changes as it doesn't show all the incremental modifications but just exactly what is different between the two versions in a very clean manner. You can also do it between any two clean documents.Andy Gavinhttp://andy-gavin-author.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-83568364450108743952013-03-19T10:16:50.204-04:002013-03-19T10:16:50.204-04:00I do save my deleted lines and passages, because I...I do save my deleted lines and passages, because I can't let them go. I'm impressed that you're able to edit so many words, especially because I always end up writing too many pages. Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-91600920934660654842013-03-19T10:08:49.658-04:002013-03-19T10:08:49.658-04:00I used to keep a deletions folder, but I've gi...I used to keep a deletions folder, but I've given up on that idea for three reasons.<br /><br />1: I don't want to spend the time cutting and pasting, so I opt to keep older versions of the story that contain the material I subsequently cut.<br /><br />2: Much of what I cut is cut for a reason. It's not my best writing and won't be of use later.<br /><br />3. Because I tend to be a wordy writer, especially in first drafts, I know I can crank out more words to replace those I delete that actually need replacing.<br /><br />I think the reason I find it easier to delete words than others might is that I love the editing phase. I find it a real thrill to watch my story get better before my eyes. And there's also the fact that I had to delete over 75,000 words of my debut novel and start over after my agent read the manuscript. After that painful experience, a sentence, line, or even an entire scene doesn't seem like much. :-)Keli Gwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13236868298400593688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-3197692153507291562013-03-19T10:08:11.382-04:002013-03-19T10:08:11.382-04:00I'm in the process of editing for the first ti...I'm in the process of editing for the first time right now, so I was very exciting to see the title of this post today Jody! <br /><br />But I have to agree with Carradee; I tend to underwrite, especially in the heat of the moment with intense scenes and whatnot, so while I do delete a bit here and there (and I probably need to do more, I'm just not experienced enough to know what and where) I find that I usually need to add more than delete.<br /><br />Question: At what point do you allow a second pair of eyes over your manuscript? Wouldn't the rewrites step be easier with a second opinion? Although, I am a bit fearful to sour my first readers with such an unpolished work, sometimes I feel too blinded to be a decent self editor. :-P Hi, I'm Mary...https://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-29033277441937295032013-03-19T09:38:06.813-04:002013-03-19T09:38:06.813-04:00I have started doing this since hearing you talk a...I have started doing this since hearing you talk about it except I end up deleting whole scenes versus just lines and paragraphs a lot of times. Just goes to show how rough my rough drafts are :)Great tips today!Shelly Daumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02783105000628699370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-23114953331807023702013-03-19T09:25:22.342-04:002013-03-19T09:25:22.342-04:00Jody, As you know, there are also times in the wri...Jody, As you know, there are also times in the writing of a book (long before the editor gets his/her hands on it) when we decide "that just won't work." I cut those scenes and past them into a new Word document that goes in a folder marked "Recycle." That becomes a subfolder under the novel's heading. Sometimes I use them elsewhere, sometimes I rewrite them for another book, sometimes they die there. But, like you, it seems to make the process more palatable.<br />Thanks for the post.Richard Mabryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15993592219849830777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-77428825010914378382013-03-19T08:28:50.683-04:002013-03-19T08:28:50.683-04:00What a clever idea, Jody. It's a little like t...What a clever idea, Jody. It's a little like tucking away a box of sentimental treasures in your closet. A beautiful container filled with things you don't necessarily need, but can't bear to part with, because they represent something special about you or to you. I like this!:-)<br /><br />~ Betsy 7 Eagleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15804058365269490087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-81859496406986823012013-03-19T08:13:03.558-04:002013-03-19T08:13:03.558-04:00I think your method makes perfect sense. Agreed......I think your method makes perfect sense. Agreed...it's probably a psychological thing tucking away the 'cut' words, phrases, and paragraphs for safe-keeping, but it works. And as you said, you have the material at your fingertips if you need it later. Great idea!<br />Blessings,<br />Amy O'QuinnAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351561112733007860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-75429941467390638522013-03-19T08:10:26.343-04:002013-03-19T08:10:26.343-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351561112733007860noreply@blogger.com