tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post8951589769976215622..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: Read It AgainNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-89201704624230877772011-02-18T06:23:08.147-08:002011-02-18T06:23:08.147-08:00I don't mind editing, but when I skip that &qu...I don't mind editing, but when I skip that "FINAL" edit, I always miss something. I recently sent off a few pages for a critque, and wanted to hide in a corner when it came back. There was a lot of positive reaction, but oh, those typos and omitted words I missed...how does that happen?Amandahttp://amandaswrinkledpages.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-31941793293208498212011-02-16T12:30:43.540-08:002011-02-16T12:30:43.540-08:00This is such great advice. I love editing (much mo...This is such great advice. I love editing (much more than writing the first draft - ugh), but by the fourth or fifth (or sixth or seventh) read-through I can develop a tendency to glaze over. For me, reading it out loud is the best way to stop myself doing this, as that way, I HAVE to consider every single word and plot element.<br /><br />Luckily, my other half is used to walking in the room and finding me muttering at my laptop screen now... :-DEmmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-71455324976399347152011-02-16T11:06:15.762-08:002011-02-16T11:06:15.762-08:00So right! Exactly like you said, I often find that...So right! Exactly like you said, I often find that once I've made changes, if I don't do that final edit I miss things that I changed in one place but forgot to change in other correlating parts.alexiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07122487552931794871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-66809998447678676882011-02-16T07:58:41.243-08:002011-02-16T07:58:41.243-08:00So true. Thanks for the reminder!So true. Thanks for the reminder!Becky Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02880501542510014819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-67458857103658603052011-02-16T07:50:28.445-08:002011-02-16T07:50:28.445-08:00I love editing though I call it layering. Yes, I d...I love editing though I call it layering. Yes, I do take out content, but editing is where I add layer upon layer of detail. It's where my story & characters come alive & fairly leap off the page. Thinking of it that way makes it feel like less of a chore. And I've found that when I read it in PDF format & take notes along the way instead of just deleting & revising in Word as I go, I pick up a lot more errors & am much more thorough, not to mention it is more enjoyable reading that way.Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-46695053629781955202011-02-16T05:06:18.570-08:002011-02-16T05:06:18.570-08:00I've never done the sums but I'm with you....I've never done the sums but I'm with you. I spend a huge amount of time editing. I also edit while I write, a continuous cycle of write-read-edit in fact.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-77129792386288734902011-02-15T22:31:45.902-08:002011-02-15T22:31:45.902-08:00I love editing, but I still think that last edit i...I love editing, but I still think that last edit is torture. As you said, by that time, everything is starting to sound ridiculous, and I'm always afraid I'm going to let the "this is stupid" voices encourage me to change things that *shouldn't* be changed. When I find myself rushing, or doubting myself too much, I know it's time for a break. Great post!A. J. Larrieuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13880636157146909387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-30572580708387578232011-02-15T21:30:10.511-08:002011-02-15T21:30:10.511-08:00Torture some days--fun reading other days. Thanks...Torture some days--fun reading other days. Thanks for sharing what I'm feeling, too!<br /><br />Hey, my surprise is finally here! Any author who wants to can add info to my author showcase!<br /><br />http://michellesvann.blogspot.com/2011/02/author-showcase-welcome-emhe-viewers.htmlMichellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00511147911400797398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-62992441854350524882011-02-15T19:51:37.655-08:002011-02-15T19:51:37.655-08:00Heidi, I don't usually tuck it away for the la...Heidi, I don't usually tuck it away for the last one. I do before a big change—usually about a month to six weeks. For the last sweep, I usually change up my editing style. I print it, or read it on my Kindle, or change the font, or read it out loud. Something to make it look different, therefore forcing me to focus and not glaze over.<br /><br />Christine H, not really sure how long it takes. It depends on the book and the edit. When I was asked to rewrite, it took me six months to do it. The Big Edit after that, about a month. The one after that, another month. This most recent one? A week. Usually, the time shrinks the closer it gets to done.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-82867098226011702272011-02-15T17:08:41.742-08:002011-02-15T17:08:41.742-08:00I have the opposite problem. I keep thinking of th...I have the opposite problem. I keep thinking of things I should change and going back and fiddling with it.<br /><br />How long does it usually take you between the first draft and sending your final version off?Nighfalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01745824744507928211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-52142470900625861822011-02-15T14:57:36.498-08:002011-02-15T14:57:36.498-08:00Thank you so much for this post! I am just startin...Thank you so much for this post! I am just starting edits with my agent and I wondered how authors do it. If they have a system they use, or just go through every single page a few times until it sparkles. I'm excited to start this new journey! Thanks so much for the advice!! :D Oh, and I've been a lurker for quite some time. I love your blog. :)Chantele Sedgwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07920913211842919013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-61168082276998105892011-02-15T14:50:57.076-08:002011-02-15T14:50:57.076-08:00Great advice. I have the opposite problem. I'l...Great advice. I have the opposite problem. I'll keep editing until I'm 105. I need to tell myself it's OK to let go. That's partly because I like to edit (I know) and partly because I fear being done.Tracey Neithercotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539278941411542797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-14026065889614060872011-02-15T14:44:13.197-08:002011-02-15T14:44:13.197-08:00Ha ha - I was totally going to ask on your other p...Ha ha - I was totally going to ask on your other post if you were continuing with your new story or editing an old one. Apparently you've added long-distance mind-reading to your skills...Iliadfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18275409183452982688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-38275749489280477542011-02-15T14:12:54.879-08:002011-02-15T14:12:54.879-08:00I'm right with you on this one - Editing and r...I'm right with you on this one - Editing and revising is all I seem to be doing these days. But if it makes the story better - it has to be done.IanBontemshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13942749761260327580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-22669273890242092872011-02-15T11:27:12.524-08:002011-02-15T11:27:12.524-08:00You always have such wonderful advice to share. E...You always have such wonderful advice to share. Even if it's advice that I'd rather not hear. (Is there any writer who actually LIKES editing? Ugh!) Thanks for the nudge in the right direction!<br /><br /><a href="http://oneyeartowrite.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Quitting My Day Job</a>Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17617151224505912914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-530034162764748732011-02-15T11:15:29.262-08:002011-02-15T11:15:29.262-08:00Great advice. Reading it over again might feel red...Great advice. Reading it over again might feel redundant, but it certainly won't be to the person who gets the "real" final copy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08616276555920544920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-52783579284839623212011-02-15T11:12:39.850-08:002011-02-15T11:12:39.850-08:00So true, so true!!!So true, so true!!!Daisy Whitneyhttp://www.daisywhitney.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-31272088241630313892011-02-15T10:53:43.141-08:002011-02-15T10:53:43.141-08:00It's so true. I have to admit I often wanted t...It's so true. I have to admit I often wanted to overlook this step and did. Then, I'd be all embarrassed when I'd get the story back and find those stupid typos. It pays to read it once more.Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-16394186934096374602011-02-15T10:35:29.781-08:002011-02-15T10:35:29.781-08:00Great advice! Maybe I should do one more glance . ...Great advice! Maybe I should do one more glance . . .Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-9533649987067604412011-02-15T10:04:24.068-08:002011-02-15T10:04:24.068-08:00This is something I needed to hear. The last few d...This is something I needed to hear. The last few days I've been wondering if it's even worth the effort to try to edit my stories because it's been so long since I wrote anything new. But as I edit I can see that I am actually improving. So maybe there's hope.Jenilyn Collingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13166139358513659892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-14408210166312145942011-02-15T10:02:15.966-08:002011-02-15T10:02:15.966-08:00Each book gets at least five reads from me. First ...Each book gets at least five reads from me. First I read it on my Kindle, taking notes of what works and what doesn't. Then I print the whole thing out and read it twice over, editing once with purple ink (major story changes, usually) and once with pink (word choice).<br /><br />I use Dragon to dictate the revised story into a new file. In addition to saving my wrist, this also lets me hear the story out loud.<br /><br />Finally, I print it once more. (To save paper, I simply print on the back of my earlier draft.) This time, I use blue ink to add sensory detail. I have a check list with sensory notes that should be included--color, shape, texture, object, sound, and taste/smell.<br /><br />When I'm done with that, the novel is ready to be sent out for critique... after which point I get to read it at least two more times.Nancy Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00209727822644631003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-65136994976185991172011-02-15T09:36:27.679-08:002011-02-15T09:36:27.679-08:00I don't want to hear it! *plugs ears* LA LA LA...I don't want to hear it! *plugs ears* LA LA LA LA!Ben Spendlovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17715176546668792509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-14396836996616502312011-02-15T09:31:42.587-08:002011-02-15T09:31:42.587-08:00Do you tuck it away for a while before coming back...Do you tuck it away for a while before coming back to it to edit? The "fresh eyes" approach?Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01901886302578503906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-51488251335229533022011-02-15T09:20:14.455-08:002011-02-15T09:20:14.455-08:00I am editing now. And editing. And editing. And I ...I am editing now. And editing. And editing. And I have 2 agents waiting on me. One of them won't forget about me, no worries there, but I'm hoping that the other hasn't. She knew I was editing when she asked to see it, and now there's the added pressure that it needs to be absolutely and without a doubt perfect. So I keep editing. *sigh* <br /><br />But hey, we're writers; it's what we do. Write. Edit. Rinse. Repeat. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12294516011395206412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-3936609644831707492011-02-15T09:18:35.126-08:002011-02-15T09:18:35.126-08:00Great post. I will probably feel as lazy once I re...Great post. I will probably feel as lazy once I reach edits. Oh the horror!<br /><br />Here's hoping that I'll work through it.<br /><br />;-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.com