tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post7059528342437727909..comments2023-08-16T07:15:32.801-04:00Comments on BookingIt: Cut Until It HurtsJessica Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-24500456811161269482010-11-18T14:17:51.815-05:002010-11-18T14:17:51.815-05:00Sometimes I have edited the story right out of my ...Sometimes I have edited the story right out of my story and I am careful now to go with what I think will work.Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-8642901001626407912010-11-16T12:49:45.853-05:002010-11-16T12:49:45.853-05:00I have overedited but I also keep all the old draf...I have overedited but I also keep all the old drafts, so if I need to go back to the "original" (or draft #2 or #3) I can. It can get a little confusing having a bunch of old drafts and sometimes time consuming to look for the scene that I "overedited" but I find it works.Darahttp://inthewritemind.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-76177432946159369772010-11-15T19:11:37.003-05:002010-11-15T19:11:37.003-05:00I love the questions you pose here. As I write the...I love the questions you pose here. As I write the first draft of this current incarnation of my memoir, I'm being intentionally wordy, giving myself lots of room to trim later. I love the save as feature in Word because it allows me to play around without losing anything important.Deb Shuckahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03439395710731341021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-26170612966830968952010-11-14T09:48:04.329-05:002010-11-14T09:48:04.329-05:00I doubt I have ever pruned anything. I usually lea...I doubt I have ever pruned anything. I usually leave that to my husband. But I do edit like crazy, making sure I copy my original and changes as I go along.Angie Muresanhttp://www.angiemuresan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-64696366854175023162010-11-13T07:02:45.250-05:002010-11-13T07:02:45.250-05:00I have cut and repasted many times. The thought of...I have cut and repasted many times. The thought of cutting out chunks always makes me nervous. :)Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-78057805992146680892010-11-12T13:21:30.984-05:002010-11-12T13:21:30.984-05:00Yeah, I've tweaked too much on occasion. Not f...Yeah, I've tweaked too much on occasion. Not fun when the time comes (if possible) to fix it. <br />Have a great weekend:)<br />Blessings,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-87328255107923443122010-11-12T12:18:09.089-05:002010-11-12T12:18:09.089-05:00The deer around my place over-prune my bushes! I w...The deer around my place over-prune my bushes! I wish they would keep their chompers off of my baby trees, but they keep returning over and over. This is a picture of me editing. I keep coming back over and over, seeing something yummy to add or subtract each time I look at my writing. I have a hard time knowing when to stop. I think I'm addicted to the editing process.Mary E Hankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01996316555091575719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-66140379399824209672010-11-12T12:10:30.076-05:002010-11-12T12:10:30.076-05:00Yours is the only article I've ever seen on ov...Yours is the only article I've ever seen on overpruning (editing.) Pruning incorrectly - that is thought proviking. I want to be sure that doesn't happen. I believe that most of what I cut was pretty bad or not needed in the plot. Such a good thing to ponder however.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15163662759281341381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-86078020686648274872010-11-11T23:02:26.770-05:002010-11-11T23:02:26.770-05:00Good point. People talk so much about cutting, but...Good point. People talk so much about cutting, but I like your perspective...cut carefully.Jessie Oliveroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06232456334069794107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-41993066445043147032010-11-11T09:46:33.670-05:002010-11-11T09:46:33.670-05:00I swear I jsut started writing and I can't sto...I swear I jsut started writing and I can't stop editing the first part I have- must move on. I will be an over-editor- sure of it!Jennie Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13915012788325421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-10570383423512140892010-11-11T01:54:19.726-05:002010-11-11T01:54:19.726-05:00Awesome analogy.Awesome analogy.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-39991727972905657292010-11-10T20:37:32.874-05:002010-11-10T20:37:32.874-05:00Hi Jess -
After writing short, non-fiction pieces...Hi Jess -<br /><br />After writing short, non-fiction pieces, I have the opposite problem. I once re-wrote my entire book because I needed 30,000 more words.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Susan :)Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-48096063668024427252010-11-10T19:48:58.736-05:002010-11-10T19:48:58.736-05:00The first time I pruned and deleted scenes and som...The first time I pruned and deleted scenes and some chapters I think I was ill. I loved them, but they really didn't contribute to the story. The first novel I wrote was 225,000 - so ya, there was a lot of pruning. I've gotten better and it isn't so painful now.Amy DeTrempehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04785965181851533070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-24085147883969067402010-11-10T19:08:02.312-05:002010-11-10T19:08:02.312-05:00I am in the process of writing and query letter an...I am in the process of writing and query letter and have gotten all kinds of pruning advice and now I am totally confused. Hoping it will work out and land on the right desk! :O)Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07604687906788800639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-44262104336055872052010-11-10T16:56:48.943-05:002010-11-10T16:56:48.943-05:00I'm still learning the pruning process. My nex...I'm still learning the pruning process. My next step is to take my work to a writer-in-residence at our university. I'm sure he'll be cutting with the right tools in the right spots! And hopefully I'll then get a few pruning tools of my own.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-77410127813268169132010-11-10T15:29:58.053-05:002010-11-10T15:29:58.053-05:00Girl, I have been pruning until my hands have blis...Girl, I have been pruning until my hands have blisters and STILL think the two books I've been DYING OVER could use MORE!!!!!<br /><br />ARGGHGGHGHGGHGH!<br /><br />No.<br /><br />I have not over cut.<br /><br />Ever.Patti Lacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00687666130404407814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-62299391410961950002010-11-10T14:54:19.802-05:002010-11-10T14:54:19.802-05:00Pruning, reseeding, watering all of the above! Is ...Pruning, reseeding, watering all of the above! Is your agent an editorial agent? I think that helps too. I actually don't mind editing too much.Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-47555298092426232302010-11-10T14:34:25.441-05:002010-11-10T14:34:25.441-05:00When I had to change a girl character to a boy, I ...When I had to change a girl character to a boy, I felt like I was bumping off one of my own children!!<br /><br />But once I got over it and just DID it, the new guy turned out to be great!Cheryl Linn Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18304465472148231422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-37079996229439609482010-11-10T14:12:56.029-05:002010-11-10T14:12:56.029-05:00Ahhhh, good analogy. Sometimes those cuts hurt, bu...Ahhhh, good analogy. Sometimes those cuts hurt, but we have to do it!Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-77200554445345259692010-11-10T13:42:33.804-05:002010-11-10T13:42:33.804-05:00Great post! I edit a lot as I go, and then I have...Great post! I edit a lot as I go, and then I have amazing trust in my CP - she's almost always right. My problem is usually needing to ADD more stuff. :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-62615712227038918262010-11-10T13:36:07.280-05:002010-11-10T13:36:07.280-05:00Me too, Eileen. I hope all is well with you. :-)Me too, Eileen. I hope all is well with you. :-)Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-73482786752348846922010-11-10T13:26:23.627-05:002010-11-10T13:26:23.627-05:00And, YOU'RE alive!!! :-)
Good to be in contac...And, YOU'RE alive!!! :-)<br /><br />Good to be in contact again, Jessica! And, yes, I have pruned WRONG way to many times. Still learning how to do it properly!Eileen Astels Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11098531184044931737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-83399582843957797372010-11-10T13:10:41.267-05:002010-11-10T13:10:41.267-05:00Jeanette, it is SO hard to add to a manuscript. I&...Jeanette, it is SO hard to add to a manuscript. I'm doing it now and ouch, ouch, ouch!<br /><br />Nancy, that's very interesting, and I can't say I'm surprised. Kudos to you for recognizing the problem and writing how you needed to write instead.<br /><br />Good idea, Patti!<br /><br />Anita, yep, that's the way to do it!Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-54002784326772806802010-11-10T12:37:09.992-05:002010-11-10T12:37:09.992-05:00I think of pruning, too, Jessie! Ouch, but the fin...I think of pruning, too, Jessie! Ouch, but the finished product is lovely. If you don't over-prune!<br /><br />I tend towards wordiness, so I rarely over edit. It's harder to add to a ms than subtract from it. Like grafting branched onto a tree, huh?Jeanette Levelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12898750484193832082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-60291274173526412632010-11-10T11:19:56.320-05:002010-11-10T11:19:56.320-05:00Oh my, yes, I spent a few years lost to over editi...Oh my, yes, I spent a few years lost to over editing. I thought the reason I wasn't selling was because I didn't "follow" all the rules and my CG was happy to point out all the things I did wrong. But the more I "cleaned" up the work- the fewer hand written rejections I got until all I saw was form rejections. When I broke free of the fear of making a mistake (And my CG -who I loved) I sold. Crazy, right?Nancy J. Parrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10107417252662717576noreply@blogger.com