#edit revise

[heywriters]

any tips for compulsive proof-reading? i get very caught up in tweaking already written things--my first drafts are painfully slow-going due to this, and especially because i share my work chapter by chapter online. i have other compulsive behaviors i struggle with, so it's kind of just how i am? but yeah, if you know of any tips beyond hiring someone to smack my hand and say "no!" each time I double back to a previous chapter or paragraph, that'd be great! love the blog!

No special tips other than "don't re-read or backtrack until you're finished." Remind yourself to save that all for the second draft. With a chapter-by-chapter serial, if you don't re-read until you've finished a chapter and you only read that chapter, you'll be alright. I used to do several drafts of new chapters before posting, but now I just skim to make sure there are no glaring errors.

The issue I've found in writing serials without re-reading is I forget continuity details between chapters, especially when I take breaks. If you can keep a little notepad or text doc updated with a list of stuff that will affect future chapters and character development, that might help you avoid re-reads. If that sounds like something that will distract you even further from finishing your project, forget I mentioned it.

Otherwise, eh, take your time. It can be frustrating, but don't force yourself to meet unrealistic self-imposed deadlines. Just focus on moving forward.

[heywriters]

Hi! Love your brilliant blog. I remember finding a link to a book on writing through one of your posts a while back, I think it referenced 'editing' in its title? It was only available as an e-book. Do you happen to know which book I'm talking about? Pretty sure it was written by an editor who shares writing tips here on tumblr. I really want to buy it but can't for the life of me find it. Would really appreciate if you could check and tell me. Thank you!

Yes! That sounds like @theliteraryarchitect A link to several editing guides is at the top of their blog.

[heywriters]

Do you think it's okay for fanfiction writers, when working on a very long piece, to not go back and edit their old chapters? (Even, or especially if, their style and quality has changed drastically?) I personally have been working on a project for almost a year now so it's no wonder that when reading the first chapter compared to the newest chapter there is a higher level of writing in the newest one. I often leave my old work to see improvement, but I wonder what you think.

I think it is up to the individual writer. Since the bar is low on quality and consistency in fanfiction, I feel it's perfectly alright to acknowledge you've improved and keep going. Myself, I've been writing one longfic for several years and have decided that the only revisions I want to make concern continuity issues. Since my OCs grew over time I don't trust myself to revise their early dialogue and attitudes without making them sound like their future selves.

In my opinion, whenever you finish your fic, you can decide whether to set aside some time to touch up the beginning. Primarily any spots where readers leave confused or grumpy comments are worth altering, as I got tired of hearing the same negative feedback on some of my early chapters. Otherwise, it's no big deal.

[heywriters]

Why do fanfic writers always write her shion his head’ or ‘she shook her head’ to mean no? No one on this earth actually does that and it makes me think of someone head banging every time I see it! Fanfic is so bad but I can’t stop lol

In fanfic's defense, ALL amateur English writers seem to do this. I definitely still use it as a placeholder before revising. It's just the easy go-to, the first visual we think of when writing in the negative. But when you read overused phrases in a commercially published book? There's a reason professional writers generally hire editors to clean up their work. Being a writer and an editor is like being a chef and janitor in the same kitchen: exhausting! And you don't get paid enough to make up for it.

It takes extra effort to come up with alternatives when writing a story is already effort enough. That's why the opposite can be true and we get flowery descriptions where the writer really overexerted to avoid "she shook her head." A simple "No" will usually do it, and when that gets tiring, we have to work on our scowls and annoyed sighs to send the message.

Give those writers a break, they're just whipping out ideas and moving on to the next to give you more content. I guarantee if you tried to write a fanfic it would be full of quirks and mistakes you didn't know were there. "Perfect" writing takes time and effort, which isn't always fun and fanfic is for fun!

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[heywriters]

I don't want to omit places description, but they seem unnatural. If I'm writing about someone entering in their class, I would spen time on how much desks there are, expecially If I'm writing first person pov. Any advice?

If it seems unnatural, don’t include it. 

Do you count the desks when you walk into a classroom? Ever? Would your character? Does your reader need to know that? Only leave in details that shape the scene well, like “the desks are old and outdated” or “the whiteboard is shockingly white, it must’ve been cleaned this morning.”

Keep details that make the setting feel authentic. Omit details that make it clear it’s just writing and isn’t real.

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[heywriters]

I have a problem when writing physical movement. It paints a clear picture, but not a very colorful description as to what they are currently doing. Usually it's something like "he stood from the chair and walked across the floor to the window". I constantly try to reword it but it always seems bland. Is this a normal description to movement, or can I improve and how? Love your blog by the way. It has helped me out multiple times.

Bland descriptions of bland moments are normal and necessary. The only thing you might grit your teeth over is not being basic enough. I’m using your example real quick.

He stood from the chair and walked across the floor to the window.

Too wordy for such a simple action. Make it even simpler, like so,

He stood and walked to the window.

Same action, same understanding, saves the reader time. Also saves the hard creative thinking for the more captivating parts of your story. 

If you have a gut feeling it should be more impactful than that, you can add a little emotion into it.

He stood and stalked to the window.

He got up and trudged to the window.

He rose and hurried to the window.

It’s the same short, basic sentence just with a little more storytelling involved. Still, both dry sentences and emotional sentences are needed in the same book. Too much of either and you end up with a court testimony or a soap opera. 

If it’s meant to be simple, keep it simple.

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[heywriters]

Which do you think is more important? ‘Show, don’t tell’ or Hemingway’s ‘Eliminate all unnecessary words’? Because these ‘rules’ could become contradictory? I’m trying to keep both in mind while revising but it’s hard. Something like ‘softly’ could convey meaning easily but it’s an adverb and describing a soft voice could take up more space.

Hemingway was a strict stickler, and because he got famous he felt his style of writing is the style. Unless you want to copy his exact style, follow his advice lightly as it’s still good advice, but not for everyone.

“Show, don’t tell” does not mean take three paragraphs to describe someone is sad or a noise is loud. “Showing” can be as concise as “telling” if you practice at it. Also, as I’ve said before, “telling” is a requirement in all writing. As long as it stays in its place and is used wisely. Same goes for “showing.”

MY general rule is, if there are ten unnecessary words in a paragraph, cut out nine, then go back and add two. I learned to cut a ton of exposition and descriptive language out of my writing. Then, I reread it and found it dry and painfully short. Going back in, I added the right words in the necessary places, and it read perfectly. “Unnecessary” words are sometimes there because you couldn’t think of or didn’t know you needed the necessary word (and yes, sometimes that word is an adverb).

Thus, eliminate the waste words first then review and revise the places that actually need “showing” while leaving the “telling” places alone.

Other asks that may also help: Writing Basic Descriptions & Dialogue Tags

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[heywriters]

Hi! Do you have any tips for speeding up the beginning of a book without getting rid of important scenes? I also have lots of trouble getting rid of scenes i just really like that aren’t important to the plot.

A variety of fix-its for a slow beginning:

Introduce the plot in the first paragraph or chapter. Anything from a big event to a little hint, just something that gets things started.

Spread out important world building or introduction scenes so they don’t create an infodump (it’s actually better if the reader doesn’t know everything about the world/characters yet). 

Likewise, trim boring but crucial scenes down to fewer words and sentences so you can get to the meat of the book faster. Or just make them interesting, but that requires extra skill and can be done later.

Take the parts you like, but that are not useful right now or don’t have a good reason for being there and copy them into a separate file. That way, if you ever do find a good spot for them– either in this story or the next one– they’ll be handy.

If a sentence or paragraph is not working, cut out the part you like best (i.e. the part you’ve been working around). The writing will suddenly be easier to manage and sound better.

Don’t avoid removing something just because you like it. If it’s compromising your ability to write, cull it and move on.

Focus on the theme of your story. If anything interrupts that theme in the beginning, the theme is crippled for the rest of the story.

Read everything out loud. If it sounds dry, long, or repetitive, cut it. Alternately, go to TTSReader and have your writing read back to you. It does not keep your writing, it just reads it to you.