Comments on: Snip, snip, cut, cut . . . back to the drawing board http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:33:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: David B. Coe http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7328 David B. Coe Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:38:59 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7328 Di, I know we've talked about this before, but our work habits are so similar it's frightening. I'm linear, I polish as I write, so I'm a bit slow with the first draft, but my drafts are clean. And I absolutely HATE having to start over, because even 15,000 words represents a lot of work and time. And I find it hard to work on more than one project at once, though I'm getting better with that. I find that when I face a problem like yours it means that I've made a wrong turn somewhere. For me, when a story is working, it flows. When I'm struggling, it means that on some level I know the set up isn't right and needs reexamination. I hope you get things on the right track; I know how frustrating it is when a books isn't working, especially a sequel, and ESPECIALLY a book with a firm and imminent deadline. Di, I know we’ve talked about this before, but our work habits are so similar it’s frightening. I’m linear, I polish as I write, so I’m a bit slow with the first draft, but my drafts are clean. And I absolutely HATE having to start over, because even 15,000 words represents a lot of work and time. And I find it hard to work on more than one project at once, though I’m getting better with that.

I find that when I face a problem like yours it means that I’ve made a wrong turn somewhere. For me, when a story is working, it flows. When I’m struggling, it means that on some level I know the set up isn’t right and needs reexamination. I hope you get things on the right track; I know how frustrating it is when a books isn’t working, especially a sequel, and ESPECIALLY a book with a firm and imminent deadline.

]]> By: Liane Merciel http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7302 Liane Merciel Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:42:43 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7302 Yup, I've been there. Am doing first-pass revisions (before it goes to agent/editor) on a manuscript where I threw out the _entire first draft_ because it was broken and unfixable. 110K words -- the better part of a year's work, since I'm not a particularly fast writer -- into the crapper. It wasn't fun, but it had to go. I think the new version is better but I'm currently in the "aaagh I hate it I hate it MAKE IT DIE" stage so I don't really trust my own opinions right now. Even if the new draft is not actually any better, though, I'm too close to deadline to throw it all out again. Which is just a _fantastic_ thing to realize, boy howdy. Yup, I’ve been there. Am doing first-pass revisions (before it goes to agent/editor) on a manuscript where I threw out the _entire first draft_ because it was broken and unfixable. 110K words — the better part of a year’s work, since I’m not a particularly fast writer — into the crapper. It wasn’t fun, but it had to go.

I think the new version is better but I’m currently in the “aaagh I hate it I hate it MAKE IT DIE” stage so I don’t really trust my own opinions right now. Even if the new draft is not actually any better, though, I’m too close to deadline to throw it all out again. Which is just a _fantastic_ thing to realize, boy howdy.

]]> By: Elias McClellan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7297 Elias McClellan Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:57:05 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7297 Ms. Francis, thank you for you miss-guided praise. But it's more a matter of being dazzled by my own wit and charm. Look up Narcissus in a modern English dictionary and you'll see my unlovely face smiling and waving back at you. Truly, I don't sweat the rejection letters, I'm building a nice collection from SF&F Magazine, alone. In my pipe-dreams, THEY (the evil editors, buyers, agents) want to change the age, ethnic-group, and/or setting of my little ditty. I love my book, I love my character, and everything I put into it. But I also want... need to get published. It's that, or face the hell that is law-school; at 40. So, I can be had. I just don't want to whore on the first book I managed to complete. Again, in all seriousness, thank you for your kind encouragement. Ms. Francis, thank you for you miss-guided praise. But it’s more a matter of being dazzled by my own wit and charm. Look up Narcissus in a modern English dictionary and you’ll see my unlovely face smiling and waving back at you. Truly, I don’t sweat the rejection letters, I’m building a nice collection from SF&F Magazine, alone.

In my pipe-dreams, THEY (the evil editors, buyers, agents) want to change the age, ethnic-group, and/or setting of my little ditty. I love my book, I love my character, and everything I put into it. But I also want… need to get published. It’s that, or face the hell that is law-school; at 40. So, I can be had. I just don’t want to whore on the first book I managed to complete.

Again, in all seriousness, thank you for your kind encouragement.

]]> By: Diana Pharaoh Francis http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7293 Diana Pharaoh Francis Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:12:35 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7293 Elias~ That's really impressive that you understand the thickness of your own skin regarding your work. Best of luck to you! Elias~ That’s really impressive that you understand the thickness of your own skin regarding your work. Best of luck to you!

]]> By: Elias McClellan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7292 Elias McClellan Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:03:22 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7292 Raethe, yes you did and yes I agree. I, for one, am not ready yet. For the pressure, stress, deadlines, or the fast-pitch, fast-sell. I've started about five novels and only just finished one. After workshoping it, I found that I loved it too much to submit it. I knew changes would be necessary and I was/am unwilling to compremise. The one I'm close to finishing now, is less dear to me as it will be the second one that I've completed and I'm far more objective about changes. Raethe, yes you did and yes I agree. I, for one, am not ready yet. For the pressure, stress, deadlines, or the fast-pitch, fast-sell. I’ve started about five novels and only just finished one. After workshoping it, I found that I loved it too much to submit it. I knew changes would be necessary and I was/am unwilling to compremise. The one I’m close to finishing now, is less dear to me as it will be the second one that I’ve completed and I’m far more objective about changes.

]]> By: Raethe http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7278 Raethe Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:56:39 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7278 Elias: Actually, the project I mentioned above is one that I've decided to put to the side for a while. I intend to come back to it, or the premise and characters at least, but I'm working on a couple of other projects in the interim. Of course, I'm an amateur writer without deadlines, so I have the luxury to do that. (Did I just equate being an unpublished writer with luxury? Huh.) Elias: Actually, the project I mentioned above is one that I’ve decided to put to the side for a while. I intend to come back to it, or the premise and characters at least, but I’m working on a couple of other projects in the interim.

Of course, I’m an amateur writer without deadlines, so I have the luxury to do that.

(Did I just equate being an unpublished writer with luxury? Huh.)

]]> By: Diana Pharaoh Francis http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7276 Diana Pharaoh Francis Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:18:41 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7276 Elias~ When there's time and when i can force myself, I try other projects. But frankly, I have a tendency to bullheadedly stay focues on the project until I can figure my way through. But taking time away is very much a useful way of dealing with getting stuck. Elias~

When there’s time and when i can force myself, I try other projects. But frankly, I have a tendency to bullheadedly stay focues on the project until I can figure my way through. But taking time away is very much a useful way of dealing with getting stuck.

]]> By: Elias McClellan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7274 Elias McClellan Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:21:16 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7274 Disclaimer: I'm not so pretentious to offer advice. This is a question for my own benefit. Have either of you (or anyone reading this post) left the project at hand to work on something else? I'm a little further along than Raethe and I can see the down hill run. I'm was just stuck on tying up the sub-plots. I started on a series of short stories and now I think I found my way. Just wondering about the experiences of those on the deadline, you know, the pros. Disclaimer: I’m not so pretentious to offer advice. This is a question for my own benefit. Have either of you (or anyone reading this post) left the project at hand to work on something else? I’m a little further along than Raethe and I can see the down hill run. I’m was just stuck on tying up the sub-plots. I started on a series of short stories and now I think I found my way. Just wondering about the experiences of those on the deadline, you know, the pros.

]]> By: Raethe http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7273 Raethe Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:43:50 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/17/snip-snip-cut-cut-back-to-the-drawing-board/#comment-7273 That sucks. I've got 20k of a novel draft that I might have to throw out and start over, so I know what you mean. But hey, if it gets you to the next step... No work is ever wasted. That's what I tell myself, anyway :) That sucks. I’ve got 20k of a novel draft that I might have to throw out and start over, so I know what you mean. But hey, if it gets you to the next step…

No work is ever wasted. That’s what I tell myself, anyway :)

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