Stop It! Right Now! Stop Editing!
Well... at least. Until you're done.
I admit that I am in the middle of multiple stories. More stories than I could even admit to, or probably even remember myself. My hangup? ... Editing.
I keep editing the darned things before I am done with them! I see changes, and I just can't stop myself from fixing. Right away. Right then and there. And then, after I fix that one mistake or add in one idea, I go back to the beginning and start reading it over, scrutinizing for more mistakes or details I can add in, or things I can cut.
By the time I get back to the point where I intended to continue, I have run out of the time that I set aside, and I need to get back to work. It isn't awesome. Not at all.
The next day, I sit down, and I do the same thing. I tweak again, and I get absolutely nothing done. My story keeps changing, so continuing the one I already have never seems to happen, because I have to rethink things based on the changes.
It is a never-ending cycle...
At least, it was. I have found some success by not editing, and instead of running in circles, I finish it, and then I can edit the whole thing at once. Waiting to edit, combined with a modified outline to keep track of the important details I cannot write out of the story, help me set things straight.
Now, when I say don't edit, I don't necessarily mean typos and grammar edits that you notice as you're typing, and need to just fix right there. I am talking about the major revisions - the ones that have a possibility of changing your characters and your storyline completely. Save those until the end. Here are some ways to do that.
1. Keep a set of notes: Keep a small notepad beside you. As ideas to change the story come to you, jot them down. If there are ways to put that into what you are doing right then, do that. If you would have to go back and fix things previously in the novel, jot that down quickly to remind yourself, and then keep moving forward.
2. After you are done, refer to the notes: During the time you were writing, you may have had many ideas pop into your mind. Now is the time to go through them and pick and choose which ideas you want to use or eliminate.
3. Decide how to introduce the changes: Once you have decided which things to use and which not to use, jot down the details necessary to put it properly into the story.
4. Edit and Implement: Once you have a plan, implementing becomes much easier! I think it goes more quickly, too, because you know exactly what you need to go as you jump into it, and you aren't "winging" it, so to speak.
So, if you find yourself getting hung up on editing, as I did, try editing with a plan. Keep your goals in mind, and plan things out. It may save you time in the long run. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Noticing Newbies: July 16, 2014 Issue [#6441]
