tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post5937876496266623502..comments2024-03-09T06:15:04.254-05:00Comments on Rach Writes...: My A-Z of Writing Tips: Finish the First DraftRachael Harriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16764930101064527321noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-67780808290798287592011-04-08T23:42:03.323-04:002011-04-08T23:42:03.323-04:00This has been the hardest concept for me to grasp....This has been the hardest concept for me to grasp. I know I should finish the first draft before making changes. I always told my classes this same piece of advice, knowing I was the biggest hypocrite because I don't do it myself. I'm working on it. I'm trying to let the words dump out and go back to revise and edit later. I'm not where I need to be, but I'm better than I was.Paul Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07219724579550337686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-32376128245048139232011-04-08T01:36:27.539-04:002011-04-08T01:36:27.539-04:00I do tend to read over my previous session's w...I do tend to read over my previous session's work and tweak just a little to get me in the mood for that day's writing...but I really don't do more than tweak!<br /><br />That way disaster lies...Adina Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860528131098237473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-925615264268160692011-04-07T23:46:21.596-04:002011-04-07T23:46:21.596-04:00Great post. I am addicted to editing and it's ...Great post. I am addicted to editing and it's taking me forever to complete my manuscript. I think the next time I sit down to work on it; I will try my hardest to keep from revising.Janinahttp://jr-williams.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-6684018125580718022011-04-07T23:05:39.658-04:002011-04-07T23:05:39.658-04:00My first draft is pure fun and done only for me, s...My first draft is pure fun and done only for me, so I never edit while writing the first draft. However, later I'm stuck doing the mother of all overhauls.<br />- AaronThe Blogger Girlzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915385689799889397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-19915396570659841392011-04-07T22:10:25.158-04:002011-04-07T22:10:25.158-04:00I do both. I write without worry, but then the ne...I do both. I write without worry, but then the next day I tend to reread and edit before starting up again. It does slow me down as I get further into my novel. There's so much more to reread and it changes every time. Someday I'll master my process and it will go so much more quickly and smoothly! ;0) (I can hope, can't I?) christyerica and christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13074820593371226159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-45746482998246728362011-04-07T20:24:50.351-04:002011-04-07T20:24:50.351-04:00Good luck, Rach.
I only revise the page or two wh...Good luck, Rach.<br /><br />I only revise the page or two where I left off before continuing on the story. I always need a feeling of what's happening to get me into the grove.<br /><br />But I always finish the first draft before major editing.Michael Di Gesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17047267262428143113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-73846539747528025922011-04-07T18:53:02.525-04:002011-04-07T18:53:02.525-04:00When I first started writing, I'd revise as I ...When I first started writing, I'd revise as I went. I soon discovered tht it was a waste of time because by the end I needed to delete scenes I'd spent extra time on. Now I just write up a fast first draft, make sure the structure is solid, THEN I revise.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-24303063320913492322011-04-07T18:35:57.973-04:002011-04-07T18:35:57.973-04:00I love reading over my first drafts simply because...I love reading over my first drafts simply because I like seeing what creative ideas my brain came up with in that short time span. Sure there are areas where I made mistakes (and a lot of them) but I enjoy looking at the good much more.<br /><br />And then that moment is over and I have to think about revisions and edits. XDBrooke R. Bussehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17147444223968856153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-86508384048122946322011-04-07T16:23:09.528-04:002011-04-07T16:23:09.528-04:00So do you wait until you have finished the first d...So do you wait until you have finished the first draft and edited it before you get a critique?Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07524878248746427258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-57447794932003898282011-04-07T15:09:57.558-04:002011-04-07T15:09:57.558-04:00I agree with those who mentioned using NaNoWriMo a...I agree with those who mentioned using NaNoWriMo as a means of getting through your story without being sidetracked by the edits! While it helps push me through the story and edit later, one unintended side effect is that once I hit 50K words, I stall. This means my endings are usually missing. Oops. :)TL Conwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08831728300345220814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-21545075787230753622011-04-07T14:48:31.185-04:002011-04-07T14:48:31.185-04:00This is so important for me :) I'm such a neur...This is so important for me :) I'm such a neurotic I have to remember to just keep going to get anything down. I force myself to wait until the draft is finished before I go back and edit, which I think is making the difference. Thanks for the great post!<br /><br /><a href="http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Sarah Allen<br />(my creative writing blog)</a>Sarah Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-15187939921028988902011-04-07T14:11:36.541-04:002011-04-07T14:11:36.541-04:00Exactly my kind of advice! I love writing the firs...Exactly my kind of advice! I love writing the first draft and feel such a sense of accomplishment when I finish it - bigger than at any other point in that book's journey (so far).Vicki Tremperhttp://www.vbtremper.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-5115990149129904192011-04-07T13:24:51.099-04:002011-04-07T13:24:51.099-04:00Oh, I totally self-edit while I write. Not sure I ...Oh, I totally self-edit while I write. Not sure I could train myself out of it. :)Kristine Asselinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18257286523945921891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-26243626340567070022011-04-07T12:18:41.197-04:002011-04-07T12:18:41.197-04:00I'm in the middle of my first draft and it'...I'm in the middle of my first draft and it's HARD to not go back and edit! But I'm forcing myself not to so I can move foward and finish the draft. What I'm writing isn't always great but you're right in that it can be edited once it's done. :)Ghenet Myrthilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12621168379560585094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-90905222275035899562011-04-07T10:40:29.656-04:002011-04-07T10:40:29.656-04:00This is great advice! I just finished another WIP ...This is great advice! I just finished another WIP and even though it's probably horrible, it's finished and now I can go back and revise...well in a couple of weeks after is sits :) Thanks Rach.Michelle Merrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00040685503147648297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-83492204504218696402011-04-07T10:18:56.831-04:002011-04-07T10:18:56.831-04:00YES, YES, YES!! I'm struggling with this with ...YES, YES, YES!! I'm struggling with this with my current WIP, because I keep getting ideas on how to improve the previous scenes, but I must push through or I'll never finish! I must, I must, I must! Thanks for the reminder :)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14121018905141253640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-60645784862460501842011-04-07T09:59:47.367-04:002011-04-07T09:59:47.367-04:00Great advice. I try to finish the first draft and...Great advice. I try to finish the first draft and then revise. I don't tinker as I go. I think if I did that I would end up with one or two awesome chapters but now awesome books.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18226974782422398270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-39694298461032806882011-04-07T09:55:04.054-04:002011-04-07T09:55:04.054-04:00I usually tinker as well. I often read back the ma...I usually tinker as well. I often read back the manuscript while I'm working to make sure I stay on track - small edits are usually easy to make. Anything large I want to change I write down separately and incorporate in the next draft.Elena Solodowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037029195682225565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-73493377162221730622011-04-07T09:38:29.318-04:002011-04-07T09:38:29.318-04:00I tend to edit as I write but I try never to go ba...I tend to edit as I write but I try never to go back to the beginning. You're absolutely right. Finish first before diving back into heavy edits.Jaydee Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01069805915071090479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-14549588131909098732011-04-07T09:32:59.987-04:002011-04-07T09:32:59.987-04:00"The Only Thing You Can't Edit is a Blank..."The Only Thing You Can't Edit is a Blank Page", that should be on a t-shirt.<br /><br />Alex from <a href="http://www.breakfasteveryhour.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Breakfast Every Hour</a> was here.Alex Onghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17338429566010013769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-41147375442574204592011-04-07T09:29:59.622-04:002011-04-07T09:29:59.622-04:00I thought I was revising as I went, but really I w...I thought I was revising as I went, but really I was just getting that first draft out.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-14637450244120428652011-04-07T09:21:06.297-04:002011-04-07T09:21:06.297-04:00This is great advice. That's the best thing I ...This is great advice. That's the best thing I love about NaNoWriMo. I can't edit when I have to finish the manuscript by November 30th. There's no time. <br /><br />I do try to adhere to it when novel writing, but I must admit I edit as I go on short stories. <br /><br />I still think even if you edit/revise/rewrite while writing the first draft that the draft isn't ready to go when you type in "The End." That's the mistake I see the most of people who edit as they go. You have to put that manuscript away and go back to it at a later date.Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-72105455413852381022011-04-07T09:00:34.333-04:002011-04-07T09:00:34.333-04:00I try to never look back until I get it done once...I try to never look back until I get it done once. hen I rewrite, no necessarily in order. Then go back and do it all again.<br />First draft is a very detailed outline -- almost a book. I work it like a puzzle, moving pieces until then fit.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://gigglesandguns.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">MaryV</a>Mary@GigglesandGunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07350818228268801008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-5577899651936811842011-04-07T08:21:32.473-04:002011-04-07T08:21:32.473-04:00OMG, I need to constantly remind myself of this - ...OMG, I need to constantly remind myself of this - as one of my fave writers puts it: "Write out loud." Like you said, the only think you can't edit is a blank page, but it's hard for me to resist the temptation to just touch this up a little or change that word or add a little something... and before you know it, I'm so busy editing that the writing has stalled. To follow this advices is one of my major writing resolutions! :-)Crystalhttp://littlebundleofcontradictions.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380793708805406109.post-56613110401873393682011-04-07T07:45:23.544-04:002011-04-07T07:45:23.544-04:00Can't edit a blank page - wise words.
I hand w...Can't edit a blank page - wise words.<br />I hand write my manuscripts, so after about 10-20 pages, I go back and enter it into the computer. Which means I do some editing in the process.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.com