Decided to break the monotony of editing by designing a new blog banner. Let me know what you think.
Will Knott suggested I should write about the slog, wondering why I don't skip. Here's why:
1. There is nothing I hate more than reaching the last page of a project and realising that it's not finished, because I've skipped parts.
2. Especially as I'll most likely skip the difficult or tricky parts, which are even harder to edit and rewrite if you have to dip back in later.
3. Working from beginning to end, story one to story ten works best for me because it's very difficult to get back into the plot, characters, tone if I’ve been skipping sections. So if it's slow going now, it'll be even slower going later.
4. Taking your time in places is often better in the long run - I've been averaging 700 words a day this week, which is lower than my preferred daily word count, but I've been working through some difficult scenes and dialogue and I'm pretty happy with the result.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Why I Don't Skip
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12 comments:
I love the new banner by the way.
I have to agree with you on this. I can't skip as I'm sure I'll only end up having to do the whole thing again, which is usually the case anyway but still...
I'm the same with writing my novel. I can't skip. I have to start at the beginning and write through to the end, tackling all the tricky scenes as I go. The alternative would be to write all the fun scenes first and write the tricky ones at the end which I'd HATE! The good thing about the don't skip approach is that you know a fun scene is waiting round the corner for your after you've written your tricky scene.
Debs, thanks! That's exactly my problem - I end up tickering with it so much if I go back that it turns to rubble!
Calistro, it's true, the light at the end of the tunnel is the scene you're dying to write!
I love the banner, Yvonne.
With the Bangkok book I did skip, but then it wasn't finished... but I'm intending to write No 2 from a tighter plan and not to skip. My instinct is that I might have a 'skippy' attitude, and if I do, I'll just accept that.
The new banner: time well spent!
Thanks JJ! I know some writers who do skip passages and handle it very well - I know from previous experience though that I'm not one of those writers.
Bobo, cheers!
700 words a day is still pretty darned good. I couldn't skip either. I need to get into the flow and I can only do that by writing consecutively (does that even make sense?) Love your new look - I have to forcibly stop myself tinkering with the blog as it becomes addictive!
Karen, my blog blushes and thanks you! Consecutively was the word I was looking for. It's so hard to get back into the flow if you take a break from a scene.
I too love the new blog banner - very Irish green. ;)
I skipped around when I began the novel, but I never got very far, because like you said, I just wrote the fun parts and avoided the tricky scenes, which made it more difficult in the end (and less fun!). I finally made progress when I started from the beginning and wrote through to the end.
You should pat yourself on the back, 700 words a day is great progress.
Angie, thanks! Didn't get much done today though. I often long for the fun parts - but like you said skipping just makes it more painful at the end!
Absolutely love the new blog design! When I read your title, I thought you meant skipping with a rope ... doh!
Helen, Thanks! I was going to look for a picture of a girl skipping in a lively manner, but I completely forgot.
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