Forums / About Writing /
Editing is scary


  • the class
    Jul 4 8:35 AM
    Reply
    I have a prologue and four chapters on SW, and I have recieved several comments suggesting improvements. On says that I should complete the whole story and then return to edit, another says i need to 'flesh out' my prologue.
    I am feeling nervous about editing, and I have not actually edited the story yet, just the type-os and stuff.
    I want to take my stories off SW, then re post them once they have been re-edited and the other chapters have been written.
    Do you think this is a good idea, or should I just edit and add stories while my others are on line?
    Please reply asap

  • tonialoise
    July 4 ↑
    Reply
    Do whatever you're comfortable with.


    For my novel I take whatever edits are suggested and edit it in my offline version never updating the online one. For my short stories I'll edit and upload. I do this mostly because the short stories are what tend to be read the most and I don't like people commenting on the same errors all the time. The novel chapters are long and chances are two people don't see the same problems on there.

    Other people have their own methods and no one should fault you for yours.

    I will say that I find it much easier to write a chapter then edit it then start the next chapter rather than writing the whole thing and editing such a large piece all at once. For some people that might break up the flow too much, so again, whatever you're comfortable with.

  • the back row
    July 4 ↑
    Reply
    I suggest taking it all off, because when it's still up, your editing will feel somewhat restricted because you have the subconscious feel that you have to stay true to the story's original format.

    However, when you take everything off, you have a 'clean slate' so to speak, allowing you to more freely add ideas and details that may not have been in the original draft.

    I've experienced both forms of editing, and if you're serious about your writing, I suggest taking the whole thing off, and then reposting it.

    But I do agree. Editing can be a pain, but the outcome is utterly worth it.

  • Marta
    July 4 ↑
    Reply

    Editing can be fun. You write the first draft with the door closed and then you open it again to get comments and suggestion and you beging again. One word of caution though, don't allow yourself to take every suggstion during the rewrite to heart--as works in progress. I consider other people's opinions but, don't always lsiten to them. Sometimes, other people's suggestions would have you rewriting and thereby changing what was normally a good story that just needed a little bit tweaking.

    you could do as Tonialoise says and edit as you go along. With a Chapter story the problem is that most people skip the prologue, and go to the first chapter. Then there are those who read the prologue and skip a few chapters and then comment on the ones they have read. If you could persuade someone to read from the prologue through what you have written, and make suggestions from where you started to where you've ended then it might be more helpful to and for you.

    editing as you go can make the writing easier but, it means that you would have to stop everytime that you get a suggestion, you might want to post it and tag the words: (Work In Progress--editing pending) and then just continue to post the whole thing then, rewrite it from the beginning when you have the whole story out--it's not as easy as editing as you go along posting each chapter but, you might get better feedback. good luck.

  • Valkyrie
    July 5 ↑
    Reply
    I've never pulled anything off of SW to edit. (Maybe I should try that! ) If the person who suggests edits isn't totally incorrect (and usually if someone suggests edits, they have some clue what they're talking about), I'll go to the edit screen and try typing stuff out the way they suggested. Then I read that part through and see if I like it. Sometimes I go with my own way, but often I'll at least alter my story or chapter somewhat.

    For me, SW is my playground. It's where I come to get better at stuff, and it's easier for me to play around with stuff here in the edit screen than worry about taking it off, editing, and reposting. I lose all my comments, and who said what, and I like to keep track of who suggests edits, who loved it, who couldn't stand it, etc.

  • the class
    July 6 ↑
    Reply
    Yeah, that's true, if I ntake it off, i'll lose my comments. I just like being able to edit on word.

  • the class
    July 7 ↑
    Reply
    Yah

  • tsanti
    September 22 ↑
    Reply

    hi


  • tsanti
    September 22 ↑
    Reply


    ediot!!! copy paste

  • tsanti
    September 22 ↑
    Reply
    Editing can be fun. You write the first draft with the door closed and then you open it again to get comments and suggestion and you beging again. One word of caution though, don't allow yourself to take every suggstion during the rewrite to heart--as works in progress. I consider other people's opinions but, don't always lsiten to them. Sometimes, other people's suggestions would have you rewriting and thereby changing what was normally a good story that just needed a little bit tweaking.

    you could do as Tonialoise says and edit as you go along. With a Chapter story the problem is that most people skip the prologue, and go to the first chapter. Then there are those who read the prologue and skip a few chapters and then comment on the ones they have read. If you could persuade someone to read from the prologue through what you have written, and make suggestions from where you started to where you've ended then it might be more helpful to and for you.

  • tsanti
    September 22 ↑
    Reply



    getch????
  • :