rewriting: line-by-line or start from scratch?

shebitme · Jul 2, 2008

hi, what method do you guys prefer when rewriting certain sections or chapters:

do you rewrite the whole thing from scratch, working only from memory as to what you want to keep, so that you can completely break free of whatever flaws needed to be fixed?

or do you simply go line by line, paragraph by paragraph and try to replace each one with an improved one, keeping whatever works?

JeanneTGC · Jul 2, 2008

It depends.

Yeah, I know, not all that helpful. But, really, it depends. It's dependent upon how much I think needs to change to make the fix, if I think I've taken something so off course that it'll be easier to start fresh, etc.

sunandshadow · Jul 2, 2008

Yeah, basically I think it depends on whether you like the first draft or think it's worng in some fundamental way

Kalyke · Jul 2, 2008

If an entire section needed to be re-written I would just plug a new piece in. If it needs only line by line editing, or a few changes then I do that. I wouldn't retype information that I am going to keep. That would be a waste of time.

kuwisdelu · Jul 2, 2008

Definitely depends.

If it's problems with things like grammar, diction, syntax, or just finding a better way to say something in general, then I'll just go line-by-line and replace a word or phrase or sentence here and there.

If it's a bigger problem where a whole paragraph or section needs to be changed to change a plot emphasis or plot point or something important like that, then I'll probably delete the offending paragraph/section (well--cut and paste somewhere else, so it's safe in case I change my mind, but so I don't see it so it doesn't distract or influence me) and then rewrite it from scratch.

Nateskate · Jul 2, 2008

shebitme said:
hi, what method do you guys prefer when rewriting certain sections or chapters:

do you rewrite the whole thing from scratch, working only from memory as to what you want to keep, so that you can completely break free of whatever flaws needed to be fixed?

or do you simply go line by line, paragraph by paragraph and try to replace each one with an improved one, keeping whatever works?

I've always approached it line by line, since the story already exists; but I can delete a page or add a page, but then I have to go through and edit again. I'm open to doing it the other way, and sometimes when I'm in a daunting rewrite, I think it would be like extreme home makeover, easier to build a new house from scratch.

Danger Jane · Jul 2, 2008

This seems to be my typical routine lately, at least for the two novellas I'm working on:

Write.

Rewrite.

Retype with line edit.

Line edit.

Line edit.

Line edit.

Line edit.

JustGo · Jul 2, 2008

I generally have two files open - the original and the current draft. I use the original as a reference, but rewrite every line. I find that I pick up on a lot of things that way which I skim right over when doing a less intense rewrite.

However, if I read a scene and see no problems with it, I just copy-paste it into my current draft. It's a pretty rare thing, though - I've only done that for about ten pages out of the 122 I've edited so far. Almost everything can stand some improvement.

Clair Dickson · Jul 2, 2008

I do some of both, but since I'm really anal, I always copy and paste a "deleted" chunk into a 'cut scenes' document.

The other way I save things is I'll turn on MSWord's track changes. I'm perpetually worried about losing something 'good' in the piece I delete.

Like has been said, the type of revision really depends on what the scene needs. Some scenes *should* be deleted, lest someone be offended by their nastiness. And some just need some tweaking and polishing to look presentable.

I do have to edit in a mostly linear fashion, starting at the beginning and moving forwards. Otherwise, I'm really unfocused and end up going back to the beginning anyway.

amber_grosjean · Jul 2, 2008

I use both methods depending on the story I'm working on. The piece I'm rewriting now is getting written from scratch while the original remains on the piece for reference. I just delete the old as I go, writing all new as I move along because so much is being changed.

Before, this piece was only getting a line by line edit but it wasn't working anymore and since I have decided to change the audience for the story, I had no choice but to rewrite the whole thing taking first person POV out.

Every story will be different on how you edit it so listen to your inner voice and let it tell you what you should do. Learn through editing and working with other people and even the publisher, that's how I learned lol.

Amber

Bishop · Jul 2, 2008

I recently revised my entire ms and did it line by line. I basically worked with a paragraph and re-worked it above, then deleted the old. This way I kept the same flow and ideas but worded them better. But that's me.

Claudia Gray · Jul 2, 2008

It really does depend. I usually have sections I'm fairly happy with that only need line edits, and, uh, other sections that need to be ripped out and redone ASAP.

Penguin Queen · Jul 3, 2008

As pretty much everybody else has said, it depends. There. Thats helpful.

Ive had rewrites suggested by some agents I approached; so what I did was to print the whole thing off and go sit in a cafe with it for several days. Somehow, it looks totally different on paper than on a screen. But moe distance, maybe. Also being in a different environment. And, frankly, I'll use any excuse to sit in a café to do my work.

And then I went through it with a red pen; struck out lines or paras that didnt work, made notes where more info was needed or a chunk needed replacing/rewriting. The actual writing I did at home on the computer. I do lots of backup saves of an MS: in progress, ie. before I do a major change, I will do "Save As" and save that MS as <WIP_1, 2, 3...> and keep that, in case, as someone said, there's a bit in it I want to go back to later.

Bayley · Jul 3, 2008

I agree with everyone who says to keep 1/2/23 drafts saved. Sometimes, I'll cut out a complete scene from the beginning of the book, then realise that I need that scene for a different scene to work. It helps having copies of other drafts and copies of deleted scenes, as sometimes they come in handy. Also, when working on more then one book, I have been known to write a scene (or character), realise it is a great scene yet it doesn't fit the book, but it fits (with a little tweaking) into another novel that I'm writing. So, I don't delete things as they may be useful on another book.

I rewrite and do line-by-line. Some scenes need to be completly rewritten, with a different environment and a different message. Other scenes need to be stronger and I usually rewrite those. However, I do line-by-line, if I need to do little things, like add a couple of words, change a response, change a paragraph, etc.

This sounds strange, but when I come across a scene, I seem to know whether it needs to be rewritten or a line-by-line edit. I don't know whether it works for anyone else, but that's what happens for me at least.

tehuti88 · Jul 3, 2008

shebitme said:
do you rewrite the whole thing from scratch, working only from memory as to what you want to keep, so that you can completely break free of whatever flaws needed to be fixed?

or do you simply go line by line, paragraph by paragraph and try to replace each one with an improved one, keeping whatever works?

I'm kind of between the two. I look frequently at the original version, but I keep a lot of the original stuff while redoing what needs to be redone (and adding and subtracting as needed).

To completely rewrite without even looking at the original would drive me nuts, I'd be so terrified of forgetting something important (and yes, I do forget things, even if they're important and I wrote them--I have a lousy memory that way!--it's more like I can't keep things in proper order); and to do it line by line would be so incredibly tedious when there are many things that could just remain as is. Though on thinking about it further, my approach is slightly closer to the latter than the former. I guess I do go over it "line by line," but not in a terribly precise, tedious manner. It's more like, read the paragraph, see how much needs to be fixed, type it out.

Bayley · Jul 3, 2008

tehuti88 said:
I guess I do go over it "line by line," but not in a terribly precise, tedious manner. It's more like, read the paragraph, see how much needs to be fixed, type it out.

Paragraph by paragraph?

Dreamer3702 · Jul 3, 2008

I print it off and attack it with my red pen. Basically a line by line edit. If I run into a scene that needs to be completely overhauled I'll scribble a bunch of notes on a piece of lined paper and stick it at the beginning of the scene.

When I'm done with that I go to my computer, open up the document and immediately save as WIP_2 (or whatever version I happen to be on). Then, I go through and make the red pen changes. When I get to the parts that need overhauled, I delete it, but keep a close eye on what I wrote before. Some things can be saved. Good pieces of description or whatever.

Alon · Jul 3, 2008

I wouldn't start from scratch unless the entire book was rotten. Editing my novel, I've mostly done it chapter by chapter, deleting scenes that didn't work, revising weak dialogue, deepening characters, etc. It really depends on what you need to revise, though.

tehuti88 · Jul 4, 2008

Bayley said:
Paragraph by paragraph?

I guess it depends on how long or short they are and how much does/doesn't work. If I'm reading along and there's an entire page that sounds fine to me, then I'll just keep that and not focus much on it, but if there's a paragraph that is iffy, I'll stop and look at it. And if rewriting that alters the paragraphs around it, then I'll have to look at those too.

It's kind of hard to estimate because it's like when reading--I don't really stop to read "paragraph by paragraph," even though I'm READING every paragraph...it all just kind of flows together. Or not (if it's written poorly).

mscelina · Jul 4, 2008

REwrite? I iz confused. never heard of such a thing...

No. Seriously.

(from scratch for the second draft--everything else is paragraph by paragraph as needed)

hammerklavier · Jul 4, 2008

Danger Jane said:
Retype with line edit.

Retyping it (either from a print out or keep the two documents open side by side on the computer) is a technique, that in my experience, catches far more problems than line edits (editing in the file).

Susan Lanigan · Jul 5, 2008

First, I will create a word doc and make notes on what I think needs to change in the story.

Then I open the last draft of the story (I tend to save them off as _1stdraft, _2nddraft etc,) Before doing anything else I save the file as _3rd draft. Then I go off and make some coffee and may not come back for several months

OK I'm back. My approach will vary. Sometimes I will delete paragraphs. Sometimes if I like something and am not sure where if fits, I will cut it and save it in a file [storyname]_fragments.doc Usually I never go near this file again, but the security of having it there is a plus. Othertimes I make a comment in square brackets next to sentences that are not satisfactory, particularly if I want to change the order of paragraphs.

Then there is always that non-verbal right-hemisphere bit I can't really describe because it's...well...non-verbal.

Then I will work through the document, usually over a period of days, then save it off and let it cool for a while. Generally.

Susan Lanigan · Jul 5, 2008

Actually I apologise - I now realise I was putting this in the wrong section.

I have very limited experience of re-writing a novel.

Gynn · Jul 5, 2008

shebitme said:
hi, what method do you guys prefer when rewriting certain sections or chapters:

do you rewrite the whole thing from scratch, working only from memory as to what you want to keep, so that you can completely break free of whatever flaws needed to be fixed?

or do you simply go line by line, paragraph by paragraph and try to replace each one with an improved one, keeping whatever works?

I go line by line, then recheck the scene. I do that over and over until I like the flow, then re-read it one last time to make sure it paints a nice image...then I move on. If I stay, I could stay forever trying to write the perfect passage.

darrtwish · Jul 5, 2008

It really depends on the project I'm working on. Most of the time I work on a line by line basis, but if a particular scene needs a lot of work, I'll start from scratch.

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