When you edit...

Bukarella · Apr 29, 2009

... do you cut more, or do you add more?

Manix · Apr 29, 2009

Some of both, actually, but mostly I cut. I'm like the original Chainsaw massacre-er!!! :e2chain:

alanorloff · Apr 29, 2009

I usually add more. I guess I'm in such a hurry to finish my drafts that I leave out too many words the first time through!

knight_tour · Apr 29, 2009

Although this is the first time I have written a fiction story, I have spent decades writing for work (and school before that) and I tend to write pretty close to a finished product at first draft. I remember my senior thesis in college - over 80 pages long and all I did was write it out once, retype it, and turn it in. My guess is that my first draft is somewhat close to finished as is. All I really need to do is have beta readers help me figure out where some amateurish elements are so I can fix those. I also think I might have to spice up the description in places, as I tend to not do enough at first. I might be wrong, though, since this is my first attempt and I assume I can't judge the quality of my own work accurately.

badducky · Apr 29, 2009

I don't think I'm really done with something until I try to edit it in half.

bohica · Apr 29, 2009

Slice & dice. First draft is brain vomit, second go-round is me picking out the bits that are still yummy.

ELMontague · Apr 29, 2009

Cut. Rewrite. Cut. Splice. Cut. Rewrite. All for a net reduction of words.

Makai_Lightning · Apr 30, 2009

Cut in mass, add back where things suddenly seem to be missing or should be better developed.

I cut a few scenes/parts of scenes, but then I sometimes need a new scene. In the end, everything is either shorter or the same as when I started, but it's never just cut cut cut cut cut. Some scenes I decide are more effective if written a different way--that scene might turn out longer than the original but then I can cut two other scenes down.

First edit though is almost always cutting, since it's getting rid of stupidity and redundency.

Izz · Apr 30, 2009

Net=cut more.

It's very, very rare for me to arrive at a finished product and have added more words than I've cut. I'll add scenes and descriptions sometimes (basically following a similar process to Makai), but cutting is really the name of the game. Not just excess description, etc, but things that aren't necessary to the plot, to improve pacing, basically to get the beast as trim and fit as possible. I don't necessarily overwrite first drafts, but i do have a habit of putting meat in the ankles and neck rather than the thighs and chest, if y'know what i mean, and edits help to correct that.

To be honest, i don't think i've yet seen a first-draft written by someone that couldn't use some cutting.

drachin8 · Apr 30, 2009

I tend to write a bit short, so my edits overall add more than I cut. Crap does get cut, though, and tweaked and tightened.

-Michelle

Juliette Wade · Apr 30, 2009

I find that my manuscript "breathes." Cut some here, add some there, don't need this, but omitted that... The end result might be shorter, or longer, but it sways back and forth across that line as I rewrite.

DeleyanLee · Apr 30, 2009

Depends on what I'm doing the edit/revision for.

If I'm going through with a focus on emotion or description, I usually end up adding up to 15% of the total.

If I'm going through with a focus on anything else, it's usually an even draw.

If I'm going through with a focus on cutting length, well, 'nuff said.

dgrintalis · Apr 30, 2009

The first draft of my WIP was 101,000 words. When I started the second draft, I cut out a lot. My goal for the second draft is 80,000 because I know I have a subplot that still needs more fleshing out and I have some spots that are written small right now.

The second draft right now stands at 66,000 (like I said, I cut out a lot

)

raburrell · Apr 30, 2009

I have to cut at least 30% from mine to make it a reasonable length. I wrote this OCD spreadsheet that gives me per-chapter cut targets in percentages, automatically linked to the document itself to let me know how I'm doing. Probably sounds totally ridiculous, but it works for me.

misa101 · Apr 30, 2009

it depends on what stage of editing I am at. I do everything with pen and paper first and edit grammar and expand some scenes when I am transcribing.

When it is done then it is search and destroy time.

NicoleMD · Apr 30, 2009

I'm definitely an adder. I tend to write very lean, mostly plot-oriented first drafts, then fill in the details later.

Usually this isn't a big deal since my drafts tend to come in around 50k, but this latest WIP is nearing 100k already with more to go, plus a bunch of world and character development to add that I skimped on. But I'm not worrying myself about that, yet. Nosireee!

Nicole

KikiteNeko · Apr 30, 2009

Both. Add, cut, change. But that's just when I'm editing on my own. Once my agent gets it, she usually wants a thing or two added.

RavenCorinnCarluk · Apr 30, 2009

I'm more of an adder/adjuster than a cutter. I'm in the group here that write a slimmer first draft, and end up needing to beef it out more. (I've mostly cured that by making more detailed outlines) There's very little I feel needs to actually be cut out, but can sometimes be better written. Mostly I have to go flesh out some details or descriptions.

Matera the Mad · Apr 30, 2009

Depends on which round of the fight I'm in. I add for a few rounds, then I start chopping big chunks and adding tiny tidbits. Dunno if I break even or what.

Straka · May 2, 2009

this last draft I deleted a few minor characters and pared down the internal monologue. But then I went back in and rewrote and expanded many scenes. So to answer your question; both.

Death Wizard · May 2, 2009

Ninety-five percent of my story is in the first draft. For me, the revision process is about polishing, polishing, polishing, not tearing up or embellishing.

Patrice · May 3, 2009

bohica said:
Slice & dice. First draft is brain vomit, second go-round is me picking out the bits that are still yummy.

Gross but apt. This is me too. In my day job I write to a very specific limit so I am used to cutting very finely. So I mostly cut but I do flesh out scenes and subplots as needed.

Anyone else get a thrill from editing? I love the writing and then I love going back in and polishing away.

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