Best Writing Technique?

McM · Feb 19, 2010

Hey, while writing my first novel, I'm sort of wondering what is a more effective way of writing.

Do you find it better to write one or two chapters, and then edit them into oblivion until you get what you want, and then move on.
Or do you write the entire story, and then go back and edit it from top to bottom.

I'm currently doing the first technique, and although it gets a bit repetitive, I think it gives me a better understanding of the story im trying to tell. In your opinion, which is a better way to write?

Kitty Pryde · Feb 19, 2010

ughhhhhh write the whole thing first. it's way easier. Don't edit each chapter as you write it--that way lies madness!

Just my $ .02

Adam · Feb 19, 2010

I agree with Kitty. I find that my writing flows much more easily if I save editing until after I've finished the first draft.

Linda Adams · Feb 19, 2010

If you do that, you'll be forever on the first chapters and maybe not finish the book. I did that with a previous one, spending several months on the chapters--then got 100 pages in, realized it started in the wrong place. First chapters gone. Then, on the second draft, those chapters went, too. You really need the whole book done to know how the book should start.

McM · Feb 19, 2010

Well with what I'm writing now it isn't really a novel I am making up. Its putting together the memoires of my late friend, into an inspiring and interesting book.

But yes, it seems like a chapters work is NEVER done. I could edit one chapter for months and months.

McM · Feb 19, 2010

Well with what I'm writing now it isn't really a novel I am making up. Its putting together the memoires of my late friend, into an inspiring and interesting book.

But yes, it seems like a chapters work is NEVER done. I could edit one chapter for months and months.

Lyra Jean · Feb 19, 2010

write the whole thing then go back and edit.

maestrowork · Feb 19, 2010

McM said:
Hey, while writing my first novel, I'm sort of wondering what is a more effective way of writing.

Do you find it better to write one or two chapters, and then edit them into oblivion until you get what you want, and then move on.
Or do you write the entire story, and then go back and edit it from top to bottom.

I'm currently doing the first technique, and although it gets a bit repetitive, I think it gives me a better understanding of the story im trying to tell. In your opinion, which is a better way to write?

I've done both, and I will tell you my experience: definitely write the whole thing first, then go back to edit. Hands down.

The other way (edit as you go) stopped me in my tracks. Kept refining, rewriting -- my internal editor just wouldn't let go. It took me 18 months to write 50,000 words.

I've know people who NEVER finished what they started because they were stuck in the writing-editing-writing-edit loop...

ishtar'sgate · Feb 19, 2010

I don't know that there's any best way to write, only what works best for you. I work much the same way you do. I spend ages getting my opening right and then when I'm satisfied with that I move on. I begin each writing day by editing what I wrote the previous day. I continue on like that until I'm finished a chapter and then go over the whole chapter, making revisions, additions and cuts. Once the manuscript is completed I put it aside (no peeking) for a couple of months and do something entirely different then go back with fresh eyes and make final changes. That's the method that works best for me.

The Lonely One · Feb 19, 2010

I'll say it depends--are you confident and efficient enough to make quick and ruthless edits along the way and move on without lingering for days? Then I'd say fix particularly bothersome issues along the way. Are you a perfectionist who dwells? Maybe a strong dose of "first drafts can be sh*t" would help.

kaitie · Feb 19, 2010

I know that for me, personally, I write a chunk, go back and give it a quick edit, nothing too serious for the most part, then when I hit about halfway I do it again, but I don't do any major edits until I'm finished with the whole thing. I do like going back through the beginning a bit, though, because sometimes I find things that no longer make sense, or I'll find something that I had forgotten I said that turns out to be important. On this current work, I'm finding things that link into later parts of the story and tie everything together. That's just me, though.

Danthia · Feb 20, 2010

I sort of mix the two. I'll write a rough draft of a chapter just to get the ideas down and see how things play out, then I go back and edit it before moving on. It's not a full edit, more of a fleshing out. I'll do a real edit after the first draft is done.

I also tend to jump back and forth to tweak things when I write something cool later and it needs more groundwork earlier in the novel. (this happens when something unexpected happens and I just come up with a really great scene or moment that wasn't planned). If it's something I need to figure out before I move on, I'll revise, if not I'll make notes for the draft and keep going.

It's really more about your writing process than what's "better." There are pros and cons to both ways. It's easy to get stuck in revision mode and never move forward, but it's also easy to go off track and find out you've written thousands of words you'll have to cut later because you lost your focus.

Do what works for you. As long as you're making progress and not spinning your writing wheels, you're good.

Bufty · Feb 20, 2010

Hey, write it all first -the other way is a sure-fire method of going nowhere fast.

And, hey, I can't see how it gives you a better understanding of the story you are trying to tell.

At best, hey, editing into oblivion as you go will send you to oblivion and you will never finish.

Heigh ho!

McM said:
Hey, while writing my first novel, I'm sort of wondering what is a more effective way of writing.

Do you find it better to write one or two chapters, and then edit them into oblivion until you get what you want, and then move on.
Or do you write the entire story, and then go back and edit it from top to bottom.

I'm currently doing the first technique, and although it gets a bit repetitive, I think it gives me a better understanding of the story im trying to tell. In your opinion, which is a better way to write?

KD_Kilker · Feb 20, 2010

I typically wait until the first draft is complete. Maybe I'll re-read a chapter when I'm done with it and tweak sentences, chop passages--but nothing major. If there's anything I end up wanting to add, I mention it in the notes. I have a folder for every series (if it's going to be a series), and within it one for every book, every draft, every chapter. Within every chapter's folder, I keep a document containing notes for said chapter, which I look through and integrate when I'm working on the second draft.

I try to keep my internal editor at bay, at least until I need him.

scarletpeaches · Feb 20, 2010

I'm another one who writes it all first. There's no point editing until you have the entire work in your hands (or on the computer) because you don't know what will be relevant or appropriate to any given scene until the story's complete.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 20, 2010

I write start to finish, but I will rwrite a sentence if, as I'm typing it, butt ugly jumps off the page and bites my nose. I see no point in leaving a sentence untouched when I know it's horrible.

I wouldn't do this if it happened very often, but I think the most difficult task in the writing world is turning a sow's ear first draft into a silk purse final draft. What starts off bad usually ends up mediocre, at best.

But it's all up to you. Dean Kootz says he rewrites each page up to thirty times before moving on to the next page, and he's extremely successful, and very prolific. He also says he spends up to seventy hours per week at the keyboard.

There's a simple test. If you're making steady progress on the novel, if you're adding a reasonable number of new pages each week, you're method is fine.

RJK · Feb 20, 2010

I correct the obvious errors as I type or when I go back to read what I've done, but normally, true editing and revision waits until I've finished the first draft.
I have been struck in the forehead by the muse, part way through a draft, which forces me to go back and change the plot many chapters back. I'll do that during first draft, so that it makes sense going forward.

Summonere · Feb 20, 2010

Write all of it. As quickly as possible. All the way to the end. Then go back and fix whatever needs fixing. I find that trying to doodle with the individual parts of a story while I'm still building it mucks everything up, tossing my brain right out the window of interesting forward progress and straight into the rubbish heap of second-guessing, self-doubt, and missing-the-forest-for-the-trees myopia.

I do second this, though:

Jamesaritchie said:
I write start to finish, but I will rwrite a sentence if, as I'm typing it, butt ugly jumps off the page and bites my nose. I see no point in leaving a sentence untouched when I know it's horrible.

ishtar'sgate · Feb 20, 2010

Bufty said:
Hey, write it all first -the other way is a sure-fire method of going nowhere fast.

See, now that's how everyone is different. I'd go nuts if I attempted to write it all first. I can't stand leaving things that don't look right to me. It doesn't have to be perfect but it does have to be satisfying - and then I can move on.

C.M.C. · Feb 20, 2010

One word at a time.

DeadlyAccurate · Feb 20, 2010

The main reason most people suggest writing it all at once is because many, many people get stuck editing and never finish. I usually suggest for a first book to write it to completion first, just so you can say, "I wrote an entire book." Then you know you have it in you to finish one.

No book is ever completely, perfectly edited. You can edit the same page 20 times and still find something you'd like to change.

kaitie · Feb 21, 2010

DeadlyAccurate said:
No book is ever completely, perfectly edited. You can edit the same page 20 times and still find something you'd like to change.

This is so true.

Ruv Draba · Feb 21, 2010

A great deal of serious editing can't be done until you have the whole story in place. Some scenes will need to be deleted. Others may need to be broken down and merged or split. Sometimes you'll need to tweak mood, or fix logic holes, or twiddle through-lines. My suggestion: plan it out if you can, write it out in full once you've broken the story, and then edit.

Mr Flibble · Feb 21, 2010

Whatever works for you, obviously. But unless / until you know you can finish a book, might be best to get the story out first.

I try and get my prose clean on the first draft - second draft is for plot holes / shaky motivations / do I really need this scene / do I need to add a scene stuff. Working out the right shape of the story if you will. That's what I mean by the first draft doesn't have to be brilliant. That draft is me chucking out ideas and seeing what works, but the prose still has to be good.

Also, when I start writing for the day, I re-read what I did yesterday, tweak the prose, rearrange awkward sentences. It a) gets me back into the story / character's head ready for today's writing b) means I need less editing at the end and c) it soothes my inner critic so I can concentrate on just getting new words down.

That said, I usually write up to the start of the climax and then go back to edit from the beginning. Mainly because I don't outline so by the time I've got there, things have changed from what I thought the book was about and / or the plot has evolved. I go back and tidy all that up, get it straight and then I'm good to go for the climax.

Again, that's only what works for me. There have been several good suggestions here. Maybe try one or two and see what works for you?

Bufty · Feb 21, 2010

This is not addressed to anyone in particular but it's always easy to forget this is a BEGINNER'S Forum.

What one currently does after one has been writing for years or after one has developed as a professional is not always the solution for a beginner or relevant to the problems encountered even though it may be sound general advice in itself.

Nobody has suggested that until one has finished one does absolutely nothing by way of say rectifying sentences that seem wrong or changing spelling or a line of dialogue or whatever that instantly strike one as needing attention, but the OP clearly said they edited into oblivion.

Best Writing Technique?

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