In Stephen King's writing book, he says he normally cuts about 10 percent during the editing process. I've just finished the third draft. I went from 63,584 to 59,547. I just wonder if I've cut enough.
Is cutting 10 percent really necessary?
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Key word here is "he." Stephen King normally cuts 10 percent, not every author.
Some over-write, and cut 50 or 75 percent. Others write it perfectly the first time around, and cut nothing.
Some over-write, and cut 50 or 75 percent. Others write it perfectly the first time around, and cut nothing.
"On Writing" is an excellent How To book, but I find How To books make writers paranoid. People have been crafting stories long before King came around, and they'll continue to do so long after we're gone. There's no substitute for just sitting down at your keyboard, your typewriter or your brown paper bag and crayon and letting it all flow.
(With lots of revision afterwards, of course!...However much is needed.)
(With lots of revision afterwards, of course!...However much is needed.)
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The way I write (with lots of outlining ahead of time), I don't cut anywhere near ten percent. I've got friends that end up cutting way more than ten percent. It all depends.
Have you cut out all the unnecessary words? If so, you've cut enough. If no, you haven't. That's really the only measure that has a prayer of being true for every writing style.
Have you cut out all the unnecessary words? If so, you've cut enough. If no, you haven't. That's really the only measure that has a prayer of being true for every writing style.
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King overwrites, so by cutting 10% he's trimming fat in his writing. Some people, like me, underwrite, and I actually need to add words to my draft sometimes.
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As for me each successive draft after the first ADDS words and then about the sixth draft the word count goes back down.
For example the first draft of LOTTERY was 59,000. The second was about 72,000 -- after working with my agent (for submission) it got up to 85,000. The first pass edit with my editor at Putnam Lottery swelled to 89,000 and the final pass it was 87,000 words which is what it is now. A whole chapter was cut (along with adverbs, that, and certain flowery adjectives) but other parts were expanded.
King is not saying that this is what you must do -- he is saying only that is what HE does. Every writer has his or her own style.
For example the first draft of LOTTERY was 59,000. The second was about 72,000 -- after working with my agent (for submission) it got up to 85,000. The first pass edit with my editor at Putnam Lottery swelled to 89,000 and the final pass it was 87,000 words which is what it is now. A whole chapter was cut (along with adverbs, that, and certain flowery adjectives) but other parts were expanded.
King is not saying that this is what you must do -- he is saying only that is what HE does. Every writer has his or her own style.
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There is no % carved in stone. That is just silly. Just edit until it is the best piece you can possibly present for consideration. Trying to cut 10% is just silly. Make it polished and succinct and then submit it. If it's picked up, it will go through another editing process. When people say stuff like what Stephen King said in On Writing, it is just an extremely loose guideline...not something you should actually follow.
My final drafts are always larger than the first. For the latest one, first draft was 96k, now it's 104k.
I tend to skimp on description and elaboration in the first few drafts.
But I do wonder sometimes if this is "right", because I can't recall ever cutting entire scenes or chapters. The only cutting I do is on the smaller scale, where it's a few words or sentences.
I tend to skimp on description and elaboration in the first few drafts.
But I do wonder sometimes if this is "right", because I can't recall ever cutting entire scenes or chapters. The only cutting I do is on the smaller scale, where it's a few words or sentences.
You don't need to take him literally. There is no percentage. Just do what you feel is right. If something looks superfluous, cut it. I find that perception improves with time - if you have the time put the draft aside for a month or so and then read through. You'll find you're looking at it from a bit of a distance and you've gained enough objectivity to start seeing what you need to see when cutting. Ask yourself as you read whether the writing accomplishes anything - does it move plot onwards, create atmosphere, provide character insight via dialogue or introspection, set up character dynamic and so on. If it doesn't, chop and/or edit.
Like Ray, I underwrite, sometimes by as much as 20k. For some, the first draft is about getting every detail and then some in. For me it's about getting the story down on paper, and for some scenes only writing a paragraph or two.
I tend to overwrite and make things too wordy, so my stories, which I've already let be read by friends and family, could undergo another round of editing. When self-editing the first and second books I added a couple of scenes while deleting and revising many others, so the total word count didn't go up or down significantly. Every writer is different, as is every book or short story.
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I usually overwrite on the first draft, but I also tend to forget to connect some scenes logically. On my first revision I cut 15% of unnecessary/repetitive stuff and added 10% of necessary stuff I forgot the first time, so the word count didn't change much.
Everyone writes differently. Stephen King was just saying what he does.
Everyone writes differently. Stephen King was just saying what he does.
With my short stuff, yeah, I usually cut quite a bit. But with long works, I am always too short.
I tend to underwrite too, so on my first edit, I have to add a lot of words.
However, on the second edit, I have to cut all my overused adverbs...that's at least 5%! I love those adverbs!
However, on the second edit, I have to cut all my overused adverbs...that's at least 5%! I love those adverbs!
I underwrite. I usually have to add description and internal thoughts after the initial writing, and even then it is often "sparse" for some tastes.
Thanks everyone. I really do think I've cut enough. It's funny because I had to add a subplot and still managed to cut it down.
This describes the process for me. That said, I do tend to be a 10% writer. I delete and add on the second draft, but the second draft usually finishes close to firstdraftlessten.
I think the important thing to consider is that it's about writing tight. Cut unnecessary words, even if you love that phrase or section you have to remove because it doesn't move the story forward.
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I've just finished editing a manuscript where, based on chapter word counts, I cut roughly one chapter, or 1/23 of the draft. Looks like I overwrote, so I know what to do (or not) for next time.
I just cut a paragraph I really love today, but just didn't make much sense in the larger context. It was hard, but I'm glad I did it.
That said, my writing is much too sparse and drafts for me are adding adding adding. Usually description, which I basically have to be forced to shove in there.
That said, my writing is much too sparse and drafts for me are adding adding adding. Usually description, which I basically have to be forced to shove in there.
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