Oh my god. It's SO much fun to edit...

WannabeWriter · Apr 5, 2008

So last week, I started editing my first draft so that I can type the second draft. I have to say that it's a lot of fun. I said somewhere that editing is so much easier than writing from scratch. I can say that it's surely true. It's also great how I have the standard for how my writing should look, based on the way my favorite authors write, and making changes here and there that will bring the whole piece closer to the final product.

It's great to have this much inspiration in the long editing stage. Anyone else feel the same way?

Constantine K · Apr 5, 2008

Luckily I don't have to edit anything yet. I'm starting my second draft in approx. one week, but it's almost from scratch, and I'll only be using my first draft as a reference.

Yay for putting off editing for another few months!

Matera the Mad · Apr 5, 2008

I've edited so long I will have a hoorendibus withdrawal problem if I ever finish -- it's my favorite indoor sport.

darrtwish · Apr 5, 2008

I can only agree with you up to a certain point. At first it's fun to edit, but when it gets to the point where I start to question nearly ever sentence, then it's not so fun anymore.

Birol · Apr 5, 2008

I find it more fun to edit other people's work than my own.

icerose · Apr 5, 2008

No. I hate, no, despise editing my own work. I much prefer writing it. I don't mind editing other people's work as long as they are listening to what I have to say, but absolutely hate editing my own stuff. I will delay finish a piece just to put off the editing I hate it that bad.

JoNightshade · Apr 5, 2008

Matera the Mad said:
I've edited so long I will have a hoorendibus withdrawal problem if I ever finish -- it's my favorite indoor sport.

You're sick. Very, very sick.

Shady Lane · Apr 5, 2008

Dude. I love editing. 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th drafts? Bring 'em on. It's that 1st one that makes me want to slit my wrists.

crtaylor · Apr 6, 2008

Editing? I like it to a point. If I am starting to question every other word then I know I have spent too long on it and I need to stop and take a step back. It can be a bit of a problem if you're a perfectionist, and I so am.

underthecity · Apr 6, 2008

I like revising, or editing, whichever term you prefer. I'm taking the crap I've written as a first draft and turning it into something wonderful.

However, since I've actually added 27,000 words in the revision process, I can't say that I love revising any more. It's almost like a reverse-editing in this case. The first draft needed a lot of fleshing out in many spots. Also, I've added many scenes and at least three full chapters that were needed.

Now, forty pages from the ending, I just want the thing to be done.

So I can start draft 3.

Sigh.

Oh wait, wasn't it supposed to be fun to edit? I forgot.

allen

BlueTexas · Apr 6, 2008

I'm having a blast editing right now, but I'm only at chapter three of nineteen. Mostly I think it's fun because I tend to under-write, so I get to fill in, and really get a sense of the shape of the whole novel for the first time.

But by chapter nineteen, I bet I feel like underthecity.

dawinsor · Apr 6, 2008

I love revising. I'm so much more relaxed when I do it than when I draft, even though, like Blue Texas, I underwrite and wind up adding a lot. I think I'm reassured by knowing I have a whole story that's now getting better.

Linda Adams · Apr 6, 2008

I'm looking forward to getting my first draft out of the way so I can start revising. I think revising is so much easier than the initial creation.

Angelinity · Apr 6, 2008

WannabeWriter said:
So last week, I started editing my first draft so that I can type the second draft. I have to say that it's a lot of fun. I said somewhere that editing is so much easier than writing from scratch. I can say that it's surely true. It's also great how I have the standard for how my writing should look, based on the way my favorite authors write, and making changes here and there that will bring the whole piece closer to the final product.

It's great to have this much inspiration in the long editing stage. Anyone else feel the same way?

ha! let's hear you say it after the fourth, fifth ....final edit.

WannabeWriter · Apr 6, 2008

dawinsor said:
I love revising. I'm so much more relaxed when I do it than when I draft, even though, like Blue Texas, I underwrite and wind up adding a lot. I think I'm reassured by knowing I have a whole story that's now getting better.

I think that's where the inspiration comes from: knowing that the book is approaching the quality you're aiming for.

laurel29 · Apr 6, 2008

I hate editing. I always feel like I'm running in circles and I end up making things worse.

treehugger · Apr 6, 2008

Editing is awesome. I love going over my work with a red pen, crossing out lines or whole pages and rewriting in the margins or on the back. With the first draft I'm setting down the skeleton of the story, but it's with editing, revising, and rewritng that it actually comes to life.

Mr Flibble · Apr 6, 2008

Matera the Mad said:
I've edited so long I will have a hoorendibus withdrawal problem if I ever finish -- it's my favorite indoor sport.

I know one indoor sport that's more fun -- but you need two people for that.

I luuuurve editting. But not as much as playing hide the sausage.

bluntforcetrauma · Apr 6, 2008

WannabeWriter said:
So last week, I started editing my first draft so that I can type the second draft. I have to say that it's a lot of fun. I said somewhere that editing is so much easier than writing from scratch. I can say that it's surely true. It's also great how I have the standard for how my writing should look, based on the way my favorite authors write, and making changes here and there that will bring the whole piece closer to the final product.

It's great to have this much inspiration in the long editing stage. Anyone else feel the same way?

First of all, please get professional help. I plead with you. Writing is easy. Editing is the 9th level of Hell and being force fed cream-style corn while watching Oprah, all rolled into one. You have my pity.

Bartholomew · Apr 6, 2008

I love editing SO much. I want to be an editor more than I want to be a writer.

mikeland · Apr 6, 2008

bluntforcetrauma said:
First of all, please get professional help. I plead with you. Writing is easy. Editing is the 9th level of Hell and being force fed cream-style corn while watching Oprah, all rolled into one. You have my pity.

Yeah, what he said. And quoting other people is even easier than writing.

Um, but I kind of like creamed corn.

bluntforcetrauma · Apr 6, 2008

mikeland said:
Yeah, what he said. And quoting other people is even easier than writing.

Um, but I kind of like creamed corn.

You may have hit on something, Mike. We could just quote people, say something brief, then post it. Saves so much time and effort! I like yer thinkin'!

Cream style corn? Mike, you have my pity.

mikeland · Apr 6, 2008

bluntforcetrauma said:
You may have hit on something, Mike. We could just quote people, say something brief, then post it. Saves so much time and effort! I like yer thinkin'!

Yes!

KTC · Apr 6, 2008

WannabeWriter said:
So last week, I started editing my first draft so that I can type the second draft. I have to say that it's a lot of fun. I said somewhere that editing is so much easier than writing from scratch. I can say that it's surely true. It's also great how I have the standard for how my writing should look, based on the way my favorite authors write, and making changes here and there that will bring the whole piece closer to the final product.

It's great to have this much inspiration in the long editing stage. Anyone else feel the same way?

I'd hit you if you were here beside me. Probably over the head with a cast iron frying pan. But you're not. That makes me sad.

Writing = Fun
Editing = Pain

ishtar'sgate · Apr 6, 2008

Editing is fun as long as the changes actually improve the story. It's when I start second-guessing my revisions that I run into trouble. When that happens I have to push the thing aside for a month or more to gain perspective, give it one more shot and then leave it alone. Well, I leave it alone except for the compulsive nitpicking while the manuscript is making its rounds.

Linnea

Oh my god. It's SO much fun to edit...

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

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