How many times do you rework an article before turning it in?

I write it and check it. If it needs to be edited in my opinion, I'll edit it and then do another read through.

However I have reworked articles at times, like when I don't think they flow right-as you said. Or if I really hate what I wrote and feel like it has no hope to be edited right.

I like to write each article for a week! After researching it, I pull the whole thing together roughly, then let it gel for a night or 2. I'll go through the whol thing -- editing and revising -- at least 3 times, on 3 different days, before submitting.

Revisiting it as the week progresses gives me fresh eyes and new insights. It really is amazing how much better it gets as I revise! Those writing experts know what they're talking about with the whole rewriting = good writing thing ;-)

Laurie

I never rewrite an article. What you see is often the first draft or at least heavily proofed and edited. But it's never reworked or rewritten.

I rework it until it feels right. Sometimes you can sit down and it all flows and makes sense and covers every point the first time. Sometimes you edit and edit and edit and then realize you need to throw the darn thing out and start over with a different point of view. Every article is different. When you first start writing for a new editor/publication, it often takes more re-working. After you have worked with someone for a while, you have a better idea how they like things put together.

Is 700 words new for you, Denise? How long are the Metro Briefs?

You'll soon get to the point that, when you have 700 words to write, you'll already know you can only fit in X, Y and Z and you'll even know which order to put them in. It will work itself out in your mind while you're researching. I'll grant you, if it's a totally new subject I might overshoot a bit or maybe initially have the wrong lede. Once I change the lede, the other elements might have to be rearranged.

I like to finish a substantial article at least one day before it's due. Then on the deadline day, I might sharpen up a word or sentence. Maybe substitute a quote. Nothing major. I don't even do that for short things or Web writing. 300 words? 500 words? The possible forms are so limited; what's to rework?

Sure, if you're writing fiction or poetry, you should revise and revise. It will only get better. But to make a living in journalism, you've got to be fast and you've got to be able to say, "It's good enough," even though you know it's not perfect. When you look at the published story a week or a year from now, you'll note some flaws, awkward transitions, whatever. So what? Save near perfection for fiction.

Denise,

You're so right about 700 being a rough word count to work in... I find that exact problem with just enough room to get into detail but not enough to give ALL the details! Trickier than writing 1500 words or more, where essentially most of your research makes it in.

To answer your question, I'm with Orientalist where I don't spend a ton of time re-writing... it IS important to say, "It's good enough" at some point. But this varies *widely* based on the format and the market. My own blog? I skim through it. Magazines that pay $1/word? I revise several times. In many cases, the shorter the piece, if it's for a high-profile client, I revise MORE... every word counts in articles of 500 words or less, even more so than in a much longer piece.

I honestly feel like I used to be a better writer when rates were higher, before the Internet made it acceptable for people to buy articles at $20/pop or less. I can't afford to revise as much as I used to.

Dawn

Yikes. That hurts. I know it's hard to negotiate after the fact, but any chance they can pay your phone expenses if you explain the situation?

stldenise said:

Oh geez. Dang it!

Here's a word of advice. When your editor asks if you called that guy in New Zealand to get a quote...ask if you can wait for email contact. I just made a freakin' $70 phone call to round out a $150 article.

At least I'm getting a byline.

I better start digging up some other markets for this story idea, I need to sell it again!

Click to expand...

Can you re-work the information you collected into a story for another publication using a slightly different angle?

I like to write a rough draft, then put it away. The next day I take it out and look at it again, smoothing it out. I then put it away again and do this one more time, perhaps two if it needs it.

That said, there are some articles that are done after the first "smoothing". Some are harder than others. I find when I use quoted material, it can take a bit of work to make it all gel.

Denise, ask the editor for phone expenses. Particularly if she suggested making the contact, I would fully expect to be reimbursed. It doesn't hurt to ask!

stldenise said:

I just sent in a 700 word piece for a newspaper. This might sound like small potatoes for some of you pros, but I'm still at the early stages of getting bylines in the big city paper. (I do a lot for the Metro Briefs without a byline.)

Plus it was for a section I hadn't written for yet, so I was overly paranoid to get it right.

So, question: How many times do you guys normally go over an article before turning it in? This one was a record for me, I rewrote it five times to get the dang thing to flow right, answer all the questions the editor told me to look for, and work in enough details.

I figure it was worth the trouble, since I don't land clippable pieces in the Post that often. Then I wonder if I was working it to death...

Click to expand...

Small potatoes? Phooey. Woman, you deserve a thumbs up. 700 words in a largely circulated publication is great! Stop shortchanging yourself. From what you've listed, you are a pro. (or close!)

Normally, I edit as I go. I don't often go back and do a total rewrite and if I do, the first version is used elsewhere. It's been a while since I pitched and landed in print, but I've only completely re-written -totally changed- something once for a .75 cent a word deal.

Like Cat, I'd be far more likely to do that again for a higher paying market.

This is awesome Denise! Way to go! I do fuss over my work. lol. I write a rough draft and then go back over it a few time before sending it in. If time permits, I'll ask someone to review it for me. Congrats again and sorry to hear about that phone call. lol Maybe you can negotiate that as part of the deal with the editor?

great thread!!

I totally fuss too much over my printed articles too.. I'm not so particular for the web mostly..

It's really helpful to see how you all go about it - & congrats Denise for landing such a great article too!!

I still need to learn to negotiate better & actually get paid proper for the work I do, sigh!! & oh I can relate to phone bills, even though smaller!!

I was coming out of a slump recently, and every article I wrote had to be read over, then rewritten from scratch. That fortunately only lasted two or three articles, but it was killing me as I NEVER write that roughly or that poorly.

Once I have a decent first draft, I generally put it away for a night, sleep on it, and read it again later. If I don't have a night, I give myself a few hours at least! I rarely need more than one smoothing session. Sometimes on a tight deadline I employ hubby as a backup editor. We always catch completely different things.

lol I use my Mum to be my 'editor' sometimes - she sometimes sees different things than I do too!
& it's good to have another opinion anyway...

I think it's worst if the temperature in the computer room gets too hot & my brains seem to sizzle.. yuck..
must print out the article & carry it to a cooler room downstairs

This thread is really helpful. I find that 700 wc pieces are very tricky for most of the reasons listed above. I've had to learn that writing tight is as much of a skill as anything else we need in our bag of tricks.

As for reworking, I let the piece sit overnight to marinate and then revisit it. One thing that has worked really well for me, though, is to read it out loud. I'm always amazed at things I catch when I do that.

I also use my hubs as first-line ed. He will question phrasing, etc. 95% of the time I agree with him, which is highly unusual .

My Mum's grammar is bad, but she has some useful insights & is basically target market of a magazine I'm writing for, so if the article passes her judgement, I know it's pretty much okay-ish..

I find writing 1-page/1200-word or so articles tricky too, as it's difficult to focus on the most important things & say everything.. usually end up cutting stuff from longer draft too..

Denise do tell if you manage to get the phone bills paid & how

I don't sell big time articles, so I don't have time to revise. I write it once, read it again and edit as I go, and turn it in. I usually edit as I go (despite what NaNoWriMo says) and sometimes rearrange a little. I rarely get asked for rewrites, knock on wood, unless I completely missed something in the instructions.