I just finished writing a long fantasy novel.
My usual, is to let it stew for a month or so then revisit it and do a hard edit.
While waiting, I pulled out a WIP I really want to work on. It's a slightly futuristic Hard Sci-Fi.
Getting my brain wrapped around the change in story types is not going well.
Anyone have a good suggestion?
Shad
Anyone have a good suggestion?
4 ounces of Seagram's Honey, 4 ounces of Chi-Chi's Long Island Iced Tea, 8 ounces of Coca-cola (or sweet tea), with about 4 ice cubes in it.
After you're about half way done with the drink, you may not be able to type coherently, but you ought to be able to help your train of thought through the switch yard of your brain with it. (At least that's what works for me.)
4 ounces of Seagram's Honey, 4 ounces of Chi-Chi's Long Island Iced Tea, 8 ounces of Coca-cola (or sweet tea), with about 4 ice cubes in it.
I'm allergic to caffiene. but a glass of wine and some cheese and crackers does sound good. ( doc strongly frowns on more than one drink a week for some silly reason)
Shad
I go back a couple of chapters and start reading. Puts my mind in the proper line of thought, and I edit and rewrite as I read.
Anyone have a good suggestion?
Copious quantities of alcohol, pizza, one gypsy goat, and a singing parakeet would be a suggestion. After you wake up, the odd noises from the parakeet and the amorous look in the goats eyes will leave you motivated to forget after a couple of days. Should be good to go writing after that.
Remus2
I'll think i can pass on that one.
Going to try and edit for a few days. hope that will reset my brain
Shad
Find some short stories in a similar vein to what you want to write and read those to get "in the mood" so to speak. Hopefully that will work and might even jumpstart some ideas. Good Luck and hope to see that story soon.
I hate even suggesting it, but according to Scott King's, The ReWrite, he not only suggests a one-month wait before editing, but also specifies 11 separate review reads of the entire (with NO editing, other than making notes), just to identify your outstanding issues.
I myself have never undertaken anything so strenuous, as once I complete my complete first draft, I'll genuinely dive right in (reviewing, revising, clarifying, adding new threads and expounding) since the first several chapters were completed well over a month ago.
As for switching from one story to another, I also take a slightly different path. Since I find that creative writing and editing occur in opposite sides of the brain (creative vs. analytic), I always work on some story, just to ensure that my edits don't go stale. Whether you ultimately use those interim stories doesn't matter, what does is keeping you creative energies alive and thriving during the tedious revision/editing process.
I'm also fairly good at switching from story to story, so when my main backup story doesn't pan out (which is fairly common), I'll start writing chapters in a number of potential stories, just to see which one comes alive, demanding I dedicate my efforts into fleshing it out.
Otherwise, if the story isn't flowing on its own, I find long walks, after emptying your mind, work best. As long as you're aware of what you need (story wise), simply thinking about other things while taking a long walk, often the ideals will congeal without your having to force them.
gruntsgt:
Find some short stories in a similar vein to what you want to write and read those to get "in the mood" so to speak. Hopefully that will work and might even jumpstart some ideas.
Sadly, though a LOT of writers take that approach, but well-known authors caution taking that approach, as you're more likely to either copy aspects of the story outright, or at least 'try out' certain styles, sometimes producing a Frankensteinish writing style (pieces of several other authors, transplanted onto your own narrative).
Thus, I'd avoid reading within the same genre, for example, other sci-fi stories might be OK, but I'd definitely avoid reading in the same sub-genre).
Just my 2 cents.
I agree with most of what you said.
I try and wait a few weeks between finishing a story and giving it a through final edit before i contemplate giving it to an editor.
If i give it the final once over too soon after competion, i just miss too much.
I can also see how i can corupt similar stories that i have written. not so worried about other's writing messing me up.
thanks
Shad
creative writing and editing occur in opposite sides of the brain (creative vs. analytic)
I recently read (or saw on a news program) that that's not true. It's a misconception.
ETA: Ok, I googled it. This isn't where I heard/read it, but it says it's a myth. The article is written by a neuroscientist.
http://yourbrainhealth.com.au/left-brain-right-brain-myth/
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This popular myth has once again been debunked by University of Utah neuroscientists who used brain imaging to show there is NO evidence that people are 'right-brained' or 'left-brained'.
Neuroscientists have always known its a myth, but this is some evidence published in 2013 that's worth exploring here.
I recently read (or saw on a news program) that that's not true. It's a misconception.
ETA: Ok, I googled it. This isn't where I heard/read it, but it says it's a myth. The article is written by a neuroscientist.
I agree, as I'd seriously doubt that the thoughts are physically isolated in either strictly the left or right hemisphere, but the breakdown is similar, as you're breaking out of 'creative' mode and diving into 'analytic' mode. If nothing else, that takes time to readjust, which breaks ANY momentum you had.
For editing, it's not a big deal, as long as you keep writing creatively, you can easily flip between the two to update or revise short passages, but when on a hot-streak, it's best NOT to throw a monkey wrench into your hot productivity period.
But, point taken all the same. I'll quit drawing the left/right hemisphere analogy from now on.
it's best NOT to throw a monkey wrench into your hot productivity period.
I agree 100%.
I edit and write at the same time. Hemingway did it too so I'm in good company. But when I'm on a roll and writing a new scene, I go full steam ahead. Sure, I'll correct a typo when Word flags it, but at that point I'm just creating, happy to know where the story is going.
And sometimes I'll even leave some space and write notes for things to consider in the future and then jump back to writing the new scene.
I agree 100%.
I edit and write at the same time. Hemingway did it too so I'm in good company. But when I'm on a roll and writing a new scene, I go full steam ahead. Sure, I'll correct a typo when Word flags it, but at that point I'm just creating, happy to know where the story is going.
And sometimes I'll even leave some space and write notes for things to consider in the future and then jump back to writing the new scene.
I think were we diverge, is that I'll churn through a chapter, and then NOT scan it for errors, doing an 'on the spot' edit once I'm done. Instead, I save it, until I can view the entire chapter objectively (once I'm not familiar with what I thought I'd wanted to say), whereas other authors will edit it to death, until the chapters appear clean, and then declare it complete.
That's where I draw my creativity/analytical line in the sand. But as far as keeping your editing revisions fresh, as long as you're writing something regularly, it shouldn't be problem.
By the way, Hemmingway did virtually NO editing at all. Instead, he's write one version, consider it and think 'it's not good enough', toss it in the trash and write a completely new version of the chapter. After doing that eight to twelve times, he'd declare himself done, and wouldn't give it a second glance afterwards, leaving it to his publisher's editors to try to clean up his mistakes.
While it certainly worked for him, and was honed while he worked as a battlefield correspondent, I wouldn't suggest that any other author attempt to write 'like Hemmingway' did. ;) He was a proven commodity, both with his publishers and his readers. However, we (SOL and self-published authors) are not!
By the way, Hemmingway did virtually NO editing at all.
What I read was that Hemingway read the entire WIP novel from the beginning to the point he left off and then wrote more. He did that for constancy. But as he was reading, if he saw an error he would fix it. That's what I meant by editing while he wrote.
I'm a slow reader so rereading from the beginning is unfathomable. I'd never get to where I left off. So I reread the chapter from the beginning until the point where I left off. But I make so many changes doing so that often I never get to where I left off.
When my "first draft" is done, it's been edited/revised hundreds of times. But I enjoy tweaking my writing. Changing a word. Rephrasing a sentence. Etc. For me, that's the fun part. Making what I wrote "perfect" (in quotes).
I'm a slow reader so rereading from the beginning is unfathomable. I'd never get to where I left off. So I reread the chapter from the beginning until the point where I left off. But I make so many changes doing so that often I never get to where I left off.
Alas, as well as typing at 400+ wpm, I was also a long-time speed reader. I was 'was' because it made catching typos too difficult, since speed reading involves 'guessing' content based on the shape of letters/words/phrases, so you tend to gloss of the minor points, while retaining essential story details.
Since forcing myself to slow down substantially, I now rarely read much anymore. :( I catch a LOT more errors, but it makes reading painfully slow.
In my case, I like revising only once I know how the entire story plays out. That way, I can add a bunch of foreshadowing and red-herrings, just to keep my readers guessing as to how my stories will turn out (hint: they always turn out well, though often times, the main characters don't).
I'm now doubling down on my literary expertise, leaning techniques I'd never encountered before, but they're ALL suited for the revision phase, so it makes using them while putting the story together difficult. At least with Hemmingway, when he 'refreshed' his memory of the story, making changes wouldn't throw his writing off.
As I noted earlier, sources suggest anyway from one to 11 read-throughs of your first draft, looking for numerous issues without being distracted by the other issues (ex: plot, dialogue, pacing, world and character building, etc.). I haven't tried it yet, but it will substantially slow down my revision progress!
The problem with your tweaks is, as your writing style evolves, those tweaks may not match the rest of your writing. :(
Alas, as well as typing at 400+ wpm,
FYI, the world record is 216 wpm.
Alas, as well as typing at 400+ wpm,
FYI, the world record is 216 wpm.
Sorry, I'm not sure where I got the 400 figure from, but ... I'm questioning your 216 number, as I distinctly recall that my brother survived being dumped by the military for being gay, and only surviving because he could type at 50 wpm, which astounded me, as I typed at more than 4 times that, meaning I type near the all time world's record? I find that difficult to believe. Unfortunately, I doubt that I ever kept my ancient typing scores, either from high school, or the more recent State Disability Career Evaluation I was forced to undergo. :(
The end result, is that (as my LONG diatribes demonstrate) I type much faster than most people talk, as it's really NOT worth my time timing myself through an official test, as I'm fine with the speed at which I type, however friggin' fast it is.) ;)
an official test
I wonder if there needs to be a new WPM test using only thumbs (i.e., on an iPhone).
I wonder if there needs to be a new WPM test using only thumbs (i.e., on an iPhone).
More likely, a new characters-per-second (cps) standard.
I'm questioning your 216 number
According to ratatype.com, the record is 216 WPM set by Stella Pajunas in 1946 on an IBM Electric typewriter as the fastest English language typist (note the "English language").
I don't know how old the statistics are because it says "girls practice typing more often than boys." It has the average typing speeds by boys and girls:
boys = 44 WPM
girls = 37 WPM
And, according to them, the world's fastest speaker is 637 WPM.
I guess someone can type faster on a computer than an old electric typewriter. I know I used to type faster on my desktop PC than I do on my Mac laptop. I liked the keyboard better on the desktop and was able to tilt it.
And now there are new keyboards. The old one was designed to intentionally slow the typist down so the thing-a-magigs don't get stuck.
And now there are new keyboards. The old one was designed to intentionally slow the typist down so the thing-a-magigs don't get stuck.
Alas, those 'slow the typist down' order of letters on a keyboard still persist to this day, despite the fact it slows EVERYONE down to a fraction of their natural typing speeds. However, I recently switched to a mechanical keyboard, where the keys rise higher and make a distinct 'clank' as I type. Aside from the obnoxious results from accidentally pressing the Option key while typing, I'm very happy with it. However, I despise all of the 'low-rise' Mac keyboards and mice. I've tried nearly all of them, and haven't found one useable yet!
FYI, the world record is 216 wpm.
When I was in the Aust public service everyone had to type at a rate of 36 wpm or they could get a job doing any clerical work. If they could type at 65 wpm or better they were classed as being a typist as well as a clerk. Some people with a lot of typing experience were up in the 100 to 160 wpm rate, with some even higher. At different times I was tested and always came out at better than 65 wpm with some tests going as high as 140 wpm, a lot depended on how I was felling at the time - I seem to type slower after the temperature goes over 25 degrees Celsius.
Good to know, and it rang a few bells for me, as I now recall being more in the 150 range. But, having taken a single class in later high-school, I excelled doing programming because I could code so much faster than anyone else, I'd crank out code while also having time to double back and try several unusual approaches.
My main drawback now, is that I type so fast, I'll typically crank out a series of 50 word sentences before brevity even occurs to me, and by then, I've packed so much into the single sentence that I'm reluctant to write anything shorter, though I'm leaning. My latest book rarely even gets into twenty-word sentences, other than the 'adult' secondary and tertiary characters.