Articles with the Editing and Critique Tag
This post is part of the Guest Post Giveaway at the blog Unready and Willing. If you think articles about writing or personal development (or personal development for writers) sounds like a good fit for your blog, please take a look at the Guest Post Giveaway page and see if any of the articles spark your interest.
You may be familiar with the phrase “Murder your Darlings.” This is the mantra repeated over and over again by teachers of the revision process. For many writers this is a painful ordeal that seems to take the life from a piece. Painful as it is, cutting out the parts that seem most precious to you is essential in polishing your work. Oftentimes when an editor will suggest that you cut a passage out of your story or novel, it’ll be one of your favorite sections–this is probably because you felt very good writing it. You were in the flow, and everything that fell onto the page just “felt right” to you. And now this editor wants you to cut it? To trash it as though it never existed? How could they be so cruel?
Is this the part of the writing process that you hate the most? Do hate the feeling that the passages that you had had so much pleasure writing will not see the light of day? I certainly did when I started out writing, but there are good reasons for cutting the fat. Although certain passages are beautifully written, they may do nothing to contribute to a story’s plot or give any insight to the characters. Exchanges of dialogue, though clever, may not really be important at all. The character that you snuck into chapter three was forced into the story just because you thought he or she was interesting. Lost in the flow of your writing, you might have spent two paragraphs describing a horse-carriage and not even know it. These passages simply don’t belong.
Instead of getting out your ax and murdering your darlings right then and there, however, why not consider dropping them off at the orphanage so that another story might be able to pick them up? Essentially you can create a database of written material that just didn’t make the cut for your other stories. Not only does this take some of the pain out of revision, but it also can give you a place to access characters, descriptions, and clever turns of phrases that simply didn’t fit in your other work. Whenever you feel writer’s block coming on, you can infuse some of the good stuff you didn’t use from your previous work into your new one.
To establish this orphanage, create a folder on your computer for your rescued darlings and then make sub-folders with names like “characters,” “descriptions,” “dialogues,” “settings,” and so on. Every time you cut a substantial part from your story, copy it and paste into a new document. Title the document in a way that you’ll be able to recognize it easily when you come back to it. Your “settings” folder would have documents titled “Roadside Cafe,” “African Village” and so on. The “Characters” folder could have documents with the character names, or just a short description like: “Nerdy Mobster” or, “Obsessive-Compulsive Stockbroker.”
Personally I find that I tend not to use too many of my rescued darlings in my new work. It’s comforting, however, to know that they’ll always be there waiting should you ever need them.
Kenji Crosland is a creative writing major who, scared of becoming a starving artist, became a corporate headhunter in Tokyo. Since then he’s regained his sanity, quit his job, and now blogs about creating an ideal career at unreadyandwilling.com. He is also developing a web application that just might change the internet. Follow him on Twitter: @KenjiCrosland.
Have you ever cut a part of your story that you really wished you’d kept? What do you do with the darlings you cut? Have you used a character or scene that didn’t make the cut in one story for another? What kinds of safety nets do you use when editing and revising your work?
I feel quite honored being able to pop in and share a bit about myself and writing with each of you here. As the new bird on the block, an introduction seems necessary.
I am Mysti Guymon. I am a mother to two boys, both high needs. My time is limited throughout the day and most often I can be found writing the old-school way, early in the morning or far too late at night. I tend to capitalize “my time” when I should be sleeping. Maintaining early mornings and late nights can make for some pretty exhausting days, but in the end I’m still able to maintain my passion for writing.
Writing takes many different forms in our lives. Most recently, I’ve had the grand experience of creating invitations. Grammar, word selection and placement are important faucets when creating invitations. Most events in our lives are quite casual. This event, my wedding, took a much more formal stance.
The basic etiquette of wedding invitations:
- Utilize the full name of bride and groom. If space is an issue, omitting the middle name is acceptable.
- British spelling of favor (favour) and honor (honour) is recommended.
- Spell out all words including the hour, date and year. Saint (St.) and Mount (Mt.) are the only two abbreviations accepted.
- In names containing numerals (third) utilize roman numerals (III).
- For ceremonies taking place in a house of worship, you will “request the honour of your presence” whereas a garden wedding you will “request the pleasure of your company.”
If you are looking at creating your own invitations for a wedding down the road, a few key points to keep in mind:
- Are you issuing the invitations as a couple?
- Are you the parent of the bride issuing invitations?
- Are you the parent of the groom issuing invitations?
- Is the wedding of the garden variety?
- Would the couple be wed in a church?
Each question brings with it a different choice of invitation styles. The first and increasingly popular scenario, is couples issuing wedding invitations themselves. In this situation, the Bride and Groom’s full names will print at the top. All pertinent information will follow in sequence of date, time, place. The address of the location will always print at the bottom of the invitation.
Should the bride’s parents issue the invitation, it would read:
Mr. and Mrs. (Brides Father’s Name)
Request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter (Bride’s full name)
and (Groom’s full name)
on (Month, Date, Year)
at (full time)
Location Name
Location Address
Should the groom’s parents issue the invitation, it would read:
(Bride’s full name)
and (Groom’s full name)
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
on (Month, Date, Year)
at (full time)
Location Name
Location Address
There are many more issues that could arise when creating invitations. Some circumstances to consider are a widowed parent, divorced and remarried parents, divorced and one remarried parent issuing the invitations. As we didn’t have to contend with those situations, you might want to check Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette for suggestions.
As always, writing can be fun, invigorating and inspiring. Somewhere midst the grandeur comes grammar. Invitations are no different, even for a writer!
Recently on Writer’s Round-About I talked about inner demons. Those nasty creatures that sit on our shoulder snarling negative propaganda about us and our writing. Well, they certainly sit on my shoulder but I’m sure there is a little demon with varied degree of power for each of us. Who is your little demon? Do you have just one or many?
George Singleton has a fantastic little pep-talk, number 16, in his book, Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds:
If it is true that the audience members applaud as a maestro takes the stage, or when an actor emerges from the wings, because they wish to rid the venue from spirits and demons, then please make sure that you never enter your writing space while clapping. In fiction writing, it may be best to have as many specters and demons perched in the rafters as possible.
What do you think George meant?
How Can Our Demons Help Us?
Demons, inner or otherwise, gain power through fear and intimidation. Their ability to scare creates emotional and sometimes physical reactions. Sometimes, fear hinders us, freezing us in place, but fear is also a natural and positive response.
Fear can cause an adrenaline release. Adrenaline lets us move faster, think faster, act faster. It speeds our responses, heightens our senses, and energizes our endorphins. By embracing the fear these demons create we can bring emotion onto the page and we are more likely to feel the emotion coming off the page as we write. It helps us develop the right tone and depth and gives us a positive boost in motivation and momentum.
Our demons also force us to be cautious. To examine options, evaluate choices. While this may be more hindrance than help in the first stages of writing, welcoming our demons in the editing stage is a must. It is their voice that helps us meticulously comb our manuscript for errors and inconsistencies.
Other Demons To Consider
Our inner demons are not the only ones who play a role in our writing. These demons are a creation of the mind. They are our brains way of compartmentalizing our fears and insecurities. Our ability to create inner demons is a sign of fertile imagination and creativity. These demons are not the only ones who accompany us during the writing process.
Your protagonists must have demons of their own. They can be real or imagined, inner demons, or physical demons. Readers tend to associate best with well-rounded, balanced, characters. Characters need to have flaws and weaknesses. They need to have room to grow. It is normal for characters to face fears of their own.
More literally they also have the demonic aspects of their mirror, the antagonist. The antagonist has demons also, and can be the dark element of the story, a demon in his own right.
Can you see the demons and specters that haunt the rafters of your writing place? What influence do they have on your work? How do they help you? Answer these questions in the comments!
I was recently re-reading a guest post, “Learn it, Live it, Write it!“, written by Jenny Greenleaf about this time last year. In the post, Jenny talks about this mantra and how learning to live it and write it helped her career grow. In 2008 she continued to do amazing things as she learned, lived, and wrote. As I read over her post again, I started to really think about the questions she asked last year.
What Are MY Future Goals?
What are YOUR future goals? Have you thought about the direction your blog, career, or writing will take in the coming months? I have!
The fact is, I want MORE! In 2008 I made some significant leaps forward. I had some wonderful commissions, committed to a few long term projects, and began to step away from freelance writing to encompass my love of editing and web technology. I grew as a freelancer, and it was wonderful, but what I have today is not enough to sate my appetite for the work I do.
In 2009, I am dedicated to maximizing my potential. I am putting a great deal more of my every day energy into my current projects and spending several hours a week actively seeking new job leads, marketing my services, and socializing through the community.
What turn can you take to re-awaken your snoozing career?
I will develop strong, balanced, and giving friendships. Freelancers often lead rather solitary lives. I’ve found that embracing others enlivens me. I need to be able to turn to a friend when I’m struggling with fear or to share my joys.
I’ve never truly felt comfortable reaching out to others. As such, making friends is a constant struggle. This year I want to learn more about making and sustaining enriching relationships. I want to embrace friendship with people who share my passion for freelancing, web technology, writing, and more. Do you want to be a part of that with me?
What can you do to propel your career in the direction it wants to go?
I am committed to finishing my current novel. I will be in New York from the 26th of May to the 2nd of June, 2009 and will pitch my book at the pitch slam following Writer’s Digest’s Writer’s Conference. A great deal of work remains to be done. I really need to knuckle down and GET IT FINISHED!
This project has been hindered a great deal by fear. I fight against an anxiety attack every time I come to the screen with the intention of writing another scene. I don’t understand what causes this fear. There are a thousand reasons and yet none of them compare to the prospect of NOT finishing. To propel my career forward I must finish this book and fear is no longer permitted to stand in my way.
Are you working on projects that have become stale?
My plurk friend, Shelley Heath, recently said, “Maybe your heart is not really into it as a topic anymore. Maybe you need to spread the wings further and catch something of interest“. Honestly, I don’t believe it the case on that occasion but there are elements I’ve become disheartened with. As freelancers, we must be involved in the sales aspect of our business. It is vital to be able to sell yourself and your services. This is an aspect of the business I’ve always struggled with.
Part of what I do in cooperative effort with Miss Michele and Serenity Bly of Future-Tarot.com is write copy for their weblog. SALES copy. There are fantastic readings available but the copy on the page needs to ‘call to action’ those who visit, it needs to entice them to buy, it needs to SELL itself. I know I can write sales copy but for some reason the prospect has been leaving me stale.
The project itself is one I LOVE, either I need to find a way to get beyond my sales copy blockage, or hire a writer to write the sales copy for me. I would much rather focus on the web technology and maintenance aspects. That is one fact that leads me to Jenny’s final question:
Do you need to find a new niche?
I have spent a great deal of time focused on the idea of myself as a freelance writer. I write very well and I can admit that, but my heart isn’t really in putting words to a page. Writing non-fiction is something I feel dispassionate about. I NEED to create, and web copy, sales copy, non-fiction articles, magazine articles and etc. just doesn’t spark my fire of creativity.
I need to focus on those elements where I can FEEL my creativity thrive. The design and programming I do as a Web Technician, for example, creates something real and visually tangible. It also caters to my need for instant gratification because every time I write a new program or edit a design element I can SEE it in action immediately. THAT is where I want to put my focus. That is the niche I feel most comfortable within.
Ask Yourself These Questions
How are you feeling about your career and the direction of your life going into the coming months? Can you answer Jenny’s questions, make changes, and buoy your hope that this year will be one for fantastic change and growth?
Would you like to get the word out about your blog, website, or business? Want to showcase your writing talents, add a byline to your portfolio, and practice writing for the web? What about simply increasing your sites page rank with some link love and social media perks? We’d love to have you guest post at Writer’s Round-About!
Simply pitch me an idea via email or go for it with a writing, editing, or web related topic. It would be fantastic to share the voices of a large range of writers and I’d love the opportunity to showcase your bio, blog, book, etc.
A Guest Post By Kimberlee Ferrell.
Enjoying small town life and her two daughters, Kimberlee Ferrell still carves out time to write. Her blog, Freedom Writing, explores writing, parenting, and anything that flows out of her pen. Stop by to investigate the inner workings of her mind, and to learn more about her copywriting, proofreading, and editing expertise. Strong coffee and walnut brownies will be provided.
The blank page stares me in the face again. I am trying to write this post, but the lack of words on the screen paralyzes me. It causes the greatest writers among us to freeze up, and decide to wash the dishes, walk the dog, or do anything else but stare back at the empty canvas.
As writers, we face this on a daily basis. With each new article, blog post, or short story, we come full circle, to give birth to a new idea, to share our words with others. We turn to a fresh page in our notebooks or turn on our processing program, then stop. The glaring white page is empty, and our minds fill with doubts. “Where should I begin?” “What should I write about?” “Does anyone care about what I have to say?” “Are there really any original ideas?”
These thoughts and doubts can instantly send your muse to a vacation in the Bahamas, without you. There is a way to rekindle your writing: the free write. Many writers have used this technique to work past their writer’s block, and write no matter how they feel. I first discovered this exercise in Natalie Goldberg’s book, Writing Down the Bones. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in free writing, or just looking for an excellent read. She illustrates how to free write without expectations, and how to mine your first draft for those golden nuggets of exposition.
There are many ways to free write, and there is no one right way. There are two key techniques that I use when free writing. I set a timer in my head or on my desk, to give myself an immediate deadline. I also never stop writing for any reason. Do not be tempted to fix your spelling or grammar, save it for the editing phase. Choose one of these free writes the next time your fingers refuse to hit the keyboard.
Write the thoughts running through your head. When your inner editor casts doubts on everything from your lack of vocabulary to what you ate for breakfast, get it out on paper. Write whatever is bothering you at this moment. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and just keep writing every random thought that enters your head, whether it is related to writing or not. Let your mind dump its cluttered thoughts onto the page, and then set it aside. Your mind can relax, knowing you have addressed whatever was bothering you. Plus, you have written a few hundred words. Keep the momentum going, and dive into your writing project.
Write anything about your chosen topic. Sometimes you don’t know where to begin. Give yourself permission to dive headfirst into your topic, and write anything about it. Don’t worry about writing a captivating lead, or placing your thoughts into logical order. Cover the length and breadth of your topic, as the ideas come to you. You can always organize it later. This technique unearths new ideas I hadn’t considered before, adding depth to the final draft.
Write down topic ideas. This free write can be written traditionally, or in list form. Brainstorm a list of anything you want to write about. You can write a list of article titles, blog ideas, or conflicts for your main character. Once you have exhausted your list of ideas, go back over each and write a few sentences to flesh out your idea in more detail. This technique generates a lot of new leads over a short period of time.
Write something completely different. When your current project is wholly uninspiring, try writing something in a different topic, genre, or format. For example, if you are having trouble writing another SEO article, write a few pages of your novel instead. Once you’ve given your brain some free time, you can switch back to your project and get to work.
These are just a few of the possible ways you can use free writing to rejuvenate your writing juices. Once you start to write, the words come quick and easy.
The key is to sit down, and just write.
How have you incorporated free writes into your writing life? Do you have any other types of free writes to share? Leave a comment to let everyone know what works for you when you encounter the blank page.
When reading short story submissions, if there’s one thing that will put editors’ or competition judges’ teeth on edge it has to be telling instead of showing. Many stories of old were written like this – that’s why we sometimes find them a difficult read. We haven’t been given word pictures to stimulate our minds.
All the creative writing gurus nowadays tell us you can no longer get away with this. You can’t ‘tell’ your readers that someone felt scared, for example. You have to say the person’s hands shook or heart pounded, so that readers are shown how to make the connection for themselves.
You may believe showing will be easier if you write in the first person. Your readers can get to know your character by what he or she thinks, as well as what they say and do. But you can still fall into the trap of telling. ‘I remembered the tales of the goblins and I was terrified as I walked through the dense wood’, is telling, while ‘My mind imagined hungry goblins behind all the trees, waiting to pounce on me and drag me off to their cooking pot’, shows the readers just how scared your character is. It’s a word picture that can jump into their own minds.
The other disadvantage of first person writing is that you have to stay in the head of that one person all the time. If the person walking through the wood is Mary, how can you show your reader that Pauline is secretly following her? Mary doesn’t know, because Pauline is doing this in secret. This can only work if your plan is to reveal it somehow later in the story. So choosing whether or not to use a narrator, and write in the third person, is an important decision in choosing how to show, not tell.
How can you be sure you don’t commit the crime of telling? How can you stop the anxiety about this from interfering with the flow of your writing? The answer is to forget about it until the editing stage. You wouldn’t write a story and submit it on the same day, would you?
No, you leave it for a couple of days, and then come back to it. And you go through every sentence carefully to check for errors and ambiguity. You want your work to say exactly what you mean in good and correct English.
So you need to add one more layer to this. Ask yourself more questions. What is this telling me, and then, how is it showing me? How else could it be shown? That is the point when you can decide to make changes that will show, not tell.
Once you get into the habit of this, you may find that you need to make fewer changes, because it becomes second nature to write in that way in the first place. And your competition entries will be more likely to reach shortlists and become winners.
Jean Knill is an talented writer and I’ve adored reading her lively and genuine voice. You can read more about Jean and her writing life on her blog, Jean’s Musings and at WriteLink.
Have you ever participated in a local writer’s group? In some areas it can be challenging to find any group of writers who gather regularly let alone the right group to suit your individual needs. Thankfully, there are online communities that can create an ideal home, but can it compare to the camraderie and rhetoric that a group of local writer’s generate?
Becca from Write On Wednesday asks her readers,
“What would be your criteria for the perfect writer’s group?”
In the past I’ve searched for writer’s group that meet these five musts for my own needs:-
- Meeting together an a convenient time
- A blend of experience levels
- Similar genre or type interests
- A firm basis for acceptable critique
- A commitment to encouraging growth and motivation
Finding a group that adheres to these five traits might be difficult. That doesn’t mean you cannot found one of your own. Find a location that suits your needs, arrange a time that works best for you, decide the type and genre you wish to focus upon, and write a foundation for critique and encouragement.
Show up for your writer’s meeting regularly. Meet with yourself. Advertise the group to others. Be welcoming as newcomers tread the waters of your group. It may be slow to grow but in time you’ll gather a sampling of writer’s who blend with your ideals and who bring a new element to each others work.
This new kinship is a true gift that will be cherished long into the future. From the humble beginnings of a writer’s group you all progress to greater things.
Have you found your ideal writers group? Do you have experience with starting your own? What is it you look for when gathering with local writers? What other local writing experiences have you enjoyed?
Are you a Western Australian Writer?
Every Thursday afternoon from 12:30pm until 2:30pm I gather at Seville Grove Library (formerly Westfield). I’d love to welcome other science fiction / fantasy novelists. Children are welcome, as are laptops.Do you gather with an existing writer’s group?
Share your groups details in the comments so other local writers can visit!
There is more comming to this category soon! Stay tuned.
Rebecca is also inviting Guest Posts. Feel free to email a query letter to Rebecca.
With over ten years experience, Rebecca Laffar-Smith is a freelance writer, editor, and web tech who really knows her field. Her skills range from web copy writing with SEO flair, through poetry critique, manuscript editing, and web programming. Need a custom Wordpress theme? She’s your gal. Need to figure out your email program? She can help you. Want to grow as a poet? Her advice has already mentored poets with great success.
Rebecca invites ‘you’ to browse her articles, editing and web design for insight and advice or see how her services can help you.
The Writer’s Round-About – A blog for writers, editors, and anyone on the internet about living freelance life, writing books, and demystifying the web with its ups, downs, and round and round and rounds.
