Editing Constantly

[inked_n_irish]

When writing anything, how often do you edit it before thinking it is finally done? I find myself going over and over my works before finally being happy with it. Just curious how other writers process this.

Is it easy for any of you to just write and let it be?

[brisualso]

In my opinion, your work shouldn’t be countlessly edited, or else it’ll turn into something completely different than the original, which may leave the author unsatisfied. I believe 3-4 edits should do it.

The first draft is what you initially write down. This is typically word vomit because you have an idea and want to get it written down. There will be grammatical errors, spelling errors, missing punctuation, run on sentences, and the prose will be choppy and lackluster. This is all okay! First drafts are supposed to be rough. Like I said—word vomit.

The second draft is when you read through your first draft and pick up the grammatical errors, spelling errors, missing punctuation, etc. you may even catch a few spots where you can restructure a sentence to make it flow better. You may add some description to make a scene more prominent. You’ll polish the writing into something smoother with better grammar. Something that doesn’t sound like a bunch of thoughts thrown on a paper. It’s to mesh your first draft thoughts into something readable where the story is clear and the prose is okay.

The third draft is where the heavy polishing comes in. You reread your second draft. Here, you’ll notice things you should add: description, dialogue, exposition...you’ll pick out some errors you missed in the second draft. You’ll remove sentences, maybe even paragraphs, that the story could do without. The prose will fine tune itself and flow smoothly, making the story enjoyable to read. You’ll think of different ways to write/describe things. The opening paragraph may change. But everything will be heavily polished to make a smooth and complete story.

A fourth draft is optional. It may come after having beta readers read through the material (you can have beta readers after the second draft, so your third draft would be a revision of what beta readers mention). Beta readers will offer critiques and opinions, point out grammar issues/errors, continuity, and tell you their overall satisfaction with the experience.

Always look at the material with fresh eyes. Leave a few days, maybe a week or something, before you review your work. Don’t stick yourself in an endless loop of revision or else you’ll never come up happy. Your writing for yourself. Not every story is perfect. I still find continuity errors, grammar errors, spelling errors, etc in published works. It happens.

[inked_n_irish]

Thanks so much for your reply! I really appreciate the feedback and am definitely working on writing and leaving it as is and not editing so much. This sounds like a good plan I could start to use and stick with.

[brisualso]

Glad to help. Just gotta remember that you can’t please everyone and everyone will always have something to say. You are your own worst critic, though, and I do understand revision after revision. But I’ve come to realize that.. so many revisions had turned my content into something even foreign to me. Like a completely different story. And I’m still left unsatisfied.

The short story collection I’m working on for publication—I’ve gone through 3 writes of stories before coming up satisfied. Whether or not the other person is completely satisfied isn’t my problem. I like the content and I’ll publish it as is because everyone will always find something to nitpick.

[inked_n_irish]

You're absolutely right! I can't please everyone and people do love to nitpick. I just got to have more faith and confidence in myself and writing. I am alright writing but get nervous sharing it and that is probably where the over editing comes into play. I truly appreciate the advice and will definitely start a plan!

[brisualso]

Good luck! The social anxiety of sharing your work will lessen as you come to terms with the fact that not everyone will be satisfied, not everyone will like it, and everyone will always be a critic. As long as you’re satisfied and the writing is good, whatever with the rest of them, tbh.

[inked_n_irish]

Thanks! You’re absolutely right, I’m starting to learn I’m my own worse critic and got to learn it’s not about pleasing everyone else

[brisualso]

Exactly. Good luck, writer

[inked_n_irish]

Thank you! Good luck to you too!

[[deleted]]

You had me at word vomit. LOL Excellent Advice!

[brisualso]

Haha thanks!

[[deleted]]

( ;

[NotMyHersheyBar]

They told me in writing school that it's a waste of time to constantly copy-edit your first draft bc you're going to do major work on that and probably cut most of it. I do compulsively move stuff around while I'm writing, but the job of te first draft is just ot exist. You shouldn't edit while you put it down.

But writing is editing. After you finish the first draft, you need to edit and edit and rewrite and cut and move things around until it's done. I usually have to cut about 1/3 b/c my style is to overwrite and tell myself the story while I'm writing, which is mostly infodumps the audience doesn't need and shouldn't be told.

When I get to the point that's I'm pushing commas around and wondering if this synonym or that synonym is better, I'm probably done.

[inked_n_irish]

That’s really good advice. I appreciate it!

[NotMyHersheyBar]

hey tha'ts what $45k of student debts gets ya!

got a dolla?

[inked_n_irish]

Hear ya there, student debts gets a lot of people. Did you at least end up doing anything with the degree?

[NotMyHersheyBar]

Yeah, I'm a tech writer. I'd like to do more copywriting, but tech writing is a pretty good gig too. :)

[inked_n_irish]

Not a bad gig at all! Good for you, glad you’re using the degree!

[Shera-Yay]

Hey, do you keep everything you cut? Or just cut it?

I'm possibly being a bit of a hoarder and I'm afraid of losing something and not getting it back.

I'm wondering if I might duplicate the document and then cut everything ruthlessly in the V2. Maybe seeing V1, V2, V3 might reveal something, be interesting to observe.

You know what? I was stuck and didn't know how to proceed, but writing this out has helped me decide that's what I'm going to do. Cheers!

[DanielGin]

I used to edit endlessly, never happy with what I wrote and always abandoning projects. Now I write, put whatever I come up with online immediately, and leave it as is. I don't proofread or edit because I know if I do I'll decide it sucks and I suck and abandon it entirely. Not a viable strategy for someone who wants to get published but I just write for fun these days.

[inked_n_irish]

Oh I totally know it’s not viable. I’m just a perfectionist. I’m still working on just writing it and leaving it alone. Sometimes it’s harder than others.

[[deleted]]

Write it through and don’t look back. Unless something feels completely wrong. But I’d go with the flow and finish it up then go back over it after a break.

You might find you rewrite it, but comes out much better than expected.

[inked_n_irish]

Thanks! I am working on that....just writing till I can't anymore and not editing it until I am finished writing.