I totally scoured every writers link you have on your blog. I can't believe I'm a writer, and so utterly clueless about all those online resources... so I passed them on to my other clueless writer friends.
How rough is your first draft of a book? I'm always curious about this. Is it rough as in entire chapters are re-written, or rough as in 'minor changes' like when you do a 'rough draft' for English in high school and then never actually change it? I have a first draft book that's so rough I refuse to call it an actual book.
I'm glad you found those links useful. Some writers' organizations have links on their sites -- a lot more than I have on here. Go to http://www.sfwa.org and click on their Resources link on the left. Also, go to http://www.horror.org and click on their Writing Tips link.
Which raises the question, Why don't I have those two sites linked on this blog? To which I answer, Duh. Coz sometimes, I'm stoopid.
My first drafts are extremely rough. The one I've been blogging about will end up with some sections in fairly final form but most of the book looking like a greatly expanded outline. To me, that's one of the great things about writing on a computer vs. a typewriter. I can concentrate on getting some sort of whole thing done and then I can go over it repeatedly and flesh it out.
People differ, though. My wife has written two books (one fiction, one non-fiction), and she hates to let go of a section or a chapter until it's in final form. Only then does she feel able to move on to the next part.
When I'm rewriting, I don't so much rewrite as flesh out what's skimpy. There are probably parts that would benefit from being completely rewritten, but once I've got a part of the plot done, even skeletally, I find myself very reluctant to throw it out and replace it. That's a weakness, though. Or laziness.
6 comments:
I can't remember the last time I ate Chinese.
I totally scoured every writers link you have on your blog. I can't believe I'm a writer, and so utterly clueless about all those online resources... so I passed them on to my other clueless writer friends.
How rough is your first draft of a book? I'm always curious about this. Is it rough as in entire chapters are re-written, or rough as in 'minor changes' like when you do a 'rough draft' for English in high school and then never actually change it? I have a first draft book that's so rough I refuse to call it an actual book.
lahdeedah,
I'm glad you found those links useful. Some writers' organizations have links on their sites -- a lot more than I have on here. Go to http://www.sfwa.org and click on their Resources link on the left. Also, go to http://www.horror.org and click on their Writing Tips link.
Which raises the question, Why don't I have those two sites linked on this blog? To which I answer, Duh. Coz sometimes, I'm stoopid.
My first drafts are extremely rough. The one I've been blogging about will end up with some sections in fairly final form but most of the book looking like a greatly expanded outline. To me, that's one of the great things about writing on a computer vs. a typewriter. I can concentrate on getting some sort of whole thing done and then I can go over it repeatedly and flesh it out.
People differ, though. My wife has written two books (one fiction, one non-fiction), and she hates to let go of a section or a chapter until it's in final form. Only then does she feel able to move on to the next part.
When I'm rewriting, I don't so much rewrite as flesh out what's skimpy. There are probably parts that would benefit from being completely rewritten, but once I've got a part of the plot done, even skeletally, I find myself very reluctant to throw it out and replace it. That's a weakness, though. Or laziness.
Thanks!
That's useful. I have good chapters and chapters where they are more rough draft. Now I feel better about what I've done.
Ha ha that's the age I'm at too. Made me laugh out loud that did. Or should that be lol?
Just because your kicking on a bit doesn't mean you're over the hill!
But funny story thanks for sharing.
I'm not over the hill.
But I can see the hill.
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