From: A_Tina_Hall@kruemel.org   
      
   Nicky   wrote:   
      
   > I do a diagram of my old chapters then plan a new arrangement,   
   > marking in changes of voice etc. Then I open the old file have a   
   > second file called offcuts and dump everything I don't think works in   
   > the offcuts file.   
      
   That's exactly why I say I don't revise. I don't rip stories apart. It's   
   quite impossible too, because what happens later happens because of what   
   happened earlier, and if I change earlier or remove it, something else   
   would have happened.   
      
   But of course like with history, it didn't.   
      
   I write stories as they happen, following the characters around.   
   Outlines or 'plots' would just get in the way. I write solely for the   
   characters, in a setting I like, which I don't find in others' books.   
   That 'stuff happens' that others might call plot is just something that   
   happens while writing. I like re-reading my stories, that's why I write   
   them; having something to read that is the way I want it.   
      
   I regularly re-read at least the two big stories, and polish. Mainly   
   reading flow, trying to sort out any rambling (keeping the information   
   in it but arranged differently), the odd typo or double or missing   
   word... Also adding hints or finding explanations to keep consistency   
   when I notice something off.   
      
   Concerning what happens in the story I sometimes tweak things. Maybe add   
   a scene or change dialogue or thoughts so something that happens later   
   doesn't come out of the blue when either looking at the story something   
   feels like it needs an example earlier, or I think the characters should   
   have known and warned of something.   
      
   An example:   
      
   In book #1 A wants to do something that seems great to the characters   
   and myself. In book #2 it turns out to be a bad idea for some side   
   effects I didn't know while writing book #1.   
      
   C should have known of the side-effects and warned about them. (That   
   comes from the kind of characters I want.)   
      
   So I tweak things. C does warn A and D (who needs to know), B is   
   determined to evade the side-effect (he can't help it, which fits the   
   title and content of the first book). I actually don't remember whether   
   the test C does with A was always there or added. But in any case, now A   
   goes into it knowing of the possible side-effect and that it won't turn   
   out happy shiny. But right then she needs things to go as they did.   
      
   In book #2 (after the point where I initially found out while writing) A   
   gets a better alternative and B is fixed off the 'can't help it'.   
      
   So, thing that's a bad idea happens, but people are warned, know what to   
   expect, and get good solutions to it.   
      
   And the whole thing is just one small thread happening alongside the big   
   events (which are just an excuse to show the people anyway).   
      
   > Any helpful hints beyond 'Get over yourself, Nicky ?'   
      
   I guess not, sorry. I write my stories in a different way than you do,   
   and like returning to them.   
      
   --   
   Arentus threw up his hands. "How crazy do you have to be to think you're the   
   ultimate power and everyone has to jump at your whim?" He looked at Ranes as   
   if expecting an answer.   
   Ranes grinned. "How crazy are you?"         -- Magic Earth II: Without Heart   
      
      
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