From: nicky.matthews@btinternet.com
On Friday, August 22, 2014 1:12:00 PM UTC+1, A. Tina Hall wrote:
> 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.
>
Yes of course, or to get the same outcome something else has to change.
>
> But of course like with history, it didn't.
It is very hard to change the history in a story and it is one of the biggest
difficulties I have with revising. I was asked to radically change a story I
really liked into one that I liked a good deal less and which made
significantly less sense ( to me)
I worked really hard at it but it was dreadful. Probably because I couldn't
make myself believe in the new story which used more or less the same
characters who had to change too much to make the new story work.
I regret my lack of professionalism.
>
>
>
> 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 have written first drafts that way though I usually like to plan at some
stage before a book is finished.
For me it focuses my mind on what are likely to be the interesting parts of
the story, the bits that will reveal character and it saves me from some (
though not all) aimless meandering in which nothing involving goes on.
>
> 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).
>
That example is pretty much what I do in revision. A lot of it has to do with
bolstering the weak parts, excising the dull bits, and enriching the
world/characters and motivation. Some of it has to do with the writing too,
largely cutting out summary
sections and making it more dynamic.
>
> > 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.
I hate returning to old work. If it's finished I have done with it and if it
isn't, then I have usually done all the fun stuff leading me with the grind of
making it work as a narrative. But as we all know, mileage always differs.
Nicky
>
>
>
> --
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
> ---
>
> This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus
protection is active.
>
> http://www.avast.com
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
|
