Comments on: Control, Alt, Delete…

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Sat, 29 May 2010 02:43:56 +0000

Sally – cheers for that! Will have to go check it out!

Kaily – yes, I too use bits and pieces from my deleted scenes folder. But I don’t edit as I go usually, not for a first draft. I have to get it down fast otherwise I get bogged down. Hence me having to delete 4k because fast doesn’t mean good a lot of the time!

By: Kaily Hart

Kaily Hart — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:10:40 +0000

Gosh, it’s so hard as writers to delete whole expanses of words. Every single word we write is precious, at least that’s how I feel LOL! I edit as I go through my first draft A LOT. Really, you have no idea how long it takes :). As such, I don’t seem to delete big chunks but will take small bits out entirely. When I went through my edits for my first book, the editor wanted me to remove a secondary character entirely. I had to rewrite an entire scene (one I liked) so that it still worked less one person, but I kept it. It went to my ‘use for later’ file. It’s snippets of dialogue, situations/scenarios, descriptive paragraphs, etc. A whole bunch of stuff that doesn’t make it into the final ms. I really did think it was going to be a black hole and none of those words would ever be heard of or seen again. However, I have found myself going back to the file occasionally and using some of it!

By: Sally Clements

Sally Clements — Fri, 28 May 2010 10:32:08 +0000

Jackie! how to do the perfect synopsis post up today and tomorrow on minxesofromance.blogspot.com
(thought you’d like to know!)

By: Suzanne Jones

Suzanne Jones — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:02:03 +0000

I have entire novels in my deleted scenes file. My last one was re-written countless times over four years - just couldn't let it go. What I ended up with was vastly different to the book I started - and I'm not sure I managed any improvements.

Glad you're back on track - keep up the good work.

XX

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:23:01 +0000

Maya - yeah, it's scary. But you'll find you've got a much better story on your hands. It's worth it, believe me. Especially when you get that magic Call, which I'm sure you will!

Veronica - Ah Presents, thought so. Had an odd thought it might have been Desire... Anyway, I would query. Do it! You have nothing to lose but the not knowing. :-) Like your 10 reasons btw. I should do that too.

Francine - that's so true. Jump cut huh? Your poor hero! I hope you gave him some good stuff to make up for it. ;-)

Wendy - I admit to creating whole scenes just to have that one great line. And you know what? I've ALWAYS had to cut the scenes because they didn't do anything but showcase that line. Yep, I do the same thing, have all the good stuff in my outtakes/deleted scenes document. I do pillage from it from time to time or use lines for other mss. Nothing is wasted.

By: Wendy Tyler Ryan

Wendy Tyler Ryan — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:10:01 +0000

Jackie,

I have to say that I have never deleted anything near that amount. I am also ashamed to say that I am so terrified of losing possible great lines that when I have deleted (a larger section), I have copied and pasted it into a “holding” document – for later – maybe!! Sad isn’t it? However, it sounds like you know what you are doing and your reasons for doing it make perfect sense so I wish you well.

By: Francine

Francine — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:15:03 +0000

Hi,

In a romantic thriller you can't have characters (metaphorically) hanging around on street corners for too long, (drawn out tension) not if by "cutting a chapter" you can summarise the street corner incident in a few words and send the characters speeding on to next high drama scene.

So, chapter went!

Oh god, did that hurt, and the macho male character wasn't any too pleased about the director's decision, either!

best
F

By: Veronica

Veronica — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:23:02 +0000

To query or not to query...
Can't bring myself to do it.

The waiting is actually giving me some 'quality' time with my next ms (Presents) and after several reads I've managed to tune in to a jagged bit that may need tweaking. I remember cutting huge chunks out of this one too - superfluous stuff that either reiterated, over clarified or stagnated by slowing things down.

When in doubt, I now ask myself to provide ten good reasons why something that doesn't quite do what it's meant to do, should stay - a one way ticket to deleting as it's easier than going on the defensive (even if I risk becoming too sang-froid and going on a rampage instead).

;-)

By: Maya

Maya — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:01:32 +0000

No, probably can’t top yours, but I’m about to delete the second half of a 55k ms and I’m absolutely terrified! But if you can do it and live to tell the tale, then I have no excuses, eh?

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:19:41 +0000

Heidi - you know, I've heard you mention the Elvis impersonator before and I gotta say, it sounds SO cool!! No wonder you found it hard cutting it. Yeah, like you, once I'd got rid of that wordage it felt so much freer to write. Honestly, I can't believe I spent all day forcing them to do this when I KNEW it was wrong.
Anyway, yep, stuff in my outtakes folder stays outtaken too. Sometimes I might take a sentence here and there that works in the new bit but that's it.

Janette - you're a star with your ms. You'll get there m'dear.

Ju - that's right, we are learning. Well, I did have a previous story I rewrote three times but when the partial was rejected I shelved it completely. Sometimes it's best to move on. Haven't completely given up on the idea mind you. ;-)