The concern I have is the part of #2 that says, "find the RIGHT word". That's the bit I keep getting hung up on, so I go back to #1 (Write) and then skip forward to #3 (Finish). I leave Finding The Right Words up to my beta, or maybe a future visit from the Muse (I find it's easier to ask for a few right words here and there, rather tan waiting for her to deliver the entire thing at once).
Speaking of beta-ing, I do more of that lately than writing, so I was happy when I got to the rule (#4?) that says: "when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right."
Yes! Score one for beta concrit!
But then he goes on to say: "When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong."
Oh, phooey :P I always felt that I should provide at least one option for improving anything I criticise, or else what good is it? To be fair, I usually stress I'm just providing a suggestion, and often mention that they'll probably come up with something better on their own. But still, turns out I've been doing it All Wrong! :(
I think I'm good at finding the right words, but I spend too long finding them. I've never yet done a zip-zip-zip first draft, then gone back to polish it up. I polish as I go, which can be very slow.
Oh, I think giving suggestions when you beta is absolutely the Right Thing To Do! Such suggestions have been immensely helpful to me in the past. They either point me in the right direction, or make me shake my head and look for a different fix. At any rate, they clarify what you-as-beta are trying to tell me-as-author, and clarity is a v. good thing!
That is wonderful! thanks so much for sharing! I'm struggling with a fic I've started and have others that have sat on my hardrive for years. I need to finish what I start no wonder i'm so frustrated. Anything over 6 pages and I seem to not be able to finish it!
Some days, if I actually START writing, everything goes beautifully. Some day I can't seem to start. His rules are just the kind of blunt, basic ones I think I need right now, with three things I hope/plan to finish in the next month! *flails*
I missed this when you originally posted it! I'm going back trhough flist posts, mostly to catch up on posted fics, and saw it. I've always loved the last of this list -- Melissa has it written up and propped up on the desk.
Have you seen the others that the Guardian collected?
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:-)
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I wrote my M&C fic for Spook Me :D
The concern I have is the part of #2 that says, "find the RIGHT word". That's the bit I keep getting hung up on, so I go back to #1 (Write) and then skip forward to #3 (Finish). I leave Finding The Right Words up to my beta, or maybe a future visit from the Muse (I find it's easier to ask for a few right words here and there, rather tan waiting for her to deliver the entire thing at once).
Speaking of beta-ing, I do more of that lately than writing, so I was happy when I got to the rule (#4?) that says: "when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right."
Yes! Score one for beta concrit!
But then he goes on to say: "When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong."
Oh, phooey :P I always felt that I should provide at least one option for improving anything I criticise, or else what good is it? To be fair, I usually stress I'm just providing a suggestion, and often mention that they'll probably come up with something better on their own. But still, turns out I've been doing it All Wrong! :(
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Oh, I think giving suggestions when you beta is absolutely the Right Thing To Do! Such suggestions have been immensely helpful to me in the past. They either point me in the right direction, or make me shake my head and look for a different fix. At any rate, they clarify what you-as-beta are trying to tell me-as-author, and clarity is a v. good thing!
Yay for Spooky M&C! :-D
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Have you seen the others that the Guardian collected?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/feb/20/10-rules-for-writing-fiction-part-two
I revisit them every so often -- except for Elmore Leonard's list, since I hate both his writing and his attitude, and have no wish to emulate either.
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IIRC, I picked up an Elmore Leonard once for some reason and very soon put it down again permanently. *g*