Katherine Frances's Blog, page 73
February 21, 2018
What “Editing” Really Means
The idea of “editing” a story can be deceptive. So often writers fall victim to the fantasy that they can just read through their first draft, change a few awkward sentences, and be done with the editing process.
But even on a 3th or 4th draft, “editing” often means making substantial structural and developmental changes.
In other words, serious revision. Moving scenes around. Changing the point of view. Cutting. Composing new material. Realizing that what comes halfway though the story is actually the beginning. Having new insights about your main character’s motivations that require you to make substantial revisions to almost every scene.
So often I see beginning writers who imagine writing as a three step process: (1) Write the first draft; (2) “Edit” it; (3) Publish.
If that actually works and leaves those writers feeling satisfied, then more power to them. But what many people think of as “editing,” in my experience, simply doesn’t represent the kind of bloodshed that the revision process often entails. Personally, my writing process is long, messy, unpredictable, and can involve upwards of 15 drafts.
So just know that if the process isn’t easy or quick, you’re not doing anything wrong! Hemingway famously said: “Writing is rewriting.” It takes time. It can be messy. And it’s totally normal.
Yep. That’s exactly why my first novel didn’t work, even after the tenth “revision”. I’ve learned, and I’m gonna make it better this time.
This is one reason why I think (like most writing advice) the ‘just write it’ craze is not good advice 100% of the time. Though I usually prescribe to that writing vibe, 'just write it’ should be used wisely. There are times where stopping to think can save you a butt load of time and confusion in revision. If something feels wrong, dont stop, just slow. If you can’t fix it, keep writing. If you can, you might end up revising a chapter instead of an entire manuscript.
‘We Met Through Our Roommate’ AU’s
- “you’re the roommate of my crush and you felt sorry for me and my pathetic attempts at wooing them so you offered to help me get in their pants but somewhere along the way we ended up falling for each other” au
- “you slept with my roommate who is notorious for one night stands, and now im meant to tell you that the reason you woke up alone is because they had to get to an early class, and proceed to get your phone number and tell you that they’ll call in a few days before binning it as soon as you leave, but i never do that so hi, sorry my roommates a jackass. pancakes?” au
- “my roommate is crushing on your roommate, who i hate. and your roommate is crushing on my roommate, who you hate. care to help me sabotage their relationship?” au
- “your roommate is pretty much stalking me, and you keep accompanying them to make sure they don’t do anything stupid and i accidentally mistook you for my stalker and kneed you in the crotch and i’m so sorry please let me get you some ice” au
- “your roommate got drunk at a party i hosted and passed out on my bathroom floor and you’ve come to collect them, but moving them from the bathroom and down to your car seems to be a two person job so now how do we get them round this corner and down the stairs without dropping them or giving them brain damage?” au
- “my roommate is in love with you an i’m meant to be getting you to date them but now i think i’m falling in love with you myself and this sucks everything sucks you suck” au
- “our roommates are fucking and its gotten to the point where we’re so sick of hearing them go at it all night that we have keys to each others places to escape the midnight moans, grunting and bed creaking and i don’t know where this is leading but i hope we end up fucking too” au
- “your roommate hosted a party and you’re not really a party person so you’ve locked yourself in your room but i’m not a party person either and its really loud out there can i just sit on your bed and play games on my phone or something?” au
- “your roommate is crushing on me, and my roommate is crushing on you, and we’re both meant to be setting the other up with our respective roommates but we’ve ended up falling for each other and this cannot end well” au
- “your roommate locked you out so they could have sex, and my roommate borrowed my key and then decided to go out last minute so we’re both stranded in the hallway together for an indefinite amount of time and wow your roommate makes really weird and loud sex noises" au
- “me and your roommate share a class together and help each other study weekly and you’re an annoying twat who thinks its funny to keep interrupting us and wait what do you mean they’re running late? no im not waiting here alone with you for two hours are you insane” au
I love every single one of these. Write me a story for each.
On Creating Characters- Six Points to Get You Started
As much as I like to complain about my weaknesses when it comes to writing, I’m happy to say that creating characters isn’t one of them. So for anyone who wants it- my quick guide on creating characters.
This list is for anyone who has a vague idea for a character but doesn’t have a plot or a role in the story for them to fill.
It’s for people who have a plot in mind, but lack characters to place in it.
It’s for people who love those long, detailed character spreadsheets, but don’t have the patience (or know all the answers) to fill them out. The points I’ve listed below will probably overlap heavily and influence one another- for instance, “societal/cultural influences“ may inform both “philosophy“ and “defining relationships“. It pulls the character together.Keep in mind that this is not everything you want to know about your character- you should continue to flesh them out as you write them. This is just a baseline, a starting point, an I-just-want-to-write-something-with-this-character-but-I-know-absolutely-nothing-about-them list so you can jump into writing with or without a plot in mind. It describes them as they are on a typical, ordinary day. As you continue to write and develop them, they will become more nuanced and take on a life of their own.
Base Personality
Jot down some base personality traits. Don’t worry about getting an equal number of positive and negative traits down- or even which is which. Just feel out the character’s base personality.
Significant Historical Events
What events have had the greatest impact on your character (that you know of so far)? Again, don’t worry about getting everything- you can always add more here as they come to you later. Hit the major turning points in your character’s life.
Societal/Cultural Influences
What societal and cultural backgrounds do your characters have? Are they living/working/existing in an area where these influences are the majority or the minority?
Philosophy
What is your character’s default philosophy when it comes to right and wrong, or difficult moral choices? (I usually use the D&D alignment system for its simplicity- feel free to be as detailed or not as you wish).
Defining Relationships
What are this character’s defining relationships? Enemies, friends, and family are good places to highlight. Major conflicts and points of contention are great starting points for plots.
Goals
What does your character want more than anything? What are you preventing them from getting over the course of the story? If any minor goals pop up while you’re writing, jot those down too.
"We only become what we are through the radical and deep-seated refusal of that which others have..."
- Jean-Paul Sartre (via themotherofrevelation)
February 20, 2018
Talking with writers online
Their stories: Amazing grammar, soaring vocabulary, beautiful imagery and prose which flows like a river.
In chats: no capitalisation or punctuation, swears like a sailor, misspellings everywhere, acronyms and abbreviations every five words, idek
#listen #listen do u know how much braining it takes to make the words go? #it is a lot #it’s like wearing fancy clothes all day #and then when you’re at home and comfy #u just put on ur pj’s ( @feynites)
I have never related to a statement more than “do you know how much braining it takes to make words go?”
writing tip #1921:
some readers put a book down if they aren’t grabbed by the first sentence. avoid this by having your entire book be one long sentence
half of me thinks this is hilarious, the other half of me is jealous that i wasn’t the one to start a tumblr for ironic writing advice.
Editing tip: Are you suffering from -ing disease?
Hey all! Another tip from the editor’s desk. This one is about verbs that end in -ing.
In fiction, -ing verbs can be accurately used to:
(1) Indicate that two actions are happening simultaneously.
Example: While running to catch the bus, Jake dropped his keys.
(2) Show that an action is ongoing or still in progress.
Example: Ingrid wanted to use the oven for her pot roast, but the muffins were still baking.
Jason had been attending college for three years.
But when you misuse or overuse -ing verbs, it quickly becomes tedious and awkward for readers.
As an editor, here are the most common mistakes I see beginning fiction writers make with -ing verbs:
thefaeryhost:
“Perhaps all women are part faerie, for what woman can deny her faerie blood when...
“Perhaps all women are part faerie, for what woman can deny her faerie blood when the portals to her own land are open; when the full moon sings its insistent song; when sorrow and passion and rage pulse through her body at moon times. This is why women are the chosen ones of Faerie, pat of the vibrant, fluid, emotional soul of the world…”
