I know this is a late check in, but I’m trying to be a better employee and not do too much personal stuff at work. And I had church tonight, so this is the first time I’ve really gotten to sit down and do anything.
I finally started back on the writing last night. I only got a little over 400 words down, even though I sat at the computer for almost an hour. This is partly because I changed a couple of things I had written earlier. I know most people think you should write a first draft, then do all the editing later. I work better if I edit as I go, then I have a cleaner first draft when I’m finished. When I think of something I want to add or change, I usually do it right then. Anyway, those changes plus a little snag slowed my word count down. The snag was because I couldn’t figure out what a certain artifact was supposed to do. I’ve done a little brainstorming with hubby, and I think we’ll come up with something. He’s proven to be a lot of help lately. He had a lot of input in The Gnome. One of the major ideas in the book was his. He’s come a long way from back when he was calling my writing a hobby. LOL
On the kitten front. I’ve been letting them come in the house and play some in the afternoons. Monday, instead of staying under the couch like they did the first time, they decided it would be fun to get into my potted plant and fling dirt everywhere. I tried to sweep up all the dirt before my husband saw it, but they can fling faster than I can sweep. 🙂 I just had to wait and clean up later. I WILL eventually get pictures, but right now I can’t get them to slow down enough. They’re just a blur of fur and claws.
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Editing as you go or waiting until the end. At the writers group I went to ewarlier this month there are people who work opposite on most things. I would guess this is one of those things that you have to do what works for you. Good luck with the details that have you held up.
Yes, we definitely have to do what works for us. Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve done both ways of editing as I go and just writing the whole thing and going back later. I edit in the middle of the book if the book is off track and I need to get back on it. Had I spent more time doing that instead of focusing on word counts, I would have avoided the rewriting of the Regency. So editing while you’re going can be useful. I don’t edit if I’m only making typos and small errors which can be corrected by changing a sentence or two. I’m learning that focusing on word counts can be very dangerous. 😀
My husband also considered my writing as a mere hobby early on. I guess once they see it pays a couple of bills, they start to take it seriously. LOL
Kittens are so adorable! You’re so lucky to have them. My husband would never agree to having them in our house.
The only time I edit out the typos is when I’m going back and reading the chapter so I can pick the story back up. If I find something, I’ll fix it then. I’ve stopped focusing on word count (even though I still have my word count spreadsheet…I can’t help it) and started focusing on a block of time.
Since we’re going on vacation with book money, and I’ve bought patio furniture, a grill, etc., he takes it more seriously. LOL. However, I’m noticing a lag in book sales lately. There was a sudden small surge on B & N, especially for my book Starfane, but it trickled back out. I’m really hoping for summer “beach read” sales. Romances usually do better for that. 🙂
We compromised by getting the cage for the deck. Of course, now he’s not happy because they’ve flung litter on the deck. He doesn’t mind me letting them in the house to play for a little while, but they have to go back outside before bedtime.
I do small editing as I go too. Like you say…when an idea ignites in my brain, I don’t want to lose it. So, down it goes. I usually have these large post it notes stuck on random pages, too…to add in when I’m typing later.
It’s funny that you mention your hubby being an idea man lately. Mine has been too. Must be the weather…Ha!
I never thought about hubby being a source of ideas, but I’ve been surprised at his imagination. I hope it continues. 🙂
I’m the same way…I like to edit as I go. It ends up being more work for me it I just plow through a WIP, make different decisions towards the end then have to rewrite the first half!
I agree. I’ve never had to do a rewrite. I’ve added some things and changed a few things around, but I usually have a pretty clean first draft.
I change things as I write as well. It totally saves me so much more time on the back end of the work. As for the kittens–if they keep getting mischievous maybe spray them with a little water from a spray bottle? My mom has had cats forever and it has helped make them behave when they are getting into trouble. It unfortunately doesn’t work for my Siamese terror–she is just like the cats in Lady and the Tramp *shakes head*
It definitely saves time later. I know some people like to just write quickly and have a first draft that they have to rewrite over and over. But if that’s what works for them, then that’s the way they should do it. It just doesn’t work for me.
These kittens are so little, I hate to spray them. But I know it doesn’t hurt them. LOL. I get a little frustrated because they want to play with everything else except their toys. I think that’s because cats basically don’t like to be told what to do. 🙂