Into the Fire

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As you go? Or not?

 

Some writers choose to edit as they go. Others choose to get the words in the manuscript down first.

I'm of the edit as I go persuasion. So let me give you the generally speaking pros and cons to this method.

Pros:

Less to do at the end of it all. After it's finished and you've let it sit for a time, there's less re-writing.

Regular/constant attention to plot points as the story reveals itself.

Cons:

By the time you're at the end of the story, you know it almost too well and are glad to set it aside.

That repetition fatigue causes all kinds of doubts.

You're not sure you want to read it all over again since you've saturated yourself with it so many times already.

The pros or the cons can outweigh each other, but I doubt I could put together a story any other way. It's the way it is, you know?

How 'bout you?

Father, you wired me. I know I get those wires crossed plenty of times, but somehow you manage to keep me functioning. Thank you for that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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3 responses to “As you go? Or not?”

  1. BK Jackson Avatar
    BK Jackson

    On my first manuscript I obsessed for eons over the beginning of the novel. If I edited as I went, I would be obsessing over the entire manuscript like that and would accomplish nothing (and be in the funny farm to boot).
    And for me, I often find solutions to parts of the story that plagued me after I write the first draft.
    That getting tired of your manuscript thing applies either way. Whether you revise as you go or revise the full MS over and over, there comes a point you’re ready to lay it aside for a while.
    I just have to keep my writing and editing separate.

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  2. Brenda Anderson Avatar
    Brenda Anderson

    I edit a little as I go, but mostly I just write the story. The story never takes me where I plan it to so I often have to go back to the beginning & make big changes.
    As a seat-of-the-pants writer I consider my first draft to be my outline. Once it’s written, I can go back & add meat to the story.
    Then, with the help of critique partners, I’ll go back & edit the writing.

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  3. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    I sometimes wish I could “just write the story” without going over and over each day’s work. Sometimes I can write large segments without stopping and going back over it at least until the next day, but it’s rare when I can write long parts without at least going over it a couple of times before continuing. And, yeah, I don’t know where it’s going most of the time even when I think I do – until I start writing again.

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