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annerb at 09:59am on 08/03/2010 under writing_ramble
annerb at 09:59am on 08/03/2010 under writing_rambleWriting Lesson Learned (and Relearned) #28,490
Story stalled out? 90% done and just not finishing itself? One mediocre scene in the middle that you don't want to even read, let alone finish writing, keeping everything else from getting finished?
DELETE IT.
Delete, delete, delete. Don't be afraid, just do it. Delete!!
Who knew that one little key could be so painful and yet so darn useful?
You'll probably know it's the right move when the second that section is dead and gone you feel like a frickin metric ton of bricks has been lifted from around your neck. And look! Words start flowing again. How lovely.
You remember economy, right, Annerb? From way back when? Brevity? Remember when you used to write reasonably-lengthed ficlets, when you worried that you were perhaps too terse? Yeah. Remember that. And if it isn't essential to the story trying to be told, DELETE IT. Your attachment to that one line or scene is not as important as the story. For the love of words, just delete it. You'll feel better, I promise.
Love, Me.
Story stalled out? 90% done and just not finishing itself? One mediocre scene in the middle that you don't want to even read, let alone finish writing, keeping everything else from getting finished?
DELETE IT.
Delete, delete, delete. Don't be afraid, just do it. Delete!!
Who knew that one little key could be so painful and yet so darn useful?
You'll probably know it's the right move when the second that section is dead and gone you feel like a frickin metric ton of bricks has been lifted from around your neck. And look! Words start flowing again. How lovely.
You remember economy, right, Annerb? From way back when? Brevity? Remember when you used to write reasonably-lengthed ficlets, when you worried that you were perhaps too terse? Yeah. Remember that. And if it isn't essential to the story trying to be told, DELETE IT. Your attachment to that one line or scene is not as important as the story. For the love of words, just delete it. You'll feel better, I promise.
Love, Me.
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