tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post3050493954017331401..comments2024-03-26T07:33:18.502-04:00Comments on WordWranglers: Killing Off Our DarlingsMargiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03843006118151762550noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-73111451782926472392015-05-05T16:43:58.622-04:002015-05-05T16:43:58.622-04:00Backstory isn't all that's cuttable--somet...Backstory isn't all that's cuttable--sometimes it's unwieldy setting descriptions or just a scene that go off on a tangent that you didn't intend. So often, my editor will say to me, "You don't need this," and she's usually right. ;-)Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08809913527142033733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-37418229513225233122015-05-05T16:42:18.897-04:002015-05-05T16:42:18.897-04:00I don't generally write from an outline, I str...I don't generally write from an outline, I strictly a pantser, but this new book has needed some notes and a timeline and maybe some little bit of outlining to keep facts straight. I've thought about an outline, but I never get past thinking. ;-) Glad you stopped by, Cathy!Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08809913527142033733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-69642810387480965492015-05-05T16:41:00.502-04:002015-05-05T16:41:00.502-04:00That's a good point, Cathy! I wonder...I also ...That's a good point, Cathy! I wonder...I also wonder if that's not where series get their start. I know WOWB was originally just one book, but characters from that one book sorta took over and demanded their own stories...some of the stuff cut from the first book showed up in the second. Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08809913527142033733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-73569636978332627562015-05-05T16:39:39.688-04:002015-05-05T16:39:39.688-04:00It is eye-opening to see what others see that you ...It is eye-opening to see what others see that you missed, isn't it? And sometimes, even if the words are gorgeous and beautifully written, they still slow down the pacing. Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08809913527142033733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-68563579840862712912015-05-05T11:50:28.090-04:002015-05-05T11:50:28.090-04:00My file of Bix cuts is probably about 2/3 the size...My file of Bix cuts is probably about 2/3 the size of the final manuscript/eighth version. That's a lot of cutting over the years...<br /><br />But, I'd have to say none of it is back story. Bix's back story is a mystery even to him :)Margiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03843006118151762550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-2732934620349389702015-05-05T11:43:04.691-04:002015-05-05T11:43:04.691-04:00I think you're right--once we fall in love wit...I think you're right--once we fall in love with the characters, we want to know everything about them.LOL<br />Margiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03843006118151762550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-4144241913550937082015-05-05T11:32:55.056-04:002015-05-05T11:32:55.056-04:00PS. Do you write from an outline? I'm using an...PS. Do you write from an outline? I'm using an outline this time and am hoping that will help me to avoid writing so much that has to be deleted.Cathy Shousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02825259524689437031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-48149104567873421222015-05-05T11:31:12.251-04:002015-05-05T11:31:12.251-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Cathy Shousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02825259524689437031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-15476858666952424762015-05-05T11:15:05.044-04:002015-05-05T11:15:05.044-04:00I'm intrigued by your post about back story as...I'm intrigued by your post about back story as well as Liz's comments. Is it just me or have yesterday's negative attitudes toward back story morphed into today's much-anticipated e-book novellas, advertised as extras, but really just glorified back stories? lol There has to be a back story limit, initially, until we fall in love with the characters here and now. Then we can't get enough of them, back story and all! Cathy Shousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02825259524689437031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-57731144824795914052015-05-05T08:34:14.452-04:002015-05-05T08:34:14.452-04:00I love a prologue...and have written many! lol
K...I love a prologue...and have written many! lol <br /><br />Killing off the wordcount - especially from those days when everything just seems to flow! - is so hard. Not because I think every word is perfect - far from it! - but because when I get those edits I can't believe that I didn't see how badly I'd mucked up a scene or slowed the pacing to a crawl...great post, Nan!Kristina Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13674920511835640874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-9494439278799486892015-05-05T07:56:53.599-04:002015-05-05T07:56:53.599-04:00I'm surprised, too, at how many people really ...I'm surprised, too, at how many people really adore backstory, prologues and even epilogues--all of which I've been told are writing no-nos. I think editors are trying to get us to tighten up our story-telling and keep the narrative active and in the present. But, I confess that I don't mind a Prologue at all and sometimes I even want an epilogue...just because I'm not ready to let the happily-ever-after go. Bises, baby!Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08809913527142033733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133132309124375119.post-36324034507633814332015-05-05T07:36:33.284-04:002015-05-05T07:36:33.284-04:00As you know, I probably don't kill as many dar...As you know, I probably don't kill as many darlings as I should. You said something in your post that made me think: "I know ever-so-many readers who really love backstory." I do, too. And I read a question the other day about how people felt about prologues because they're kind of unloved, too. The majority of people who answered DID like prologues--and I didn't even answer. It makes me wonder who's deciding what readers want. Good post, Nan!Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.com