Yes, its a good post. Yesterday I wrote a full short story and in the middle I felt the opening was wrong... I didn't delete it and in the end it was clear why the opening was needed. Creative mind knows about the characters and how to tell their stories much more than we would be able to imagine... The trick is just to let the control go, and enjoy the road.
It is always a good reminder to be aware of the critical mind... nobody can really get rid of it.
I'm in an editing process (well cycling really - but a really long, in-depth cycle due to the story being really old and having been subject to torture by Myth) (I'm a natural WITD who was drowned in the Myths s and is learning to swim again!) where I'm bringing back the character's true story. It is slow, I don't get to add a lot of words each session (usually between 60-400), but I have removed things, as well, and re-arranged things. Some parts are the same, some parts are definitely better. I'm sure the story will be stronger in the end. And that it will be easier to continue the story in other series additions, if that is what they choose. And it will be easier to cycle through some other stories that have been stagnating in the same situation for a long time. So, while I'm not blazing along how I had hoped for the year (I'm at about 1/3 of the goal words for the month.) What I'm doing is harder, so I have to give myself grace for that. My hubby says that I should count edited words I add at 4x because they are harder! Gotta love my hubby! But, I still am watching for CV, because I am editing/cycling such a long piece (63K when I started the cycle).
Nothing about writing fiction should be 'hard.' It's only a bit of fun.
Nope, you're not cycling. You're editing. If that's what you feel you have to do, it's fine, but don't try to fool yourself. You can't cycle 'in-depth' because cycling is a function of the creative subconscious mind.
If you had asked, I'd recommend either
1) publish it as-is (get it off your desk) and let it stand as a marker of your skill level at the time. If the prospect of doing that frightens you, there you go. OR
2) if you like the concept (idea) of the story and want "the characters' true story," toss it out and recast it. OR
3) do both. Publish the one you're messing with, then sit down and write it again without trying to remember (conscious mind) anything about it. Just write what happens as you run through the story with the characters and write their reactions to what happens.
ALL OF THAT SAID..... different strokes. If you're enjoying editing it, go for it. But you will be in the conscious, critical mode pretty much throughout. No way around it when you're editing it and making decisions and choices for the characters (and what their "true story" is).
I meant going back through the story to untangle the prior editing that had been put in was harder than just writing with nothing already there on the paper, not that it in and of itself was "hard to do". Not sure if that still makes sense. Maybe - "seeing where I allowed other people to screw my stories up" is harder.
But, I see your point about it being more editing than cycling (Because I'm using the Critical mind to remove the additions from other people's opinions) and will keep that in mind for future stories.
As for THIS story, I actually love this story, and I don't mind going back through it and I have thrown a few parts completely away as they didn't belong. Also, as it's going along there is less and less that I'm doing anything with, because most of the "Myth-additions" happened in the first 2 chapters. Then I was so defeated I didn't show anyone else the other chapters, so they are my/character writing, and more and more of a joy to just read.
So, personally, for this story, at least, I feel that I'm doing the write/right thing for me, and maybe I am riding/writing with training wheels on this one. So thank you for the reminders and clarification of terms (I'm still learning the nuance of them!)
I do still think that strange as it may seem, it's actually helping me to pull free of the "Quicksands of Myth" and soon I'll be running on water like a Qi-Gong master!
It's so important Harvey, that you share your own issues with critical mind. This is the hardest thing for me--to keep out critical mind.
I'm a natural WITDer and have fought the myths all my life. Until self-publishing, they kept me from publishing because I wouldn't take story editing.
But critical voice is my nemesis. Your reminders and examples really help me to stay on the alert for it and practice putting it in its place.
Thanks!
Thanks, Karen. Fortunately, it doesn't hit me very often, but when it does it's a big one like the one yesterday. Glad it helped.
Yes, its a good post. Yesterday I wrote a full short story and in the middle I felt the opening was wrong... I didn't delete it and in the end it was clear why the opening was needed. Creative mind knows about the characters and how to tell their stories much more than we would be able to imagine... The trick is just to let the control go, and enjoy the road.
It is always a good reminder to be aware of the critical mind... nobody can really get rid of it.
Exactly right.
I'm in an editing process (well cycling really - but a really long, in-depth cycle due to the story being really old and having been subject to torture by Myth) (I'm a natural WITD who was drowned in the Myths s and is learning to swim again!) where I'm bringing back the character's true story. It is slow, I don't get to add a lot of words each session (usually between 60-400), but I have removed things, as well, and re-arranged things. Some parts are the same, some parts are definitely better. I'm sure the story will be stronger in the end. And that it will be easier to continue the story in other series additions, if that is what they choose. And it will be easier to cycle through some other stories that have been stagnating in the same situation for a long time. So, while I'm not blazing along how I had hoped for the year (I'm at about 1/3 of the goal words for the month.) What I'm doing is harder, so I have to give myself grace for that. My hubby says that I should count edited words I add at 4x because they are harder! Gotta love my hubby! But, I still am watching for CV, because I am editing/cycling such a long piece (63K when I started the cycle).
Nothing about writing fiction should be 'hard.' It's only a bit of fun.
Nope, you're not cycling. You're editing. If that's what you feel you have to do, it's fine, but don't try to fool yourself. You can't cycle 'in-depth' because cycling is a function of the creative subconscious mind.
If you had asked, I'd recommend either
1) publish it as-is (get it off your desk) and let it stand as a marker of your skill level at the time. If the prospect of doing that frightens you, there you go. OR
2) if you like the concept (idea) of the story and want "the characters' true story," toss it out and recast it. OR
3) do both. Publish the one you're messing with, then sit down and write it again without trying to remember (conscious mind) anything about it. Just write what happens as you run through the story with the characters and write their reactions to what happens.
ALL OF THAT SAID..... different strokes. If you're enjoying editing it, go for it. But you will be in the conscious, critical mode pretty much throughout. No way around it when you're editing it and making decisions and choices for the characters (and what their "true story" is).
I meant going back through the story to untangle the prior editing that had been put in was harder than just writing with nothing already there on the paper, not that it in and of itself was "hard to do". Not sure if that still makes sense. Maybe - "seeing where I allowed other people to screw my stories up" is harder.
But, I see your point about it being more editing than cycling (Because I'm using the Critical mind to remove the additions from other people's opinions) and will keep that in mind for future stories.
As for THIS story, I actually love this story, and I don't mind going back through it and I have thrown a few parts completely away as they didn't belong. Also, as it's going along there is less and less that I'm doing anything with, because most of the "Myth-additions" happened in the first 2 chapters. Then I was so defeated I didn't show anyone else the other chapters, so they are my/character writing, and more and more of a joy to just read.
So, personally, for this story, at least, I feel that I'm doing the write/right thing for me, and maybe I am riding/writing with training wheels on this one. So thank you for the reminders and clarification of terms (I'm still learning the nuance of them!)
I do still think that strange as it may seem, it's actually helping me to pull free of the "Quicksands of Myth" and soon I'll be running on water like a Qi-Gong master!
Ah, I misunderstood. Keep doing what you're doing.
I know, it's still not WITD...but it's getting closer...
And it was a good clarification and reminder about what cycling is and is not!
Nah, you'll be fine. Takes awhile sometimes, especially when you're going over older stuff. Been there, done that.
Thanks UH!
Welcome, Vin.