One of the issues I have with advising not to rewrite is that many writers are still working to improve their craft. Besides grammar issues, they have logic errors, missing clarity, and lack (or excess) of details that ruin their otherwise good story. (I am sure there are more things out there that can be added to this list.) Heinlein's rules seem to assume that all writers have overcome (or at least mostly) those problems - which is false.
Much of the problem is that us beginning writers have yet to learn how to put all the story into print in a way so that the readers can appreciate the read. (Sometimes parts of the story are still stuck in our head or not coherently formed - or both.)
We rely on comments from others so we can rewrite the story to complete its creation to a level the reader and the author can be satisfied with it. Throwing away every story that needs improvement and starting on another story (which will most likely also end up in the trash can), is not just wasteful, its depressing. Learning to rewrite to get to that level is a great learning exercise to improve our writing skills so we are less likely to make the same mistake with the next story.
Thanks, Jay, but I have to disagree. I've heard some version of "It works for you because you've written so much" a thousand times. I even said exactly the same thing to DWS back in the day.
But here's the thing: If you can get over the hump and believe in yourself, trust your characters, and just write the story they're living, you can't go wrong.
Yes, your writing will improve with time, but that comes from putting new words on the page (studying between stories and applying what you learn in the next one), not from revising and rewriting. I cycle only to be sure I've included everything the characters gave me.
And re "excess" details, if you add what the characters give you it's never excess. Excess only comes from the writer adding things s/he "thinks" should be there. Every time.
Never presume to pre-judge for the reader. Your job is to write, not to judge. Write, publish, and write the next story. It works. I promise.
One of the issues I have with advising not to rewrite is that many writers are still working to improve their craft. Besides grammar issues, they have logic errors, missing clarity, and lack (or excess) of details that ruin their otherwise good story. (I am sure there are more things out there that can be added to this list.) Heinlein's rules seem to assume that all writers have overcome (or at least mostly) those problems - which is false.
Much of the problem is that us beginning writers have yet to learn how to put all the story into print in a way so that the readers can appreciate the read. (Sometimes parts of the story are still stuck in our head or not coherently formed - or both.)
We rely on comments from others so we can rewrite the story to complete its creation to a level the reader and the author can be satisfied with it. Throwing away every story that needs improvement and starting on another story (which will most likely also end up in the trash can), is not just wasteful, its depressing. Learning to rewrite to get to that level is a great learning exercise to improve our writing skills so we are less likely to make the same mistake with the next story.
Thanks, Jay, but I have to disagree. I've heard some version of "It works for you because you've written so much" a thousand times. I even said exactly the same thing to DWS back in the day.
But here's the thing: If you can get over the hump and believe in yourself, trust your characters, and just write the story they're living, you can't go wrong.
Yes, your writing will improve with time, but that comes from putting new words on the page (studying between stories and applying what you learn in the next one), not from revising and rewriting. I cycle only to be sure I've included everything the characters gave me.
And re "excess" details, if you add what the characters give you it's never excess. Excess only comes from the writer adding things s/he "thinks" should be there. Every time.
Never presume to pre-judge for the reader. Your job is to write, not to judge. Write, publish, and write the next story. It works. I promise.