How I learned MY lesson!

Andrew Pack once ran a very interesting thread called ‘Kill your darlings!, meaning cut the unnecessary fat out of your writing.

I think it deserves to be repeated for new, aspiring writers.

Your hear those who can write talking about hours of polishing, editing, getting peer to peer critiques. And you don’t necessarily believe or understand it. Or you are too lazy - like me! You have to learn this hard lesson by practice and results. The following is my own personal ‘road to Damascus’:-

Six months ago I did some very educational (for me!) editing of other people’s stories, and saw for myself that, in some cases, taking 30% (or more) out of a story could brighten and sharpen it without loosing ANY of the meaning! I was amazed!

It didn’t apply to all, and some authors do a pretty good job them selves, which is probably better as I feel a lot of authors do not like others editing their work!

Tom Saunders recently said elsewhere (my paraphrase:>) that many authors post work which is half finished , not properly edited and considered, and it’s best to wait, re-read, polish etc.

I learned this the hard way. First, with a poem. Most of my ‘poetry’ to date had been doggerel, relying on humour as its main value, not skill or technical merit of the work. I started this poem on a subject I felt strongly about. It wasn’t very long, but the person I asked to critique it kept bouncing it back to me –‘not sure what this means….’do you mean he….?’ Until I complained bitterly! But every time I re-read it with the comments in mind, I changed it, again and again and again. In the end I really think I wrote a halfway-decent poem for the first time – now I just have to improve!

My biggest lesson was last Tuesday. I was writing a story, along with two others because we’d all posted quite different comments on a fourth author’s story. So we decided to write our own different versions and then we would compare them.

I woke up early Tuesday with a burning idea for the story. I sat (I had the day free) and wrote it all down. It was close to 7,000 words by the time I finished that evening! I sent it off to one of the other guys. I knew it was far more than I was supposed to write, but I felt it was complete, so I wanted to get a first reaction. The guy e-mailed me back that evening. It was late, I was tired, and I hated what he said! I was thinking ‘all that work!’ ‘he doesn’t understand’ ‘he just doesn’t like fantasy’

The next day, I got an e-mail from the original story writer. ‘I loved it’ she said ‘I need to see the sequel!” She likes fantasy.

But I looked at the first guy’s comments again, and remembered Andrew’s words. I sat down and began to hack, and also to strengthen some areas he had said needed it. Very soon, I had a story of about 2,300 words! True, I got rid of a complete layer of the plot (which was not in the original story anyway) – but I knocked seven bells out of what was left.

So a couple of days on, I proudly e-mailed my story to him.

Back he came, the bastard!

Can’t you cut one of the principal characters out? Why not insert a bit of bestiality?

OK, I’ll try it! Was this guy winding me up? After all he was one of the others rewriting the story, perhaps he was trying to give himself a better chance?

That didn’t take long, in fact, so perhaps he was right.

I sent the shorter story to him, and the two versions to the original author asking which she preferred. ‘Wow’ she said – where’s it all gone? – but I prefer the last one.

So I took the story, now 2,000 words, and had another bash at it, reading and re-reading (and there’s still a typo in it!!!!).

It got a good reception, and I like it. It’s not great art, it’s not brilliant, but I believe it is competent and that’s no bad thing. But I am sure now that to some extent I CAN write! - serious as well as humour (which I prefer).

So hack, hack hack, read read read, and ask other people – show it to them (but don’t abuse their time – ask nicely, don’t go crazy (hard for me – I have great rushes of wild enthusiasm as some may have noticed)

You don’t have to do everything anyone tells you, you know your own story best. But if in doubt, try the suggestion (you can always keep a copy of the older story).

And look at other people’s stories, try to see what I mean. People on this site don’t often give comments, it’s a shame. Make them kind but honest suggest improvement don’t just crticise. Ask others to do the same for you. Use what's available on this site to help you.

That all I can say! Best of luck from one who has only just learned the first couple of lessons on a long path!

And MASSIVE thanks to those who gave their time to help me! (they know who they are)

It is much more satisfying to write ONE piece that people really like than ten they 'quite like'!

John Griffiths (e-griff)