Put that Away!
Having finished a few works which are either now out and being edited or waiting on the shelf for like treatement, I face an interesting question:
When and for how long do you put something aside? You’ve just finished your baby; is it time to let it go for a bit and if so, for how long?
I am a writer who, like many other writers, believes you need to put something away for a while before you can edit it properly. Coming at it with “fresh eyes” so to say.
But when do you put it away? Right away? After a first, rough edit?
Fortunately, the only thing you need to worry about with this is when you want to get it published. The longer you leave it, the longer you wait before submitting your work. However, there is another side, because the shorter time you give yourself between finishing your writing and editing (or editing again), the more likely you won’t have quite as an objective look on your work.
This, like many things I post about, is subject to personal preferences. However, there is one thing I will say about putting your work away:
To quote the brother of my high school composition teacher: If you “sit on” your manuscript, the only one reading it will be your butt.”
Don’t rush, but don’t wait too long, either.
Yes, that’s a bit vague, but I have faith in your judgement.
publishing, editing, fiction writing
December 17th, 2006 at 11:45 am
I think you need to leave it alone until you can look back at it with fresh eyes. That’s gonna be different for each person; for me, it’s about 6 weeks or so. Then I can look back objectively, rather than being too attached to the story to want to change anything. But I guess it’s different for each person.
December 17th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
Just for novels or for all the work you do? (Unless you only write novels?)
December 17th, 2006 at 5:59 pm
Yeah I only write novels (well, I’ve tried short stories….but I’m too long-winded for them…lol)
December 17th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
LOL. I tend to find I’m a little long winded for short stories as well, but I can do them if I do writing activities on the forums I’m on.
As for novels, I don’t really have a set time. I just put them away and work on something else until I remember them again.
My poor, neglected novels.
What genre do you write? I’ve had a request to do a post on writing historical fiction…which I’ve never done. o_O
December 17th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Fantasy, mostly. I wrote a literary fiction novel once, but I think I was stoned when I did it (lol)
December 17th, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Uh oh. LOL
A fellow fantasy writer then. Maybe I should to a post on why so many people like writing fantasy.
I’ve been a fantasy writer from the start. I had more freedom, in my opinion, that way.
December 17th, 2006 at 9:24 pm
Hey, Jaime. Thought I’d throw in my two cents.
Let’s see. I edit as I go, then put it away and do a final when it’s not so fresh…say, two or three weeks or so. Whenever I feel I can edit with my head and not my feelings.
By the way, don’t throw your edits away. What’s not right for one story could be perfect for another.
December 18th, 2006 at 1:33 am
And also when you do a giant edit at the end (like, the super-final-before-you-send-it-out edit), little bits from other drafts might work well in the last-last one.
It’s late, and so I might not be making the slightest sense.
December 18th, 2006 at 3:18 am
Hiya Hawke.
I definitely agree with the edit as you go. I remember you telling me about not throwing my stuff away last year. Good call 
Bethany - You have a lot of good advice. I don’t suppose you have a blog or website I can check out…
December 18th, 2006 at 4:41 am
http://oflettersandwords.blogspot.com/
December 18th, 2006 at 5:17 am
Started one up, eh?
I should probably set up a “should write something every day” one specifically for writing as well, eh?
Then again, I have to post here anyway. Hehe.
December 18th, 2006 at 5:21 am
Though as I’m *actually* supposed to be writing a paper (*guilty face*) and have finals in the next couple of days, and then shall be going home to the demons of hell (otherwise known as my family) for Christmas, I’m sure I can forget about the blog until then. lol
December 18th, 2006 at 5:27 am
Demons of hell can be interesting to write about… *evil grin*
I give you the challenge of 50 words a day. (That shouldn’t cut into writing papers and finals time. Ah, college life.) Do that and I just might consider setting up a writing blog myself.
December 18th, 2006 at 5:29 am
Not the kind of demons of hell I have to live with…lol.
But I’ll think about it.
Can I rob 50 words from my paper? lol
December 18th, 2006 at 5:31 am
Hm. Once.
And as far as demons go, I’ve never been able to write about mine (the ones whom I’m blood related to anyway. ;))
December 18th, 2006 at 5:32 am
Turning into a regular conversation, this is.
December 18th, 2006 at 5:35 am
I was just going to say that. Is it considered spam if it still ends up promoting my site in the end?
December 18th, 2006 at 5:38 am
Doesn’t spam have to be promoting SOMETHING?
And if it does, WTF am I promoting?
*glances around*
December 18th, 2006 at 5:40 am
Me, the Fiction Scribe, of course.
I thought spam could also be pointless posting, which really doesn’t have to be promoting anything depending on the content.
December 18th, 2006 at 5:41 am
Ah, right.
*promotes you*
December 18th, 2006 at 5:47 am
“*promotes you*”? Does this mean I get employee of the month?
Hm. I wonder if I’ll get a verbal spanking from my actual bosses about doing this… o_O
December 18th, 2006 at 5:49 am
*shuts up*
wouldn’t want to get you in trouble.
December 18th, 2006 at 5:52 am
I can’t see it being a problem. No worries!