Everything I’ve read about editing suggests that you should write lots and then cut out the superfluous words to create tighter, leaner prose. I think Stephen King aims to lose at least 10% on the first draft rewrite. I have a problem with this. Ever since I was at school, I’ve always been very terse… Continue reading Editing strategy
Tag: plot
Learning from published authors
I was lucky this morning, I caught John Grisham being interviewed on BBC Breakfast. The initial focus of of the interview was the fact that he’d sold 275 million copies of his books. But for an author, he gave some valuable insights into his success. He stated that he always knows the final scene before… Continue reading Learning from published authors
Getting into the flow
I’m now getting into the flow. This section I’m writing is set in the English Civil War and it has been really tough to get into. I think it’s because the whole period from 1640 through the protectorate to the restoration is immensely complex. It’s all about politics and religion and the role of parliament.… Continue reading Getting into the flow
Finding the plot
At 75,000 words in, my rate of writing is slowing slightly. This is because I have read my book on Plot and Structure and I think my subconscious has digested it. Now, when I write, a voice at the back of my head asks questions like: how does this scene move the character forward, or… Continue reading Finding the plot
Still writing
Well, I’m doing something quite tricky here, I’m reading a book about plotting (Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell) and I’m still writing my novel. It’s similar to painting a picture and reading a book on how to paint in between times. I can already see differences in how I work. The reason that… Continue reading Still writing