You know that thing where they say "kill your darlings?" They mean that sometimes you have to get rid of your finest words.

But you're also right, sometimes you get to put them back later, in truncated or expanded versions, maybe in another place in the story, or maybe even in another story.

Make a scrapbook?

I have one word document I use to toss memorable but ultimately cut scenes and pieces of dialogue. I open it once a month and relive/relaugh some of my more memorable travesties. It's therapeutic.

-db-

I bet. So far I've only done this with stories that haven't really gone anywhere. I've got a folder full of folders with a scene or three in them waiting for me to get back to them. Probably never will, but y'never know, and it does give an interesting set of recurring themes. (Though I tend to think I'm repeating myself even when I'm not, since nobody else has seen the things)

An outtakes collection is in order, though. 'Specially as it turns out that I'm redoing the whole second half of the darn novel. 83K words and I'm at best a third of the way done. Bleah.

83K words and I'm at best a third of the way done. Bleah.

That can't be right. It read like a reasonably-sized novel (which would be your 83K words): 250K words would be the equivalent of 800 pages or so.

Or do you mean you're at best a third of the way through the 83K words?

Nah, I meant I've written 83K words and realized I'm about a third of the way through the actual "being done" thing. I figured I'd be at least two thirds of the way done, maybe three-quarters. Y'know, file off the rough edges, spackle over the holes, patch things up -- finish work, more or less. (I think I'm going to have to lay off the carpentry metaphors, though) Hadn't planned on having to redo half the thing.

Dunno how long it'll ultimately be -- I figure I'll get to the end, stop, and see where things stand. The word count's less important than the pacing, so as long as the story moves I'm good. I hope...