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Is it right to mourn the words?


TheZot

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I've been re-plotting Busted (yeah, I'm keeping that title for now, as it's better than the replacements I've managed) and I've come to the part of the process I really hate -- chopping out the good bits because they just don't work.

 

Chopping the crap out's relatively easy. Embarrassing, yeah (I mean, I wrote it in the first place, and what was I thinking?), but easy. So that flashback scene to when Chris was a kid? Gone. Poof, and no worries.

 

Unfortunately it also means that Steve's rant at the end of the interview with Stephanie's gone, the scene with Alex in the bar (where Alex's real nature comes out) and the scene in Chris' living room where Joe moves in is gone too. Dammit.

 

Ah well, they're only words. There are plenty more where they came from, and better to cut something out and have to put it back later than not cut it out and have it get in the way. (Not that it makes it easier, but it's gotta be done)

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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.

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Make a scrapbook? :P

 

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-

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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.

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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?

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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... :)

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