How long do you "lather, rinse, repeat"?

[PorscheLynn]

Out of curiousity, and antsiness because I'm working on my first story which is also really the first short story of any kind that has worked for me with regard to plot... how long do you spend working on an average story?

(Look at me avoiding the nitpicky boring parts of editing, ha!)

 

[Belegon]

What a question!

I've whipped things out in a couple of days and I've had them drag for months. I guess it depends on the mood of my muse.
Seriously, just keep plugging away, although you may never feel it is "really" finished.

I think it was either Lucas or Speilberg who said his movies were never finished, they just escaped...

 

[snooper]

Now that's interesting. Since I turned full-time writer at the beginning of the year, I have written and got out through the door just over 70,000 words. So without the distractions of the "day job", it is just under 1,000 words per working day.

 

[Guest]

Out of curiousity, and antsiness because I'm working on my first story which is also really the first short story of any kind that has worked for me with regard to plot... how long do you spend working on an average story?

(Look at me avoiding the nitpicky boring parts of editing, ha!)

17 hours, 15 minutes.

Lou

 

[damppanties]

Re: Re: How long do you "lather, rinse, repeat"?

17 hours, 15 minutes.

Lou

That's too much. You need to cut it down at least 3 hours, 12 and a half minutes.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: How long do you "lather, rinse, repeat"?

That's too much. You need to cut it down at least 3 hours, 12 and a half minutes.

Oh, ok.

 

[Raging Whoremoans]

As much time as needed, if you want it to be worth a shit.

I read something today that seemed to have been written in very little time and with very little care. I almost wanted to write the author and ask them if there was some reason for the rushed feel of it all, but my politeness kicked in and I held back.

I also got a feedback on one of my own stories that indicated they had only read one page of my 6 page story. I wrote back with questions regarding some of their comments and asked if they'd read it through. Turns out they hadn't.

What's the big hurry? Reading or writing should be given the same respect as answering mother nature's call, should it not? Too much time...all you get is a ring around your ass. Too little time...you've got a mess on your hands. I don't think it's possible to spend too much time on a story.

~ R W

 

[Octavian]

Originally posted by Raging Whoremoans

I don't think it's possible to spend too much time on a story.

I spent nearly 2 1/2 YEARS on my first story.
Everytime I looked at it I could see how I could refine the writing and how I could further develop the story.
Mind you I wasn't exactly rushing to complete it.

Octavian

“Encase your majestic tree of manhood in the sublimely soft wondrous wet hallowed depths of my body,” she implored.
“Oh,” he replied, “you mean you wanna fuck!”


My Stories

 

[Guest]

 

[rgraham666]

I like The Red King's advice, "Start at the beginning, go through to the end, then stop."

Noting in the rules about how long it takes.

With me it almost always takes forever. I always get off to a raging start, then run out of momentum about 2/3rd's of the way throught the verdammt thing.

I'm going to take another crack tonight at several stories still I'm working on.

 

[Guest]

Look at this.

Perdita

 

[Belegon]

having read both the earlier thread that 'Dita showed us and this one I have to say that I completely diagree that you MUST spend long hours on a story/poem for it to be good. I'm more of the when it hits me type, especially poetry wise. Some things take long hours, some do not.

 

[SlickTony]

It's common for me to take weeks to finish a story. I have to fit in around work, TKD, church, Bible class, fixing supper, reading, buying stuff, cleaning up after the cat, etc. etc. etc. Then after I've got it all down it still needs to be tweaked. Some people decry this but I don't think any of my stories contain annoying things like sudden switches into present tense or confusing switches from first to third person and vice versa.

 

[gauchecritic]

I don't think it's possible to spend too much time on a story.

~ R W

Yes it is. It most certainly is.

Gauche

 

[Raging Whoremoans]

Yes it is. It most certainly is.

Gauche

For peace of mind? Sanity? Irritation factor? Good product?

please elaborate.

~ R W

 

[gauchecritic]

Raging,

Unless you are a genius or have the most draconian of editors then working and re-working a story inevitably shows in the writing.

I'm not talking about removing every spelling mistake or correcting every tense deviation, these are technicalities.

What I mean is, things like agonising over whether a character would use the word cock rather than prick.

Trying to include a sea motif in sex scenes when it wasn't there to start with.

Remembering, after you've written 'the end' that you didn't include the fact that the female protagonist didn't have the flashback scene to her youth when she saw her neighbour's 'pee-pee'.

Knowing things like onomatopeia and alliteration and using them on purpose.

Basically, what I mean is, putting things in, is not a good way to write and it shows. Once it's written, except for tweaking, it's done. Write "The End." and leave it.

Gauche

 

[CharleyH]

Raging,

Unless you are a genius or have the most draconian of editors then working and re-working a story inevitably shows in the writing.

I'm not talking about removing every spelling mistake or correcting every tense deviation, these are technicalities.

What I mean is, things like agonising over whether a character would use the word cock rather than prick.

Trying to include a sea motif in sex scenes when it wasn't there to start with.

Remembering, after you've written 'the end' that you didn't include the fact that the female protagonist didn't have the flashback scene to her youth when she saw her neighbour's 'pee-pee'.

Knowing things like onomatopeia and alliteration and using them on purpose.

Basically, what I mean is, putting things in, is not a good way to write and it shows. Once it's written, except for tweaking, it's done. Write "The End." and leave it.

Gauche

Hm. Yet things change over time. A seed of a story may take years to write because the original inspiration disappeared and wasn't really there to finish the story anyhow.

Otherwise, fingers to chin . . . yep, yep agreeing which reminds me also of a thread I need to start . . . oh - inspiration

 

[Raging Whoremoans]

Raging,

Unless you are a genius or have the most draconian of editors then working and re-working a story inevitably shows in the writing.

I'm not talking about removing every spelling mistake or correcting every tense deviation, these are technicalities.

What I mean is, things like agonising over whether a character would use the word cock rather than prick.

Trying to include a sea motif in sex scenes when it wasn't there to start with.

Remembering, after you've written 'the end' that you didn't include the fact that the female protagonist didn't have the flashback scene to her youth when she saw her neighbour's 'pee-pee'.

Knowing things like onomatopeia and alliteration and using them on purpose.

Basically, what I mean is, putting things in, is not a good way to write and it shows. Once it's written, except for tweaking, it's done. Write "The End." and leave it.

Gauche

Thanks for clarifying, Gauche.

I'd have to agree with this assessment. Suppose I should've been clearer myself. When I said you can't spend too much time on a story, I simply meant for the writing process.

I have a terrible habit of working and re-working a story and more often than not, if I don't reign myself in in time, it normally means the scrapping of said work.

I agree with finishing it and leaving it finished. But as for the initial writing, I still think some things take a very long time and that's o.k.

Appreciatively,
R W

 

[Svenskaflicka]

How much time do I spend on a story?

4-5 hours. Less, if it's a short one.

 

[Guest]

How much time do I spend on a story? 4-5 hours. Less, if it's a short one.

Flicka, could that answer apply to sex as well?

P.

 

[PorscheLynn]

Flicka, could that answer apply to sex as well?

P.

*giggle* Perdita, you always make me laugh.

Thanks everyone for your interesting answers from the very detailed to the seriously tongue-in-cheek. It really helped me to get a grip and convince myself that I wasn'tbeing crazy and spending too long or not enough time on it. I was managing to worry about both of those issues at once, I'm a champion worrier.

As of now I've spent a bit under two weeks (or, to estimate, 10-14 solid hours) on my first story, which is shaping up to be about 5,000-6,000 words. Just in case anyone was curious.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

No, I don't have sex with guys who have a short one.

 

[Guest]

No, I don't have sex with guys who have a short one.

I knew that, just wanted to get your attention, O-goddess-of-whatever.

P.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

After tonight, that will be "Goddess of Starting a Car In a Steep Upwards Road".

But you may call me Your Highness, for short.

 

[Guest]

After tonight, that will be "Goddess of Starting a Car In a Steep Upwards Road".

That's my and every woman's title in San Francisco. If you can drive a gear-shift in a city of hills you can drive anywhere.

P.