How many re-writes

[Ezrollin]

As a "virgin" and first-time submitter, I'm curious as to how many times you re-write each paragraph before submitting your story. When I got my story rejected for grammatical errors it wasn't a surprise. I hadn't written as much as a letter in twenty years. What I did realize as I re-read the script was that I could easily re-write almost every paragraph to make it more fluid and a better story. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on the matter.

 

[rjordan]

Edit as many times as necessary to get what you want. Then submit it and move on. I have simple stories that might have seen only one "major" edit. I have some that have been on my computer for 20 years, edited in some way every few years and still nowhere near what I wanted from them. Writing is easy. Almost anyone can do it. Editing is hard, really hard if done right.

Cook 'em until they're done.

rj

 

[sr71plt]

I draft it; add a bit to it on one review; send it to the editor; add a bit more to it in the post-edit cleanup/review; submit it; move on to the next one.

 

[TamLin01]

Less important than the number of drafts, I find, is the amount of time between them. Generally, I rewrite a new story three or four times over one to two weeks, basically until I'm confident in it and/or sick to death of the damn thing.

Then I put it away for at least a month. Longer is better; as long as possible is best of all. But a month is the minimum. Then I take it out, read it again, and do another one to three new drafts. Taking a break from the story to work on other things for a few weeks/months makes a huge difference.

 

[Kantarii]

I don't know of anyone that writes their stories perfect every time before submitting them to the site. I reread and edit my stories dozens of times after the initial draft. By the time I'm though and ready to submit the new chapter, I can recite huge portions of the chapter without having to look at it. At that point, I can visualize the events taking place in the chapter. Granted, I still consider myself a novice writer of erotica, but I try to be strict and professional with what I'm wanting to submit. If I can't tolerate reading the stories I write, I can't expect others to read and enjoy what I have written

 

[oggbashan]

Practice means fewer rewrites.

But despite the proverb, Practice doesn't make perfect as far as stories are concerned. If we polish too much we can lose the story line and destroy the effect we are looking to achieve.

And typos always happen.

 

[sr71plt]

Yep, there's no such thing as "prefect" copy. And it's different strokes for different folks, but I've found that the first review refines and bolsters what I've written--and a review after the cleanup following the editing, which comes at considerable delay in relationship to my output, improves the reading of the copy. But reworks beyond that just start sucking the life out of the voice and style.

Beyond that, I think some folks agonize too much over their writing (and tend to suck the life out of their natural voice and style). This isn't the New Yorker. (And I think those writing for the New Yorker are experienced enough not to need a lot of rewriting--and they're going to be backed up by an excellent editor.)

 

[lovecraft68]

.Beyond that, I think some folks agonize too much over their writing (and tend to suck the life out of their natural voice and style). This isn't the New Yorker

Oh, you mean the literary erotica types?

The problem with taking ones self too seriously is you suck the feeling and fun out of your work.

I'm happy with a few errors in my story as long as its still an entertaining story over wringing my hands over it until there is nothing left but something that reads like stereo instructions.

 

[legerdemer]

As many as it takes. I have a mixed personality: OCD grammar Nazi combined with professional procrastinator. I edit obsessively as I go, until I run out of time (because I tend to write for contests as milestones and deadlines) - it's a real pain in the ass. Lately work has interfered with writing stories, so I haven't submitted jack... and haven't submitted to Jack, nor has Jack submitted to me. See - a real bummer!

 

[lovecraft68]

As many as it takes. I have a mixed personality: OCD grammar Nazi combined with professional procrastinator. I edit obsessively as I go, until I run out of time (because I tend to write for contests as milestones and deadlines) - it's a real pain in the ass. Lately work has interfered with writing stories, so I haven't submitted jack... and haven't submitted to Jack, nor has Jack submitted to me. See - a real bummer!

How about a bottle of Jack? Could help you know...

 

[sr71plt]

Oh, you mean the literary erotica types?

I sort of mean the anal retentive types (and some of the full of themselves types).

 

[lovecraft68]

I sort of mean the anal retentive types (and some of the full of themselves types).

We mean the same people, I used that term for the ghosters

 

[someoneyouknow]

I'm happy with a few errors in my story as long as its still an entertaining story over wringing my hands over it until there is nothing left but something that reads like stereo instructions.

A bit OT, but considering how instructions are written today I long for the days of stereo instructions.

Back OT, someone further up mentioned putting aside your story for weeks then going back to it. Something else that has been said over the years is to write your story from beginning to end THEN go back and edit. Don't edit while you write. Just write.

http://66.media.tumblr.com/d439f1a04eaad85be911cc24cf45a1d1/tumblr_nx034xfXvV1sbub06o4_500.png

Also:

http://65.media.tumblr.com/7d936929e62a8d9a273bfa2a049c8175/tumblr_o9e7aliWfc1sbub06o5_500.png

 

[Hypoxia]

Write when high; edit when down.

I was a tech editor before I was a fiction author. I write and rewrite and edit as I go. When I think it's done, I reread, eviscerate the crud, add new crud, wait a few days or hours or minutes, reread and revise again, and submit. I always miss something and I fret over that for a day, then move on. I've only resubmitted EDITed versions of my LIT stories a couple time, to fix the most grievous faults, and that was awhile back. I do better now. Mostly.

How many rewrites? As many as are necessary. Then, kick the fledgling from the nest.

 

[Bramblethorn]

A bit OT, but considering how instructions are written today I long for the days of stereo instructions.

Back OT, someone further up mentioned putting aside your story for weeks then going back to it. Something else that has been said over the years is to write your story from beginning to end THEN go back and edit. Don't edit while you write. Just write.

This advice is given a lot, but it doesn't work for everybody. I've tried and I just can't do it that way; some professional authors get by just fine with "edit as you go".

 

[SamScribble]

I never 'rewrite'. I 'tweak'. Continually. But if I find myself tweaking more than a paragraph or so, I'll usually park the story and come back to it in a month or so. Or a year or so. Now that I come to think about it, there could be quite a few 'false starts' left hanging around when I shuffle of this mortal coil. Maybe I should tidy up the files. Thanks for the nudge. And good luck with your writing.

 

[_Lynn_]

I fix anything I don't like as I'm writing. My OCD screams if I leave things for later. After I complete a story, it goes to a beta reader who looks for inconsistencies, gaps, etc. I make any corrections/changes I agree with, and then it's done.

 

[SusanJillParker]

As a "virgin" and first-time submitter, I'm curious as to how many times you re-write each paragraph before submitting your story. When I got my story rejected for grammatical errors it wasn't a surprise. I hadn't written as much as a letter in twenty years. What I did realize as I re-read the script was that I could easily re-write almost every paragraph to make it more fluid and a better story. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on the matter.

If you have to ask, then you're not done rewriting. Trust me, when it flows and when the words are music to your ears, you'll know.

 

[oggbashan]

If you have to ask, then you're not done rewriting. Trust me, when it flows and when the words are music to your ears, you'll know.

But for me at least that happens very rarely. OK, acceptable, reasonable? Yes.

I think it's music to my ears? Usually that story is crap. (Kill your darlings!)

When it really happens? Great. But how do I follow that?

 

[PennLady]

I couldn't say how many times I rewrite any one paragraph or line. I write the story and edit as necessary. Many people write the whole thing and then go back and edit. I tend to edit as I go along, rereading things when I resume a project and deciding changes need to be made before I move forward. I also edit while writing, catching mistakes and making changes as one thing makes me rethink something I just wrote.

There's no one way to do it, or even two ways. You have to do what works for you.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I couldn't say how many times I rewrite any one paragraph or line. I write the story and edit as necessary. Many people write the whole thing and then go back and edit. I tend to edit as I go along, rereading things when I resume a project and deciding changes need to be made before I move forward. I also edit while writing, catching mistakes and making changes as one thing makes me rethink something I just wrote.

There's no one way to do it, or even two ways. You have to do what works for you.

That's basically how I work. I write until I get tired or run out of words for a particular story. Then set it aside.

When I get back to it, I read through to get the gist of the story once more or to check on what I wrote last time. I fix typos or misspelling and grammar. Then I add to the story.

I do this repeatedly until the story is complete. Then I set it aside for awhile. Usually a couple of weeks.

When I get back to it, I start at the beginning and read and edit.

I don't think I have ever edited an entire paragraph. I have pulled a paragraph out of the story for various reasons, but what I usually write the first time stays the way I wrote it with little change.

There are a couple of stories that I have added to or subtracted from a paragraph, but never rewrote the entire paragraph.

 

[Ezrollin]

Edit as many times as necessary to get what you want. Then submit it and move on. I have simple stories that might have seen only one "major" edit. I have some that have been on my computer for 20 years, edited in some way every few years and still nowhere near what I wanted from them. Writing is easy. Almost anyone can do it. Editing is hard, really hard if done right.

Cook 'em until they're done.

rj

Yes, writing in easy...good writing is hard. I've written two stories that I will submit after I edit them.

 

[dlcalguy]

I appreciate the relatively stringent punctuation and grammar requirements here.
They force me to really bear down during proof-reading.
This gives me a chance to alter things that I would probably say were good enough if I were submitting to xhamster, for example.
However:
But don't work it to death. What you wrote first is probably very close to what you want. Don't burden down your smut with over-long non-porn passages. Erotica - in my opinion - needs to be fresh and to the point.

Why do you write stories, and what are people doing when they read them?
(More often than not.)
Consider the porn video. You fast-forward through the non-sex parts.
I like to get the scene-setting out of the way early and then get on with the main event.

Most of my stories are short and written in a rush, in one sitting.
Writing this 'stream of consciousness' stops me from being too florid and stilted and I try to avoid it as I proof-read.
I aspire toward an Elmore Leonard style, rather than Norman Maclean, and I'd rather read dirty stories that reflect that.

 

[Nathan_Brazil]

3

My original is written by hand... At odd moments.

Rewrite 1: I type it.

Rewrite 2: Grammar fix

Rewrite 3: Polish (word porn)

 

[Ezrollin]

I never 'rewrite'. I 'tweak'. Continually. But if I find myself tweaking more than a paragraph or so, I'll usually park the story and come back to it in a month or so. Or a year or so. Now that I come to think about it, there could be quite a few 'false starts' left hanging around when I shuffle of this mortal coil. Maybe I should tidy up the files. Thanks for the nudge. And good luck with your writing.

Perhaps re-write was a bad choice of words...I should have use edit or tweak.