How many re-writes

[Ezrollin]

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.

You are so right. Style can dictate your choice of words but a good read has a certain rhythm or flow. That don't always come to me the first writing. I usually have to tweak most paragraphs to get it the way I want it. I have only written two short stories, yet to be submitted, and the second one definitely went smoother or I should say, is going smoother.

 

[sr71plt]

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

Ah, tweak. For a day or two after I've written a story, I often find myself up two or three times a night to tweak it--for fear I'll forget the tweak if I leave until morning (or, in my case, later in the morning).

 

[7LivesManyFaces]

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.

Good perspective.

 

[SilenceDances]

I tend to edit as I write, then I'll go back and add more sections to previous chapters. After that, I'll run it through something like paperrater (plus I have Grammarly). If I'm feeling nervous, I'll edit it for sentence variety, word choice, etc.

Mostly, after removing all outright errors I can find, I'll send it to an editor, and then based on what they say, I might write more, and have to do it all over again. I don't do that more than three times though, not for Literotica at least.

If they're like "this is good," then I'll call it good.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I like the word COMPOSE, for what I do is composition. I began life as a poet...WE WALK INTO CLASS AT TEN-TWENTY-FIVE, AND WONDER IF WE'LL BE LUCKY AND GET OUT ALIVE, blah blah blah. All believed I hadda future as a queer until pussy ruined my poetry and psychosocial development. But I yet assemble prose as I did verse and lyrics, and these demand quality nearer perfection (unknown on the poetry board). And, like poets and songwriters, I compose to stanzas, which oughta be prose scenes. According to me chapters should be scenes, I read scenes not chapters.

My characters are characters not actors, most literary characters are actors and ballet prima donnas with volition. My characters are like Disney street performers who stick to the script. No Njinskys in my wares. Keep your real boys, I want Pinocchio with his strings.

That said, I was born to make Swiss music boxes not boilers for Con Ed.

 

[sr71plt]

Doing an all-night drunk again, James?

 

[LWulf]

While growing up, I was lucky to be surrounded by a bunch of prolific published writers (unlucky by some accounts. One such author I rue the day I ever picked up one of his books (and my teachers in high school were aghast that I had such vitriol for a standard book to read!)). The point being that all their suggestions were mostly the same;
Write it once. Step away from it, read it and make your changes, then put it up for editing.

In practice, I write and rewrite, and rewrite and rewrite too many times to be able to say how often I do it. Note: I don't suggest this is the correct manner to do it, but it's just what I do. I have in my mind how I want something to come across. Putting that into words... not always that easy, simple or as plain as it is suggested. I go back and read what I wrote and think "No! that's not it, it can be better!"

It can always be better. You can polish it until there is nothing left. Try to do what I preach, not what I practice.

 

[sr71plt]

You can polish it until there is nothing left.

I think this is very true and why this is good guidance: "Write it once. Step away from it, read it and make your changes, then put it up for editing." (with the addition of reviewing it again after doing your own corrections--the edit shouldn't erase what was there to begin with--and before submitting it for publication)

The kicker, I think, is to have a good enough grasp of the fundamentals for those to be second nature on your first write and to do enough writing for it to flow naturally.

 

[AMoveableBeast]

I don't do a lot of post-work editing. I sort of do it as I go. But I am a slow writer because of it compared to some other folks who are more about grabbing the tiger by the tail and worrying about the scrapes and bruises later.

Also, my work has never been accused of by typo (or mistake) free.

 

[7LivesManyFaces]

I think this is very true and why this is good guidance: "Write it once. Step away from it, read it and make your changes, then put it up for editing." (with the addition of reviewing it again after doing your own corrections--the edit shouldn't erase what was there to begin with--and before submitting it for publication)

The kicker, I think, is to have a good enough grasp of the fundamentals for those to be second nature on your first write and to do enough writing for it to flow naturally.

That's my problem. I wrote my story overnight, nothing fancy just based on my first time. The next day, added a few details then uploaded it for publishing. Then one week later, I had edited some bits of the story, which was fine with me but it was that edited version I wish I had published in the first place. That tells me I need to sleep on it for a few days after the story is "ready" before thinking about posting it.

 

[sr71plt]

That's my problem. I wrote my story overnight, nothing fancy just based on my first time. The next day, added a few details then uploaded it for publishing. Then one week later, I had edited some bits of the story, which was fine with me but it was that edited version I wish I had published in the first place. That tells me I need to sleep on it for a few days after the story is "ready" before thinking about posting it.

If you're not going to use an editor, it's probably best to sit on it for several days between first writing it and reviewing it for submission. I often have two days worth of coming back briefly and enhancing the story with tidbits after I've first drafted it and before I do a final preedit review of it. (That doesn't mean that I go over and over it in detail multiple times.) Using an editor means it can be weeks or months between when I last reviewed it and I get the edited version, so in cleanup I have a chance to look at it would a completely fresh mind. I always make adjustments then on top of whatever the editor has caught.

 

[MatthewVett]

Typically, while writing, I'm also thinking about earlier scenes, and I'll make any improvements that I feel necessary while writing. Once it's actually finished and complete, I typically do one last review before submission. If it's a larger story, though, or one I've sent to beta readers, it may undergo more reviews.

 

[glynndah]

I usually edit as I go, tweaking each paragraph as I write it.

That way the typos are as much a surprise to me as they are to the readers.

 

[sr71plt]

I usually edit as I go, tweaking each paragraph as I write it.

That way the typos are as much a surprise to me as they are to the readers.

But if you review very soon after you've written it, that's precisely when the typos won't jump out at you. Your mind will still be seeing what it was sure was typed, not what was actually typed. The best time to review is after you've done something else entirely and your mind has wiped the story away.

 

[7LivesManyFaces]

Hi. I edited my story then submitted the EDITED version. It was pending for about 3 days. Then suddenly it disappeared; no rejected, approved, or anything. Why would that be? Should I delete the original and post the new one? Keeping the votes is not a priority; I would like to just share my story with readers.

Thanks

 

[rjordan]

I usually edit as I go, tweaking each paragraph as I write it.

That way the typos are as much a surprise to me as they are to the readers.

If that system worked, the readers wouldn't be surprised.

I make one pass near the end where I look for typos and don't read for sense. But after 40+ years of this, I've discovered that no matter what system you use, typos get through the sieve.

rj

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Sometimes I don't care how long it takes to write something. The record is 5 full years. It took 5 years to get the end right. And it wasn't like planning a rocket trip to Pluto. The right end was simple.

I'm working on one that's around 50K words, and I've re-written the start maybe two dozen times, but its finally right.

 

[ElectricBlue]

If it has changed from "pending", Laurel has mostly likely cleared it. An edit replaces the original version, all comments and votes are retained. Check which version is now live.

BTW, you can't "delete" once a story is posted. Only the site editor can do that. Check the FAQs. All of this is covered in them.

Hi. I edited my story then submitted the EDITED version. It was pending for about 3 days. Then suddenly it disappeared; no rejected, approved, or anything. Why would that be? Should I delete the original and post the new one? Keeping the votes is not a priority; I would like to just share my story with readers.

Thanks

 

[jomar]

Doing an all-night drunk again, James?

I've read a story or two of his and they're interestingly sparse but, ya know, I think I'd read more if he wrote stories with the kind of energy, urgency and punch as his post.

As for me, I'm in the write it and put it down for a bit camp and read it with fresher eyes to edit. I try not to fuss too much as when I do sit down as it's pretty much in my head already. Though that's not always true because I've been fussing with a sci-fi story way to long.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I've read a story or two of his and they're interestingly sparse but, ya know, I think I'd read more if he wrote stories with the kind of energy, urgency and punch as his post.

As for me, I'm in the write it and put it down for a bit camp and read it with fresher eyes to edit. I try not to fuss too much as when I do sit down as it's pretty much in my head already. Though that's not always true because I've been fussing with a sci-fi story way to long.

Print publishers fall into two camps: One camp wants what fits the physical book, the other camp wants what works with the ad layout. 5000 to 7500 words is the range for commercial short stories. That is, stop at two LIT pages. But John O'Haras best erotic tales run less than 1000 words, and his erotic scenes in his huge books are brief, because he knew how to package sex. I aim to write as well as O''Hara NOT PILOT or LOVECRAFT. LeCarre wrote almost no erotica but he left hints of its mastery in small paragraphs, he knew how to reveal a woman in 2 or 3 sentences. Ever last one of them is hysterical and mercurial and treacherous as Stalin, and only their treachery makes them interesting.

 

[sr71plt]

I dare say that JBJ has no actual experience with a print publisher--or any publisher, for that matter. That doesn't stop him from trying to speak like a guru on any topic, though.

And, again, he doesn't write erotica (and didn't write anything other that self-generated Amazon book reviews until three or four years go), so for anyone here to explore the writing of erotica, he's not really giving guidance to you when he tells you that what you write is shit (which he does daily here). He has no real experience in writing or publishing erotica.

 

[7LivesManyFaces]

If it has changed from "pending", Laurel has mostly likely cleared it. An edit replaces the original version, all comments and votes are retained. Check which version is now live.

BTW, you can't "delete" once a story is posted. Only the site editor can do that. Check the FAQs. All of this is covered in them.

Thanks for the response. No, it simply disappeared after it showed pending. The original story is still up but I checked the FAQ section and found a way to delete my story.