Rewriting the past

[KeithD]

I understand that, but it would alter the work that all those readers accepted, faults and all.

Well, then, don't bother to mess with it. I wouldn't. For me, Lit. is the last stop for the stories. Whatever is wrong with it has already gone through the marketplace and ended up here. I just move on to the next. This isn't arms and legs or real babies.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Who says it has to be drastically rewritten? In my example it was more about fixing grammar issues and dropping some extra lines here and there that were either meaningless or repetitive, I didn't change any of the actual story itself just made it easier to read. No one is coming back to reread it, newer readers will see the better version. As Keith just said, you don't lose whatever numbers are attached to the original here.

Mine was done for a paid anthology so there was some extra incentive to produce a better version.

I'm not talking about anything more than corrections to grammar, spelling, unctuation, or other technical issue, not drastic changes. My point is that readers read and accepted a version of the story as originally submitted. Even simply correcting a punctuation mark or other technical mistake changes what they voted for, commented on, and favorited.

Among other things, it would make any comments pointing out my mistakes look ridiculous to other readers if I went back and edited the story to correct them. I know that I could add a comment of my own attesting to the changes being made, but it makes more sense to leave things as they are.

Even if they never go back to re-read it again, changing it after the fact alters the version that they embraced originally, and I see no logical reason to do that. Maybe within weeks or months of the original submission slight changes can be justified, but not after years of being posted here and tens of thousands of readers later.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Well, then, don't bother to mess with it. I wouldn't. For me, Lit. is the last stop for the stories. Whatever is wrong with it has already gone through the marketplace and ended up here. I just move on to the next. This isn't arms and legs or real babies.

I tend to submit things here first. The feedback I get is like having thousands of beta readers. If I eventually take something to the marketplace at a later time, it has faced the slings and arrows of the "free" readers first.

 

[KeithD]

I tend to submit things here first. The feedback I get is like having thousands of beta readers. If I eventually take something to the marketplace at a later time, it has faced the slings and arrows of the "free" readers first.

It's also used goods in the marketplace if you do it in that order, and you risk what happens to others here--having it stolen from here and played to the market by someone else for their profit before you can do so.

 

[Djmac1031]

I understand that, but it would alter the work that all those readers accepted, faults and all.

We're going to, respectfully, disagree.

Besides simply wishing to improve the original, I'm planning a sequel.

My writing since publishing the first part has improved greatly. Although still not perfect lol.

The readers of the original may or may not ever go back to re-read part 1. Probably not.

There is, however, a chance the sequel may draw a few new readers to the original.

And I'd like it to match the same level as the sequel.

It's really that simple.

No plot changes. No major new twists or alterations to characters or story.

No change of tone or pace.

Just simple corrections of basic grammar and spelling to improve the overall quality of the reading experience.

I appreciate that some here, like you, feel it's either a "waste of time" or somehow does a disservice to the original.

I disagree. I see it as a helpful exercise to improve the quality of my writing; past, present and future. Regardless of whether past or new readers notice the difference or not.

 

[GrantBricksly]

We're going to, respectfully, disagree.

Besides simply wishing to improve the original, I'm planning a sequel.

My writing since publishing the first part has improved greatly. Although still not perfect lol.

The readers of the original may or may not ever go back to re-read part 1. Probably not.

There is, however, a chance the sequel may draw a few new readers to the original.

And I'd like it to match the same level as the sequel.

It's really that simple.

No plot changes. No major new twists or alterations to characters or story.

No change of tone or pace.

Just simple corrections of basic grammar and spelling to improve the overall quality of the reading experience.

I appreciate that some here, like you, feel it's either a "waste of time" or somehow does a disservice to the original.

I disagree. I see it as a helpful exercise to improve the quality of my writing; past, present and future. Regardless of whether past or new readers notice the difference or not.

I think the fact that you are writing a sequel is very important here. When I find a story that intrigues me, and I want to read it, but it is not the first of a series, I go back and read from the beginning. So, if I was a new readers that found your sequel, I'd likely go back and read your first one. And what if the errors or style that you are working to fix are things that would bother me as a reader and stop me from reading past the first story? No, I say fix it. Make the first one as good as you think you need to (within reason obviously. As we've all admitted, we could edit and re-edit until we are blue in the face) so that there is a better chance of those new readers enjoying it and moving on to the second story.

 

[Djmac1031]

I think the fact that you are writing a sequel is very important here. When I find a story that intrigues me, and I want to read it, but it is not the first of a series, I go back and read from the beginning. So, if I was a new readers that found your sequel, I'd likely go back and read your first one. And what if the errors or style that you are working to fix are things that would bother me as a reader and stop me from reading past the first story? No, I say fix it. Make the first one as good as you think you need to (within reason obviously. As we've all admitted, we could edit and re-edit until we are blue in the face) so that there is a better chance of those new readers enjoying it and moving on to the second story.

That's my thoughts as well, although I fully understand that, realistically, the sequel simply won't do as well as the first one, simply because it's a sequel.

And trust me, I also understand that at some point I'll have to be satisfied with the edit and move on.

Besides improving in my writing, I've also learned to be more patient.

I submitted the original story, fully aware I still wasn't quite satisfied with the final product, because I got tired of editing and rewriting and simply wanted to publish the damn thing, warts and all.

I'm still surprised it got the positive reception it did. And thankful.

But I know now; it could have been better.

It's gonna be weeks, maybe months, before the sequel is done. I'm not rushing it this time. And I want a complete ending. I don't want another "continued series."

In between, I'm tweaking the original. Because I can.

 

[GrantBricksly]

That's my thoughts as well, although I fully understand that, realistically, the sequel simply won't do as well as the first one, simply because it's a sequel.

And trust me, I also understand that at some point I'll have to be satisfied with the edit and move on.

Besides improving in my writing, I've also learned to be more patient.

I submitted the original story, fully aware I still wasn't quite satisfied with the final product, because I got tired of editing and rewriting and simply wanted to publish the damn thing, warts and all.

I'm still surprised it got the positive reception it did. And thankful.

But I know now; it could have been better.

It's gonna be weeks, maybe months, before the sequel is done. I'm not rushing it this time. And I want a complete ending. I don't want another "continued series."

In between, I'm tweaking the original. Because I can.

I hear you. When I started writing again last year in October, I was in such a hurry to get things written and posted, that I just went ahead and submitted the 5th chapter of the series I wrote back in 2014. Didn't even bother to read it first, just hit submit. I figured Hey, I wrote it, It's done, Why wait? Horrible Idea. Again, that series has promise as a story...but the writing....just not good...I am anxiously waiting for them to take them down...I requested deletion 5 days ago...So it should be any day now.

But I get the impatience thing. It is killing me not being able to post my Winter Holiday Story...It is the best thing I've ever written..at least I think so...but I have to wait til November...of course, come November, I'll likely go through and edit it again, having another year of writing under my belt. Especially with all the other stories I am writing with the same characters, I may end up changing details..lol

 

[Djmac1031]

I hear you. When I started writing again last year in October, I was in such a hurry to get things written and posted, that I just went ahead and submitted the 5th chapter of the series I wrote back in 2014. Didn't even bother to read it first, just hit submit. I figured Hey, I wrote it, It's done, Why wait? Horrible Idea. Again, that series has promise as a story...but the writing....just not good...I am anxiously waiting for them to take them down...I requested deletion 5 days ago...So it should be any day now.

But I get the impatience thing. It is killing me not being able to post my Winter Holiday Story...It is the best thing I've ever written..at least I think so...but I have to wait til November...of course, come November, I'll likely go through and edit it again, having another year of writing under my belt. Especially with all the other stories I am writing with the same characters, I may end up changing details..lol

Again, we're on the same wavelength lol.

I wish i was a prolific enough writer to publish a new story every week.

And I suppose I could, if I rushed things. But I'm trying not to do that anymore.

I struggled with The White Room for several weeks, working on it between my other stories.

I loved (still do) the concept behind it. But realized quickly how difficult it is to write something far more complicated than "guy meets girl and they fuck."

Still, I'm pleased with what finally came out of it, story wise. Although in retrospect I should have done at least a few more pages to build the relationship and romance just a little more.

It's still the story I'm most proud of, though.

I promised myself I'd never write a sequel unless I thought I'd improved enough to do it right.

So I'm in no rush to publish this thing until I'm 100% happy with it.

Because I think a shitty sequel would be far more a disservice to the original than correcting some grammar and spelling errors.

 

[GrantBricksly]

Again, we're on the same wavelength lol.

I wish i was a prolific enough writer to publish a new story every week.

And I suppose I could, if I rushed things. But I'm trying not to do that anymore.

I struggled with The White Room for several weeks, working on it between my other stories.

I loved (still do) the concept behind it. But realized quickly how difficult it is to write something far more complicated than "guy meets girl and they fuck."

Still, I'm pleased with what finally came out of it, story wise. Although in retrospect I should have done at least a few more pages to build the relationship and romance just a little more.

It's still the story I'm most proud of, though.

I promised myself I'd never write a sequel unless I thought I'd improved enough to do it right.

So I'm in no rush to publish this thing until I'm 100% happy with it.

Because I think a shitty sequel would be far more a disservice to the original than correcting some grammar and spelling errors.

I'm not knocking people who have stories posted every week, more power to them. But that's just too much for me. My goal right now, is to have one story a month, PLUS the special contests. That's 18 for the year. I've also added an extra one in for the 750 word challenge, and I guess I could end up doing so again for other challenges. But my main goal, is 1 a month, plus the contests. I think that is plenty. I'm going to quality over quantity. (Again, not knocking those who can put out more than that, they may very well put out quality with their quantity. I do not know)

 

[BobbyBrandt]

We're going to, respectfully, disagree.

Besides simply wishing to improve the original, I'm planning a sequel.

My writing since publishing the first part has improved greatly. Although still not perfect lol.

The readers of the original may or may not ever go back to re-read part 1. Probably not.

There is, however, a chance the sequel may draw a few new readers to the original.

And I'd like it to match the same level as the sequel.

It's really that simple.

No plot changes. No major new twists or alterations to characters or story.

No change of tone or pace.

Just simple corrections of basic grammar and spelling to improve the overall quality of the reading experience.

I appreciate that some here, like you, feel it's either a "waste of time" or somehow does a disservice to the original.

I disagree. I see it as a helpful exercise to improve the quality of my writing; past, present and future. Regardless of whether past or new readers notice the difference or not.

I have no issue with anyone wanting to make their work the best that it can be. I simply stated my view on the matter as it relates to my own stories and the readers of them.

I also pointed out that I have several sequels derived from the original story which tend to motivate new readers (~1,300 per month) back to the starting point, mistakes and all, without any issues noted. Using that example, I merely question the overall need to modify a prior work in order to better facilitate a planned sequel.

"Wanting" to is your choice.

 

[Djmac1031]

"Wanting" to is your choice.

Absolutely.

BTW I wanna thank you and everyone else who's replied.

35 comments in on a topic where people have opposing opinions and it hasn't devolved into insults and name calling.

Might be some kind of internet record.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Absolutely.

BTW I wanna thank you and everyone else who's replied.

35 comments in on a topic where people have opposing opinions and it hasn't devolved into insults and name calling.

Might be some kind of internet record.

Proof that we can all benefit from the shared respect.

 

[oggbashan]

I'd like to rewrite some of my earlier works, particlualrly The Hen Party and TheStag Party, but I no longer have time nor ability to do them, so I'll leave them as they were, faults and all.

 

[Djmac1031]

I recently submitted an edited version of a story, and rather than be posted, it was deleted with no contact by whoever is in charge of that. This isn't a complaint, merely a heads-up. If there are as many submissions daily as I've heard, it's possible they just don't have time to deal with edited/rewritten versions. Good luck.

I certainly don't want to start some snowball effect of going back and editing and republishing every single story I've ever written just to correct a few simple mistakes.

And I also understand and appreciate the effort by those who run the site to screen the multiple amounts of stories that come in every day. It must be exhausting.

Even if my re-edit never gets published and the original stands, I'll still have felt the effort worth it as a learning exercise.

 

[JGittes]

I certainly don't want to start some snowball effect of going back and editing and republishing every single story I've ever written just to correct a few simple mistakes.

And I also understand and appreciate the effort by those who run the site to screen the multiple amounts of stories that come in every day. It must be exhausting.

Even if my re-edit never gets published and the original stands, I'll still have felt the effort worth it as a learning exercise.

Near the end of last year, I rewrote two stories and submitted the edited versions. The first, in October, took three weeks to uneventfully post. I submitted the second between Christmas and New Year's, which was posted in at most four days. I say at most four days because expecting it would take a couple of weeks, I didn't look until the fourth day and it was published. Things change rapidly and it could be back to the long wait.

 

[Voboy]

Or contacting Lauren directly if I ever figure out how.

Well, that's why she's not answering: her name isn't Lauren.

Send a PM to Laurel. She's always been very quick to respond to me that way.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I recently submitted an edited version of a story, and rather than be posted, it was deleted with no contact by whoever is in charge of that. This isn't a complaint, merely a heads-up. If there are as many submissions daily as I've heard, it's possible they just don't have time to deal with edited/rewritten versions. Good luck.

That's odd. How did you submit the edited version?

 

[Rob_Royale]

Well, that's why she's not answering: her name isn't Lauren.

Send a PM to Laurel. She's always been very quick to respond to me that way.

I have realized that my edit was in fact posted. I have deleted my previous posts on this topic as I was wrong.