Writing and editing for others.

[Sir_Maveric]

Took an edit and can’t write my story at the same time. Fortunately it’s a small one off edit, and I’m almost done.
Was wondering if any one out there in Lit land had the same issue.
I have all the ideas rattling around up there but when I sit down to write it doesn’t flow. I find myself going back to do the edit instead. I’m trying to take my time and do a good job on the edit but find I want to rush to get it over with. I’m missing my characters and want to get back to them.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Took an edit and can’t write my story at the same time. Fortunately it’s a small one off edit, and I’m almost done.
Was wondering if any one out there in Lit land had the same issue.
I have all the ideas rattling around up there but when I sit down to write it doesn’t flow. I find myself going back to do the edit instead. I’m trying to take my time and do a good job on the edit but find I want to rush to get it over with. I’m missing my characters and want to get back to them.

I'm the other way round. Editing is so hard coz there's always something I'm writing that my head is so involved in its hard to step away.

 

[Kantarii]

It’s hard enough for me to draft out the story. Editing it myself is taxing. I send it to a my biggest fan in Texas and let her read it over after I’ve read it so many times I can recite it in my sleep. She might find one or two flaws I miss, but it’s spot on in her eyes. Dunno if I could give in and let someone else edit my work. Doing it myself has helped me to become a better writer in my eyes.Kant

 

[JasonClearwater]

Took an edit and can’t write my story at the same time. Fortunately it’s a small one off edit, and I’m almost done.
Was wondering if any one out there in Lit land had the same issue.
I have all the ideas rattling around up there but when I sit down to write it doesn’t flow. I find myself going back to do the edit instead. I’m trying to take my time and do a good job on the edit but find I want to rush to get it over with. I’m missing my characters and want to get back to them.

For me, an edit waiting for me is work I need to do, so it bothers at me until it's done. So yes, I'd agree, it does interfere with my writing. I'm desperate to write 99% of the time, so even reading something else is a task I have to set myself. It's not that I don't enjoy the reading, it's that the pull of writing is an addiction. And not just smut, any writing.

 

[Sir_Maveric]

For me, an edit waiting for me is work I need to do, so it bothers at me until it's done. So yes, I'd agree, it does interfere with my writing. I'm desperate to write 99% of the time, so even reading something else is a task I have to set myself. It's not that I don't enjoy the reading, it's that the pull of writing is an addiction. And not just smut, any writing.

I feel the same. That's probably why I can't get my stuff out. My two main characters are always on my mind and I'm constantly thinking of new story lines, but until I can get this edit done and sent back I'm stuck. Next time I'll make sure I am in between chapters before helping someone out. And that's a very small window.

And you nailed it by calling writing an addiction. I keep looking through the list of new stories and can't bring myself to click on one. I'd rather hit the keyboard.

 

[Sir_Maveric]

It’s hard enough for me to draft out the story. Editing it myself is taxing. I send it to a my biggest fan in Texas and let her read it over after I’ve read it so many times I can recite it in my sleep. She might find one or two flaws I miss, but it’s spot on in her eyes. Dunno if I could give in and let someone else edit my work. Doing it myself has helped me to become a better writer in my eyes.Kant

I read that you did that for your fan in a different post. I think that's awesome of you. I'm hoping one day to have a fan as devoted that maybe I can do something the same with. For now I have my wife as my editor but she refuses to offer input as far as direction. We still miss the odd typo but a second set of eyes has been helpful.

 

[Sir_Maveric]

I'm the other way round. Editing is so hard coz there's always something I'm writing that my head is so involved in its hard to step away.

I think I'm the same way. Just my sense of duty is keeping me from writing. This person is waiting for the story to get back and if I get back into mine, I'll never get it out.

 

[handysr]

I have a couple of account where I post stories, and out of the dozens that are published, I think two were edited by a friend. Just once-over each, and it was too much like work for me to ask that person again. Nobody else I've asked will do it for free, so I do it all myself. It kinda sucks, but this way all the blame is on me, lol.

I find it helps to not touch the story for editing until I haven't seen it for a few weeks and I'm busy with another plot and cast of characters. It's fairly common for me to edit a partial story though. When I'm not in the mood to write much, or if my muse is silent, I'll start something I haven't seen in months, then get some good ideas going.

 

[Sir_Maveric]

I have a couple of account where I post stories, and out of the dozens that are published, I think two were edited by a friend. Just once-over each, and it was too much like work for me to ask that person again. Nobody else I've asked will do it for free, so I do it all myself. It kinda sucks, but this way all the blame is on me, lol.

I find it helps to not touch the story for editing until I haven't seen it for a few weeks and I'm busy with another plot and cast of characters. It's fairly common for me to edit a partial story though. When I'm not in the mood to write much, or if my muse is silent, I'll start something I haven't seen in months, then get some good ideas going.

Same here. If I write myself into a corner but like what I’ve written I’ll put it away and go edit something else I’ve written until I can look at the first with fresher eyes. In this case I agreed to edit and it turned into a larger job than I thought. Writer’s first language isn’t English so even thought patterns are different. Took a bit of work but the author is really happy. This story was something they really wanted to get out and it has since been published.
The break actually made me realize where I had gone wrong with mine and I scrapped 18 pages to fix it. *Crap happens*