Monday, July 9, 2012

Writing Goals


At the end of last month, I set writing goals for myself for the next six months. The plan seemed reasonable.  Except for one thing - I forgot how long it takes to edit. 

I took some time off from writing this week, figuring I could catch up on the weekend.  But I'm editing.  And it's a slow process.  When I set my goals, I thought I could edit two chapters in the time it would take me to write one. Not even close.

Writing is much faster for me.  I don't see any way I can speed up the editing.  I just need to take it a chapter at a time, and it will take as long as it takes.

I've decided not to adjust the plan.  It's only been a week.  Instead, I'm going to double up and get it done.

On the up side, my teen has a massive amount of summer work for her AP classes and is joining me in my marathon of heads-down work at the coffee shop every day. 

We're trying different places.  It's hard to find a place that's comfortable and quiet enough - but not too quiet.  Starbucks has oatmeal now.  It's not great, but I was happy I didn't get the plate of donuts behind the glass that kept distracting me. 

It's still too miserably hot to do anything outside, so we aren't missing anything.  My husband would rather have me writing than whining about not writing, so there's no guilt in leaving.


Does it take you longer to edit or write?  Is anyone having normal weather?  I would love to be able to write outside, but it's been 100 degrees for a week.

26 comments:

  1. My first book took longer to write, but the second one was two months to write compared to six months to edit. (Not counting edits my publisher sent to me.) Considering I'm a slow typists and prefer editing, I'd call that a miracle.
    Stay inside and write! Way too hot to do anything outside.

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  2. It takes me WAY longer to write than to edit. I love working with words already on the page. Of course, I edit as I write, too. I edit and polish after writing each and every chapter. Then I edit as I revise. Smoothing and glossing sentences is my favorite part of the process.

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    1. When I edit, I print off the pages and write all over them. I think that part of the process was what I budgeted for in my plan. I didn't include the time it takes to go over it again and make changes in the Word document. Oopsy.

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  3. I'd rather write than whine about not writing too. LOL.

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  4. I have been whining about editing my currentt MS for quite some time. Yes, it takes me much longer.

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    1. I have 100 pages to edit before I give the ending to my CP. I know I have another round after that. I really want to finish it. Now. Today. It's going so slow no matter how much time I spend on it.

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  5. I find editing slow and difficult to find motivation for. The summer in the UK has been a complete washout, rain with extra rain and so cold in the evenings I've lit a few small fires!

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    1. The little project plan I came up with is oddly motivating to me. I don't want to have to revise it, so I'm (almost) keeping up. I'd love a little rain. It in the 90's this week, and it's feeling relatively cool.

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  6. Oh I hate editing... It's necessary, but I'd much rather be vomiting the story onto the page! :)

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    1. I don't mind editing. I just want it to be faster.

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  7. I feel like it takes me longer to write a first draft than it does to edit...I've got all those blank pages to fill, genius needs parameters and time! :-) Once it's written, though, I've got a clear frame in which to work, and I find it easier to focus and get on with things...
    Some Dark Romantic

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    1. Blank pages don't seem scary to me - they just need to be filled. 300 pages that need to be edited multiple times seems more daunting.

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  8. That is miserably hot. We just hit 90 and the forecast seems to say we're staying here. Siiigh. Finally put the A/C in.

    I edit and write my 1st/2nd draft simultaneously. Some chapters do go really slow. I think it's because I feel it's missing a spark of inspiration or something. I need to finish writing my next project and very soon. Then will edit it to polished draft.

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  9. It's been hot for sure, although it's cooled down a bit in the last day or so. Good luck editing, I tend to not enjoy that process very much, and its slow going for me too. But writing is like building a house sometimes, its always more expensive that you thought when you were budgeting for it.

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    1. Today is hot, but it doesn't feel hot because it's under 100. I'm so glad I didn't put any effort into my lawn this spring. There's brown grass everywhere.

      Great analogy. Everyone I know that's built a new house has been taken by surprise by the volume of choices they have to make. And it always takes longer than expected.

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  10. It sounds like we are supposed to have better temps for the rest of this week. I sure hope so as those 100+ degree days were a nightmare.

    I hate editing and it takes me forever. But then sometimes I feel like writing takes me forever too. I usually end up whining about all of it LOL.

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    1. LOL. I think I whine all the time too.

      It was only in the 70's when we were at the beach in June. It is cooler today, much better.

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  11. I live in SoFlo so the heat is always kick'n here. Editing is a challenge for me too. And the worst part is when to stop. That's where I'm at. *sigh*

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    1. I know what you mean. When is it done? I think it's done when I don't want to change a single word. Like that's going to happen.

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  12. I'm so glad that I'm not the only one that who thinks that editing takes a longer time than writing.

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    1. One thing I've learned here is we're never alone.

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  13. I'm such a slow writer! But part of it is because I can't sit down and write a decent chapter without turning the editor brain off. Instead, I find myself going back every few pages...horrible I know. One day I'll learn my lesson and plunge ahead.

    The weather in Chicago has finally made a turn for the better. I hope you're about to get the same!

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  14. Editing is going exceedingly slow for me, but that's due in part to not having much time lately. Typically editing does come quicker, though-- probably because I find it more fun than writing the first draft ;)

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