tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188673639340372817.post5424264745623591186..comments2023-10-01T07:15:04.201-07:00Comments on Book Brouhaha: DANGER: Over-Editing Ahead. Take Alternate Route.Alain Gomezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17531540414270057688noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188673639340372817.post-36770202724602093662013-02-28T13:06:32.598-08:002013-02-28T13:06:32.598-08:00It's not enough to just have someone with a kn...It's not enough to just have someone with a knowledge of writing. You need someone who's anal enough to notice grammar mistakes and details.<br /><br />I do think that it's necessary for a fresh set of eyes. I admit that I do self-edit some of my work just because I write short stories and my production rate is way faster than someone who writes novels.<br /><br />But I do make a point to put a percentage of my work through the critique process. Honestly, I feel like it's the only way to really grow as a writer. You need an editor to make you realize reoccurring grammar mistakes (if I split another infinitive my editor may jump off a bridge). You also need beta readers to make you realize areas of your writing that are consistently weak.<br /><br />Even though every story is different you'll start to notice trends. For example, my beta readers often commented on how they wished there was more description. So that's something that I have learned to keep an eye out for when I self-edit. Same with the split infinitives.Alain Gomezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17531540414270057688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188673639340372817.post-30997656262402359512013-02-28T10:21:34.124-08:002013-02-28T10:21:34.124-08:00What are your thoughts on using an editor? Do you ...What are your thoughts on using an editor? Do you think it is needed, or is simply having someone with knowledge of writing to proofread all that is needed?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464990233661756267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188673639340372817.post-51235982468055629002013-02-09T19:17:17.575-08:002013-02-09T19:17:17.575-08:00See once I finish a story, that's it for me. ...See once I finish a story, that's it for me. I publish it, dust my hands and start the next one. Otherwise it means there are 3 or 4 totally different versions of the story out there which would feel weird to me as both a reader and writer.Alain Gomezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17531540414270057688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188673639340372817.post-63374638854337953022013-02-09T17:55:45.812-08:002013-02-09T17:55:45.812-08:00I treat my short stories just like I treat my nove...I treat my short stories just like I treat my novels. If I feel they can be improved upon I go back and re-write them. <br /><br />Not all, there are some that have and need that necessary rawness to them. But even short stories need to be finessed; it seems to be cheating the plot and the characters otherwise.JJ Allesonhttp://www.jjalleson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188673639340372817.post-14373619387535545092013-02-06T12:18:57.422-08:002013-02-06T12:18:57.422-08:00It's actually motivating for me. I have no de...It's actually motivating for me. I have no desire to go back and change past works. They're like landmarks for me to show how far I've come which is kind of cool =)Alain Gomezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17531540414270057688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7188673639340372817.post-35206859626396913902013-02-06T10:15:23.697-08:002013-02-06T10:15:23.697-08:00This is the attitude I take with my short stories ...This is the attitude I take with my short stories - I write them as best I can at the time and try not to obsess. Now, the earliest stories seem really bad and even ones written 6 months ago are mediocre. I hope that means I will continue to improve and finally produce stories I can recognise as good for years after I've written them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com