Comments on: Guest Post: Writing is Rewriting

By: Guest Post: Required – The Crappy First Draft | Meryl.net

Guest Post: Required – The Crappy First Draft | Meryl.net — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:55:44 +0000

[...] you think writing is rewriting? How do you handle the first draft? What happens after the first [...]

By: Meryl

Meryl — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:39:24 +0000

@nathalie, between your mention and Christina’s — it sounds like I need to crack open my copy of Bird by Bird.

@Joanna, sometimes the opener can indeed be a block, so starting in the middle can work better as you say.

@Deborah, I think a lot of us writers feel that way.

@Angela, doing something for years does make you more efficient and a better writer. I cringe when I look at my old writings.

@Tricia, a checklist is smart. I haven’t done fiction, but I imagine because I haven’t … it’d be serious word vomit for many drafts.

@Jenni, I recently wrote an article that I thought had enough rewriting. It wasn’t ready. I needed to sit on it. I did and it turned out nice.

@Kimberly, I love your idea for children’s books — to rewrite in a different way. Since they’re shorter, we have that luxury.

@Katie, there you go!

@Jenn, here’s a another reminder.

By: Jenn Mattern

Jenn Mattern — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:19:05 +0000

I constantly have to remind myself that it’s okay if my first drafts are complete crap–that what really matters is that I’m getting it all down so I can clean it up later. Thanks for that reminder!

Jenn Mattern´s last blog post… 5 Things to Smile About as a Freelance Writer

By: What the Writing Community Teaches | Meryl.net

What the Writing Community Teaches | Meryl.net — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:26:08 +0000

[...] It’s OK to do word vomit from LorettaJo: You can’t catch bulimia doing this. Instead, you get ahead with your writing. [...]

By: The Writer Mama

The Writer Mama — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:03:13 +0000

I definitely appreciate Tricia’s idea to use a checklist. In fact, I included one in Writer Mama on pages 210-211. I liked the word vomit idea (though not the image!). And I actually don’t believe people who say they don’t rewrite bc a lot of times they do it so automatically that they don’t even realize it.

The Writer Mama´s last blog post… Day Twenty of the Writer Mama Two-Year Anniversary Blog Tour Giveaway

By: Links: 2009-03-20 Writer Mama Winner Edition | Meryl.net

Links: 2009-03-20 Writer Mama Winner Edition | Meryl.net — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:46:43 +0000

[...] Notes Blog Things wordy, geeky, and webby « Prev post [...]

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:15:25 +0000

I’m definitely a re-writer, and in fact, I get a sort of thrill going through pieces editing and improving.

Maybe if writing doesn’t work out, I should become an editor.

Katie´s last blog post… Writer Mama Winner

By: Kimberly Zook

Kimberly Zook — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:24:30 +0000

I definitely rewrite my book manuscripts, especially the young adult one I’m working on (I think I am on the 15th draft/version now of it!). For my children’s books I try different approaches to telling a story, so I rewrite the entire text in a different manner each time until I hit upon the one that seems to work the best. Editing and revising has always been an interest of mine, so rewriting is actually fun for me

Kimberly Zook´s last blog post… Figures, Figure Eights, and Figurative Language

By: Jenni

Jenni — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:12:38 +0000

I rewrite a lot. It makes sense to me to write, take a break and revisit. And the results are always a lot better when I’ve given myself a little rest.

Jenni´s last blog post… Serenity at a Price

By: Tricia Sanders

Tricia Sanders — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:58:30 +0000

For fiction, several rewrites for me. I can never leave well enough alone. Once I’m in the final stages, I have a checklist that I’ve developed that I use.

Sometimes I think I over-analyze my stuff, but it works for me. I do have a critique group and run most things through them.

Articles I usually do a first draft and a polish. The shorter the article, the less time I take on it.

Tricia Sanders´s last blog post… Hear Ye Hear Ye