tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post1414659299402000216..comments2024-01-28T05:49:46.861-05:00Comments on Janet Sumner Johnson: The Story of a StoryJanet Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-89793127265144671202011-10-12T06:50:35.334-04:002011-10-12T06:50:35.334-04:00Once I get into cutting I can't stop and it al...Once I get into cutting I can't stop and it always improves the work. I even spend time cutting the word count on my blog posts and I'm sure they benefit too.Rosalind Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05363027308436257933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-77422038096328993832011-10-10T15:36:52.532-04:002011-10-10T15:36:52.532-04:00I struggle with word count from the opposite persp...I struggle with word count from the opposite perspective. Wow, my story is so "short". What more can I add to give the readers a better more complete story?<br /><br />Maybe I should just be a short story writer.MikeShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01873919941047794748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-86704765036024247752011-10-09T13:18:42.204-04:002011-10-09T13:18:42.204-04:00Ooh, great post! I'm a very long winded writer...Ooh, great post! I'm a very long winded writer, so my final versions always end up in LOTS of cuttage.Anita Grace Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01797870961916148616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-47026713601999829352011-10-07T23:42:50.290-04:002011-10-07T23:42:50.290-04:00The last revision letter I got sggested I ct 50 pa...The last revision letter I got sggested I ct 50 pages. F-I-F-T-Y pages. And this was from a 46K novel, so it's not like it was exceptionally long. <br /><br />It is amazing what yo can cut (and the story was tight to start with!) but when you start looking at what moves the story forward and what just characterizes or layer...it makes a big difference. :)<br /><br />Angela @ The Bookshelf MuseAngela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-69231320833970638662011-10-07T12:47:06.202-04:002011-10-07T12:47:06.202-04:00This is good advice, but I do think you need to be...This is good advice, but I do think you need to be careful too. <br /><br />Right after I wrote my first book (which was about 180,000 words) I was so desperate to cut the word count, I went back and edited out my voice.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12399082789777816445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-29431525174625384962011-10-07T07:52:23.150-04:002011-10-07T07:52:23.150-04:00Great advice. Thanks for sharing.Great advice. Thanks for sharing.Maeve Frazierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00788413883600771145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-42793715057525920362011-10-06T19:06:48.825-04:002011-10-06T19:06:48.825-04:00I'm so glad you sound happy about it! I always...I'm so glad you sound happy about it! I always feel bad about pointing out passages (frequently delightful ones) that are redundant or tangents. I suspect they were made wonderful because the author was moved in some way by the subject. It's a sadness to suggest removing something that touched the author so much. :(Victoria Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08978050059674596756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-60886529511022849722011-10-06T16:23:17.596-04:002011-10-06T16:23:17.596-04:00I wish I could cut. I tend to write stories that a...I wish I could cut. I tend to write stories that are too short to be called novels. In fact, I actually go through and do my best to add pointless words wherever I can. But now, I'm coming to terms with short novels. It just doesn't bother me as much as it used to.KamilleEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06845951906601926878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-20423032836563283782011-10-06T14:12:56.799-04:002011-10-06T14:12:56.799-04:00I'm definitely dealing with this right now... ...I'm definitely dealing with this right now... I have soooo many of these unnecessary actions that I need to cut. At one point I was doing revisions and it was almost 140k.. And I was supposed to be cutting (word count goal: 85k)!WritingNuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16326756274887055685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-57212636331335797832011-10-06T13:56:33.887-04:002011-10-06T13:56:33.887-04:00My first fantasy novel was over 200K. And only abo...My first fantasy novel was over 200K. And only about 50K was necessary to the overall plot. *SIGH*<br />Luckily, I've learned my lesson. :)Bethany Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12829932931010851406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-54555221934401462672011-10-06T12:41:39.425-04:002011-10-06T12:41:39.425-04:00Been there, done that. I managed to cut a 102K man...Been there, done that. I managed to cut a 102K manuscript down to a svelte 63K, then decided I'd been a little over-zealous and plumped up the overly-fast scenes. Now it's sitting pretty at 65K.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-75505180543614778102011-10-06T12:02:50.793-04:002011-10-06T12:02:50.793-04:00Such a good point! I am squarely in the too-wordy...Such a good point! I am squarely in the too-wordy camp myself, and always looking for ways to cut. But it's hard! Good for you and good luck with the book!Susanna Leonard Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17655630528649780363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-30746372754905712092011-10-06T11:56:55.289-04:002011-10-06T11:56:55.289-04:00Good for you!!!!! Great list of stuff to slash, to...Good for you!!!!! Great list of stuff to slash, to whittle a manuscript down to a readable size. :)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-50683165603786820792011-10-06T11:53:24.097-04:002011-10-06T11:53:24.097-04:00Great point that the beta readers didn't notic...Great point that the beta readers didn't notice the cuts. I try to do a "waste sheet" (I read about that in the blogosphere) now. I put cuts that I like, but know aren't needed. I save it for something else. Maybe I'm a word hoarder.Stacy S. Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09646270238659432058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-7357275727399091552011-10-06T10:59:53.469-04:002011-10-06T10:59:53.469-04:00great advice. Too bad my problem is just the OPPOS...great advice. Too bad my problem is just the OPPOSITE!!! I tend to be too brief. I can always add more description, it seems, or slow a scene down, or whatever. Revisions are a beast~ :o) <3LTMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05239077455322030275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-74430274973574777932011-10-06T10:46:23.138-04:002011-10-06T10:46:23.138-04:00GREAT question. I'm in the process of major re...GREAT question. I'm in the process of major revisions and am cutting a lot.Saumyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517289532769906489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-85591253486319253532011-10-06T10:15:48.650-04:002011-10-06T10:15:48.650-04:00Cutting makes me sad, but makes the story so much ...Cutting makes me sad, but makes the story so much better! Funny how that works. ;)Carolyn Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03780443388339294502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-55566178721760198532011-10-06T09:17:30.122-04:002011-10-06T09:17:30.122-04:00I did the same thing with a manuscript this past S...I did the same thing with a manuscript this past Spring. I even cut chapters! It's amazing how the process really tightens the story, and makes what's left read even better. Happy editing :)Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972054718663959694noreply@blogger.com