tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post8537418128300848162..comments2023-10-01T12:16:36.158-04:00Comments on Writing in the Wilderness: How do you write?sarahjayne smythehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589820347348973092noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-23007864307244030512010-04-03T05:42:45.633-04:002010-04-03T05:42:45.633-04:00Even Coco Chanel used to say that "less is mo...Even Coco Chanel used to say that "less is more", and she knew about style, didn't she? ;-)<br /><br />Seriously, I have embraced this rule, and try to apply it to my writing, to cure both the tendency to use too many words that's typical of my mother tongue, and to achieve a tighter focus.<br /><br />We'll see if it works... :-)Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11457992684016570400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-90671260212169798592010-03-31T20:11:29.275-04:002010-03-31T20:11:29.275-04:00Shelley, thanks. It does feel good to cut. Makes e...Shelley, thanks. It does feel good to cut. Makes everything sharper and cleaner. :)<br /><br />Portia, you're right. Tone does go a long way. And a checklist sounds like a great idea. :)<br /><br />Christi, great advice. :)<br /><br />Jenn, thanks. :)<br /><br />Amber, I love caffeine. And words apparently. :)sarahjayne smythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02589820347348973092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-66690344139549715092010-03-31T19:01:05.949-04:002010-03-31T19:01:05.949-04:00I am a wordy bird. I know this, yet I still write ...I am a wordy bird. I know this, yet I still write like sentences have minimum word counts. It's an addiction or something. Like caffeine or American Idol.Leigh Hutchens Burchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13974935740527936303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-26217897901443603722010-03-30T21:55:01.231-04:002010-03-30T21:55:01.231-04:00sarahjayne, my worst offenses are passive verbs an...sarahjayne, my worst offenses are passive verbs and redundant descriptions. I picked up on yours right away because it's something I do all the time:<br /><br />"so that each one is necessary and none are gratuitous"<br /><br />;)<br /><br />Great post.Jenn McKayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08096584277185808602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-87374000084638280462010-03-30T21:42:11.363-04:002010-03-30T21:42:11.363-04:00The best advise I have had to date is "get ri...The best advise I have had to date is "get rid of 'that'" since it helps me trim my work down considerably.Christi Goddardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08590491851753709622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-49220358101828407592010-03-30T20:59:35.126-04:002010-03-30T20:59:35.126-04:00Oh yeah. My first drafts are wordy. Second draft I...Oh yeah. My first drafts are wordy. Second draft I go in all ninja-style, slicing and dicing, editing and pruning the bonsai to its most essential shape.Lola Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14394765053485642935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-25089157511450948302010-03-30T20:39:31.183-04:002010-03-30T20:39:31.183-04:00I find the mood of the piece sometimes causes me t...I find the mood of the piece sometimes causes me to repeat words. So I keep a checklist of anything I know I'm overusing and target it in editing.Portiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13435815819572442582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-62641531884485752562010-03-30T20:02:52.409-04:002010-03-30T20:02:52.409-04:00Yup, I'm like a lot of others here that I star...Yup, I'm like a lot of others here that I start out TOO wordy, and then I cut and cut and cut... and you know what? It feels good to cross out those unneeded words. What remains is much cleaner afterward. Good post.Shelley Slyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07981620646634240160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-37404032127320353322010-03-30T16:59:13.301-04:002010-03-30T16:59:13.301-04:00Karen, yep. I know what you mean about placeholder...Karen, yep. I know what you mean about placeholders. I do that myself. I obsess over word choice. :)<br /><br />Anne, I have a feeling you do a great job weeding out your second and third drafts. :)<br /><br />Summer, I'm glad the links were helpful. :)<br /><br />Eva, I love the way you talk and write. :)<br /><br />Betty, it is painful sometimes. I like to think I've learned to embrace the pain. :)<br /><br />Simon, you sound like my husband with his non-essential words. :)<br /><br />Courtney, I'm LMAO! NOOFED! Too funny.<br /><br />Amy, thank you for missing my stuff. I have something for the First Pages blogfest coming up Friday, and other things for the Murder Scene and Bar Scene blogfests coming up on April 10th and 11th.<br /><br />B. Miller, good luck hunting down the passive. :)<br /><br />Kimberly, yes, yes, we do. :)<br /><br />Bane, glad you're doing better with the begins. :)<br /><br />E. Elle, I love my go-to words. :) I hate to cut them. :(<br /><br />Tamara, that's cool that it works the opposite for you. :)<br /><br />Elena, I know what you mean about bloated. I almost physically feel that way sometimes when I look at my writing.<br /><br />Susan, short stories and flash fic are great ways to cut back on words.sarahjayne smythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02589820347348973092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-87058872971656321602010-03-30T16:28:56.681-04:002010-03-30T16:28:56.681-04:00Writing a short story with a word count is always ...Writing a short story with a word count is always a painful experience for me, but a much needed exercise in making each word count. I need to write one every once in a while to keep that lesson fresh in my mind.Susan Fieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02433408456603462774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-46774322642201646782010-03-30T16:09:39.824-04:002010-03-30T16:09:39.824-04:00I always have a bloated word count. I'm foreve...I always have a bloated word count. I'm forever cutting. For me it has to do more with plot elements and repeating entire themes that just words. I have to constantly remind myself that I don't need to say the same thing three times using different words and senses. Sometimes it works, and then my betas yell. :)Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-50116539960381432262010-03-30T15:14:53.454-04:002010-03-30T15:14:53.454-04:00When I write my first draft, I'm usually prett...When I write my first draft, I'm usually pretty sparse. My biggest problem is adding details, to be honest. If I cut things out, it's scenes that no longer fit, stuff like that. usually I rely on reader feedback to help me add the necessary details.Tamara Hart Heinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07562765111202443160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-91017104024077351722010-03-30T14:40:04.929-04:002010-03-30T14:40:04.929-04:00I love words! I don't know if there are any I...I love words! I don't know if there are any I use more than others... I do have some go-to words that develop depending on the piece I'm working on but nothing's coming to mind right now. I'm sure when I reread what I wrote last night I'll be bombarded with them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-13913567680920010302010-03-30T14:07:56.628-04:002010-03-30T14:07:56.628-04:00Lots of onlys and a few justs -- much better about...Lots of onlys and a few justs -- much better about the begins though.Joshua McCunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367262185912463258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-66220219904574129462010-03-30T13:56:39.310-04:002010-03-30T13:56:39.310-04:00I hate that I have favorite words. And when I'...I hate that I have favorite words. And when I'm editing it's like they jump off the page at me! But I guess everyone has this problem, right? Right? Please say they do!!! :)Kimberly Franklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13957037411750752950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-31219638557926038372010-03-30T13:04:28.656-04:002010-03-30T13:04:28.656-04:00I try to kill every "had", "that&qu...I try to kill every "had", "that", and adverb I find in my prose. Passive writing. IT IS MY BANE!B. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10112783922833164491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-1979384705540841872010-03-30T12:08:57.622-04:002010-03-30T12:08:57.622-04:00I have a difficult time knowing what I am using to...I have a difficult time knowing what I am using too much. I think "in fact" and "to be honest" may be there! I have been advised to read last several pieces and see what I am using over and over. I need to do it!<br /><br />Missing your creative work!Unspokenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16065870952905767595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-55696375472245091572010-03-30T11:54:03.307-04:002010-03-30T11:54:03.307-04:00I have phrases that I don't even realize I use...I have phrases that I don't even realize I use over and over again until I create a wordle in the early stages of a project. Then I just grimace and realize how 'fun' it will be in revisions... ;o)<br /><br /><a href="http://princesscourtneysbarr.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Visit My Kingdom Anytime</a><br /><br />love the word verif on this one: NOOFFED!Courtney Barr - The Southern Princesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14455508477182984039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-74545417148461535702010-03-30T11:45:12.853-04:002010-03-30T11:45:12.853-04:00I often eschew personal pronouns and articles. It ...I often eschew personal pronouns and articles. It makes my prose more spare. I'd elaborate, but that would mean using extra words in this comment. Can't have that. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-32583587675887078482010-03-30T11:26:40.000-04:002010-03-30T11:26:40.000-04:00I am a terrible word hog!!! It's so painful t...I am a terrible word hog!!! It's so painful to cut!Bossy Bettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12568355839499622409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-9608309418975386962010-03-30T11:22:16.341-04:002010-03-30T11:22:16.341-04:00I don't know if I have favorite words or phras...I don't know if I have favorite words or phrases (you've read enough of my crap--you tell me) but I do have a run on quality that I've noticed upon re-reading. Usually I end up cutting at least one sentence from the phrase in question. This run-on style is stream of consciousness and probably sounds a lot like the way I talk. <br /><br />Which is not a good thing.<br /><br />I'll have to check out the links later (not while I'm at work). Thanks for the information.Eva Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14855603175280772481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-10951794192002728852010-03-30T09:18:30.913-04:002010-03-30T09:18:30.913-04:00Of course, of course. I'll be bookmarking thos...Of course, of course. I'll be bookmarking those links when I'm ready to take the fillet knife to my MS.Summer Freyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04234534550255682010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-20030266070098025892010-03-30T08:18:34.615-04:002010-03-30T08:18:34.615-04:00I have tons in the first draft. It's the 2nd ...I have tons in the first draft. It's the 2nd and 3rd that I have trouble finding them all.Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-24232639123665818352010-03-30T07:29:40.051-04:002010-03-30T07:29:40.051-04:00Well. So. Just. Even. And. Then. All. And then all...Well. So. Just. Even. And. Then. All. And then all those adverbs. Tons and tons of these do-nothing words. They're like stuttering when I write. It's ok though, they're easy to eliminate. Harder to do is to change out the dull, easy words that I throw in almost like place-holders until I find the better word later. Sometimes in my reading other work, I'll see it and say, "Yes, that's the word I was looking for!" I also like to read dictionaries and the thesaurus.Karen Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01153821980625034810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669763793815784823.post-91096170269669355782010-03-30T07:27:33.896-04:002010-03-30T07:27:33.896-04:00Great things to remember, Nicole. And I agree. I l...Great things to remember, Nicole. And I agree. I love flash fiction contests. :)sarahjayne smythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02589820347348973092noreply@blogger.com