It's all about choices, Faith. The ones we make, and the ones we don't. Oh, and the consequences. Those are always fun.

Angelus ,'Smile Time'


The Great Write Way, Act Three: Where's the gun?

A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.


Barb - Aug 10, 2008 9:29:02 am PDT #538 of 6681
“Not dead yet!”

Personally, Susan? I'm with Amy in thinking that perhaps it's a bit more complicated than it needs to be, however, it's definitely what works for you and given how many subplots and characters you have in this story and how many changes it's already undergone, I can see that you're trying to eliminate any potential issues.

If it were me, I'd do it in this order.

  • Let it sit
  • FIRST PASS, making notes as needed.
  • REWRITE: Cut unneeded scenes, add additional ones. (Here, I tend to rewrite AS I read during the first pass, but that's because I'm clearly insane. YMMV.)
  • BETA: Self-explanatory. Take another break and let other people have a look.
  • POLISH/FINAL TWEAK: One final pass, incorporating beta feedback.

I never print out the manuscript, but again, this is me. I do have a very large monitor so I can work with two versions of the MS open at the same time if I feel the need.

But again, and it can't be stressed enough, this is simply me. In the end, do what works/feels best to you.


Typo Boy - Aug 10, 2008 9:42:50 am PDT #539 of 6681
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.

Paris Hilton's Guide to Understanding the Supernatural

Vampirism is the ultimate liquid diet. Werewolves follow Atkins more strictly than any human can, and get healthy exercise with their meals besides. That applies to Incubi and Succubi as well. Nobody is skinnier than a wraith. (Though, Nobody's diet is a secret that has never been revealed.) Mummies are examples of really successful gastric bypass.

It is not always about weight control though. Sometimes it is a matter of principle. Sasquatch is just watching his carbon footprint. Harpies live lightly on the earth. Zombies are simplifiers, master at stripping life down to bare essentials. Ghouls are the ultimate Freegans.


SailAweigh - Aug 10, 2008 10:12:11 am PDT #540 of 6681
Nana korobi, ya oki. (Fall down seven times, stand up eight.) ~Yuzuru Hanyu/Japanese proverb

Snerk, Typo.


Allyson - Aug 10, 2008 10:37:26 am PDT #541 of 6681
Wait, is this real-world child support, where the money goes to buy food for the kids, or MRA fantasyland child support where the women just buy Ferraris and cocaine? -Jessica

I wish I could help, Susan, but I'm such an emotionally needy human when I'm writing (well, when i'm not writing as well, but worse when I'm writing) that I think whatever advice I have, you'd have to do the opposite.

My littlest beta reader, Ashley age 6, loves Sam. Her dad read the first half of the first chapter to her on Thursday night before bed, and then asked questions:

What's the bat's name?

Sam!

How big was Sam?

No bigger than a marshmallow...

He said he'd finish it before school in the morning, and when he went to wake her up, she was already sitting up on her bed, holding the manuscript, trying to read it herself.

Best. Beta. Evar.


amych - Aug 10, 2008 10:39:15 am PDT #542 of 6681
Now let us crush something soft and watch it fountain blood. That is a girlish thing to want to do, yes?

Awesome, Allyson. There should be more cover blurbs from readers like Ashley.


Susan W. - Aug 10, 2008 11:47:55 am PDT #543 of 6681
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights

It sounds to me like you might be making it more complicated than it needs to be, but I don't know the scope of the book, plotwise.

It's pretty big and complex, and as an alternative history involves more worldbuilding than I'm used to. Also, though I'm trying to make it stand alone reasonably well, it is the first of a series, so I'm laying groundwork for future events.

That said, I may be overcompensating. Having finally admitted that I've under-edited in the past, I'm all fired up for a perfect orgy of rewrites. And this may be normal this close to the end of a rough draft, but right now I feel like the WIP is an utter disaster and that I'm a terrible writer who never should've attempted something so complex. My one hope is that I can rewrite it into something that does justice to the idea and the characters.


erikaj - Aug 10, 2008 2:17:11 pm PDT #544 of 6681
Always Anti-fascist!

does somebody have pages of mine? Because I could use the feedback.


Allyson - Aug 10, 2008 5:08:01 pm PDT #545 of 6681
Wait, is this real-world child support, where the money goes to buy food for the kids, or MRA fantasyland child support where the women just buy Ferraris and cocaine? -Jessica

Anyone up for a beta of about 1800 words? It's been such a shitty chapter to write, so much gloom. It worries me. From here on in, Sam's adventure buoys up in tone and tempo, and chapter three is hilarious. But i just can't seem to get past the owl's loss of her babies, I can't seem to grasp it in a way that isn't making me either cry or beat my head against the keyboard from the melodrama.


Beverly - Aug 10, 2008 5:27:31 pm PDT #546 of 6681
Days shrink and grow cold, sunlight through leaves is my song. Winter is long.

Send it Allyson. I'm always eager to take a look.

And you know, I may not have anything to offer except, "It reads fine, to me." But I'll be glad to take a look.


Barb - Aug 10, 2008 5:37:06 pm PDT #547 of 6681
“Not dead yet!”

If you want, Allyson, I'll take a look. Profile email is fine.