It looks like you and your pooch like to sink your teeth into something and not let go. I'm thinking of Tom Skerritt's character in A River Runs Through It, where he kept handing Norman's writing back - complete with lots of red-pencil with the advice, "Again, half as long!"
Someone told me once - I don't remember who they were quoting, but it was to the effect of, "Writing is rewriting."
I wish you well - it seems like you are well stocked in red pencils!
Ha! This is hysterical when you get to the dog part. 🤣 As you know, I'm also writing middle grade fantasy, though I prefer to call it "teen fantasy adventure" because I believe/hope that older readers will enjoy it as well. I'm now at the very end of the ultra-tedious revision process for book 2, which started at 107,000 words and is ending around 86,000. That always works best for me. Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop. And it reads a lot better in the end.
Whenever I'll be revising my work, I'll think about your doggo who kills their darlings with so much passion. All excellent pointers. I also highly advise writers to attempt flashes and poetry where sparse language is encouraged. Having written a few of those, I try to be as brief as possible in other genres of writing (though I'm a bit more wordy when it comes to non-fiction essays).
As always I love your metaphors and Tock is the perfect model to prove your points. I'm afraid I saw myself in the less than sensitive "cut this!" Love the photos. Love your words, and the message is right on target.
Missoula word-meister Wendy,
It looks like you and your pooch like to sink your teeth into something and not let go. I'm thinking of Tom Skerritt's character in A River Runs Through It, where he kept handing Norman's writing back - complete with lots of red-pencil with the advice, "Again, half as long!"
Someone told me once - I don't remember who they were quoting, but it was to the effect of, "Writing is rewriting."
I wish you well - it seems like you are well stocked in red pencils!
Cheers,
Mark
Ha! This is hysterical when you get to the dog part. 🤣 As you know, I'm also writing middle grade fantasy, though I prefer to call it "teen fantasy adventure" because I believe/hope that older readers will enjoy it as well. I'm now at the very end of the ultra-tedious revision process for book 2, which started at 107,000 words and is ending around 86,000. That always works best for me. Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop. And it reads a lot better in the end.
Whenever I'll be revising my work, I'll think about your doggo who kills their darlings with so much passion. All excellent pointers. I also highly advise writers to attempt flashes and poetry where sparse language is encouraged. Having written a few of those, I try to be as brief as possible in other genres of writing (though I'm a bit more wordy when it comes to non-fiction essays).
As always I love your metaphors and Tock is the perfect model to prove your points. I'm afraid I saw myself in the less than sensitive "cut this!" Love the photos. Love your words, and the message is right on target.
I need Tock to gnaw at some past characters. I actually tend to under-write.