Editing 101: 1
A Fan Fiction Writer's GuideSometimes, you have to get rid of your perfectly crafted babies.
By babies, I do not mean one that is created through ual .
No, I'm talking about sentences, chapters, characters, and paragraphs; yes, even a character.
I know what you're thinking: how could I get rid of this character/ paragraph/ sentence/ chapter that took me effort to create?
And then you're thinking I have no clue what I'm talking about because that's stupid.
Well, I have been reading this book called "Getting the Words Right: How to Rewrite, Edit & Revise."
So trust me when I say these things, they are necessary during the writing process.
A professional writer will not regret deleting something unnecessary; they will feel some sadness because they just killed their child, but never regret. Or, if you feel that you do not want to get rid of it, you can put it in the dusty closet (figuratively speaking) of your computer where you probably will never use it.
It's like a child unable to let go of their favorite toy.
So ask yourself this simple question:
"Will this help my story move forward?"
And be honest. Don't say "Yes" just because you like the character, sentence, or whatever and you feel it's perfectly crafter; that's unprofessional. Say "Yes" if you can already see the future of your story referencing it as a big part that will roll the plot along.
Theodore A. Rees Cheney says in the previously mentioned book, "Fiction writers can search for opportunities to eliminate or shorten flashback scenes (too much flashback can create a flopback) and the cleverly conceived but overlong internal monologue."
So when writing flashbacks, take his advice--the advice of a published author--and utilize it.
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