tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post8167180838569375598..comments2023-08-03T08:07:59.258-05:00Comments on Inside the Mind of Lauren Murphy: I Hate Rewrites!!!Lauren Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12153107734632854508noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-83430351384211845792008-02-16T23:06:00.000-06:002008-02-16T23:06:00.000-06:00Hi Lauren,I actually enjoy the rewrite stage. I th...Hi Lauren,<BR/><BR/>I actually enjoy the rewrite stage. I think of it as remoulding and improving my raw first draft. Yes, sometimes, it's painful because I need to cut scenes etc or favorite scenes but I try to think about all the brilliant improvements I'm making. I have to admit, though, that liberal application of chocolate can sometimes help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-63650984634373855562008-02-16T09:51:00.000-06:002008-02-16T09:51:00.000-06:00Arghh!! I hate rewrites, too. I add in scenes, the...Arghh!! I hate rewrites, too. I add in scenes, then I start getting all confused about the continuity. Gah! Terrible. I'd much rather write something from scratch, but it's worth it to make a story work.<BR/><BR/>Good luck!!!Antonia Pearcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08900913817487525496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-87693294703635190672008-02-16T05:17:00.000-06:002008-02-16T05:17:00.000-06:00I feel your pain. LOLBut I always found that after...I feel your pain. LOL<BR/>But I always found that after the rewrites and edits I felt a million times better about the story.R.G. ALEXANDERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05690665241880768094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-78668772954782524632008-02-15T11:40:00.000-06:002008-02-15T11:40:00.000-06:00Patience? What's that?? ;) DEEEEP cleansing brea...Patience? What's that?? ;) DEEEEP cleansing breath...in through the nose...out through the mouth. It's all good :DToni Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14351098190464142362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-13282410460607837052008-02-15T05:07:00.000-06:002008-02-15T05:07:00.000-06:00My problem is, I edit while I write the first draf...My problem is, I edit while I write the first draft, which means it takes forever to finish a book. Very frustrating. Hang in there. You're not alone.Jerrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17267344246202552247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-25027625965327962762008-02-15T04:03:00.000-06:002008-02-15T04:03:00.000-06:00Hey, look at it this way - if you're doing rewrite...Hey, look at it this way - if you're doing rewrites, it means you've written a book. How many people can say that? <BR/><BR/>Hope it's flowing smoothly for you :)Nalini Singhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14035379088067281196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-58839338659711572452008-02-15T01:37:00.000-06:002008-02-15T01:37:00.000-06:00comHi Lauren,Maybe your need to put your baby(MS) ...comHi Lauren,<BR/><BR/>Maybe your need to put your baby(MS) away for longer period of time, I did that and now can see the problem area a lot better.<BR/><BR/>Janice~Janice Seagraveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02576031935823587485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-21472155655837468042008-02-14T22:34:00.000-06:002008-02-14T22:34:00.000-06:00It helps to work on something else a little betwee...It helps to work on something else a little between 1st draft and rewrites. Choose something light and completely different. It's like the salad or the sorbet fancy restaurants serve between courses to "cleanse the palate."<BR/><BR/>When you get back to your draft, you'll be refreshed and better able to appreciate it.bettiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11398414989528116281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-18063196160587568222008-02-14T21:29:00.000-06:002008-02-14T21:29:00.000-06:00Um, don’t hate me but… rewrites are my favorite. ...Um, don’t hate me but… rewrites are my favorite. I HATE the first draft process. Like pulling teeth. I’m sure everything I write is trash. It’s in the rewrite process that I realize some of it may not be so bad after all. <BR/><BR/>~GemmaGemma Hallidayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04677167276575234867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-67728607760605945892008-02-14T21:15:00.000-06:002008-02-14T21:15:00.000-06:00Putting the book aside for a while is a great idea...Putting the book aside for a while is a great idea. I don't know any other way to get fresh eyes for a piece. And you'll get through it, you'll see.Kristen Painterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984459504977637298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-50782517902763303162008-02-14T21:02:00.000-06:002008-02-14T21:02:00.000-06:00Um...I don't really mind rewrites...*hangs head in...Um...I don't really mind rewrites...*hangs head in shame* After all these comments I almost feel like I should. actually, I've found I dislike the first drafting, because I know I have to rewrite anyhow. when I finally get my full idea on paper is when I begin to have fun with the writing, trying to find better metaphors/similes, phrasings and sayings, dialogue, imagery, transitions. I love that, and that's when I feel I am actually writing...the first draft is my hell, frustration pure.Kayko Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06770841338614298415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-81889748360030970692008-02-14T19:47:00.000-06:002008-02-14T19:47:00.000-06:00Okay, Lauren, first, you're not some looney-toons ...Okay, Lauren, first, you're not some looney-toons duck, so you can stop sweating.<BR/><BR/>I hate rewrites...hate, hate, hate them with a purple passion (with pink polka dots even!) But, those rewrites, unless you're gutting your work and completely rewriting, are to writing what polishing is to diamond cutting. <BR/><BR/>Just took a really great workshop given by Bob Mayer (teamed with Jenny Crusie for "Don't Look Down" and "Agnes and the Hitman". <BR/><BR/>If you're interested, go out and get his "Writer's Toolkit" book. It has lots of great stuff in it, some of it about rewriting, and also about how you can avoid needless rewrites.<BR/><BR/>Okay, now you have to come visit me at MY house! ;-)Cinthia Hamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02292158388145808408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-27583077213657222982008-02-14T16:57:00.000-06:002008-02-14T16:57:00.000-06:00Yup, rewrites stink, but here is some *virtual swi...Yup, rewrites stink, but here is some *virtual swiss chocolate* to dull the painDana Belfryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02736349832751110193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-23280151644058827502008-02-14T16:48:00.000-06:002008-02-14T16:48:00.000-06:00I'm a weird one. I don't mind rewrites at all. It'...I'm a weird one. I don't mind rewrites at all. It's my chance to make a bleh scene better and a good scene really sparkle.Tawny Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15271057218679001241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-9019110014287755472008-02-14T16:34:00.000-06:002008-02-14T16:34:00.000-06:00Oh, I sympathise like {------this-----} much. I h...Oh, I sympathise like {------this-----} much. I have a 120,000 word ms that's been revised, polished, beta-read, got nearly-there-but-not-quite with several agents, and I now need to revise it again so I can send it out to publishers.<BR/>And I've done...um, very little.<BR/>I hate rewrites.<BR/>Immi<BR/>xAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08213066534172394685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-46400351870750916022008-02-14T16:03:00.000-06:002008-02-14T16:03:00.000-06:00It sucks, but it's like getting a gyne checkup. Yo...It sucks, but it's like getting a gyne checkup. You just need to get the (*&^ done. <BR/><BR/>Hang in there , this too shall pass (until you write the next one!)Eva Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08834856467514439544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-7882104706804148352008-02-14T15:50:00.000-06:002008-02-14T15:50:00.000-06:00OMG! I just finished completely re-writing a 90K m...OMG! I just finished completely re-writing a 90K manuscript. The pain! The agony! And then I may have to do more if they don't like it! *whimper*Crystal Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12328935116755147276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-12504656211327658282008-02-14T15:48:00.000-06:002008-02-14T15:48:00.000-06:00Hugs, I find chocolate helps.Hugs, I find chocolate helps.Nell Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16346808072962615721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-67458290431683643152008-02-14T15:40:00.000-06:002008-02-14T15:40:00.000-06:00I've done rewrites a couple of different ways. One...I've done rewrites a couple of different ways. One was to let the crit circle chew it up first. Not a bad method, but hard on your skin. Or you can do it a word at a time on your computer. Printing it out works too, I've done this one, like Gina said. I'm doing it that way with my current wip. Another thing I've done is printed it out, and grabbing a notebook write out the bits and lines that I need to fix, or add to. The slowness of the process makes think about it a little more. <BR/><BR/>As for if I thought they were fun? Or easy? <BR/><BR/>*one arched brow* <BR/><BR/>You're kidding, right?Diana Castillejahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18120179642772790880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-59016104888916082992008-02-14T15:04:00.000-06:002008-02-14T15:04:00.000-06:00Ugh! I hate rewrites too.You're better than me. ...Ugh! I hate rewrites too.<BR/>You're better than me. I usually IMMEDIATELY send it to crit partners. It's like "Out Damn Spot". LOL.<BR/>I agree with d. Wine helps. Or in my case, Whiskey.Jennifer McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03613714863799177911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-24650721701468840712008-02-14T15:03:00.000-06:002008-02-14T15:03:00.000-06:00It happens to everyone. I am in the middle of a r...It happens to everyone. I am in the middle of a revision/edits on something I wrote a year and a half ago and I hate it. I keep finding other things to do/new stories to write. I'm only 1/2 way through and reading blogs, going to RD, etc. is way more fun. But, it has to get done because I want to send this story out and get it over with! LOL :-D<BR/><BR/>Michelle (MG) <BR/>http://www.mgbraden.com/blogMG Bradenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934146620368307764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-50914875933872385692008-02-14T14:51:00.000-06:002008-02-14T14:51:00.000-06:00I learn something new every day! Great idea to lea...I learn something new every day! Great idea to leave it alone for a bit and look with fresh eyes. Thanks for the idea.Traci Flowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11505251789911290463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-37054457385521877592008-02-14T14:49:00.000-06:002008-02-14T14:49:00.000-06:00I absolutely hate rewrites! It's like torture.And ...I absolutely hate rewrites! It's like torture.<BR/><BR/>And yes, wine!!!Lillian Feistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05364136198506264282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-77377163481942174142008-02-14T14:30:00.000-06:002008-02-14T14:30:00.000-06:00I'm rewriting one story while doing edit revisions...I'm rewriting one story while doing edit revisions on another. A writer's perfect hell.<BR/><BR/>One thing I've found that worked for me when rewriting is to actually print out the pages giving me trouble, open a new document and actually REWRITE the scene. For some reason, I can see what needs to be layered, what should be removed, where the POV waffles, etc. if I'm typing the scene over again.<BR/><BR/>Good luck!Gina Ardito aka Katherine Brandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02973801443194349928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265390462606354733.post-27604264157567731372008-02-14T14:27:00.000-06:002008-02-14T14:27:00.000-06:00I hate rewrites too! All those people who say "A p...I hate rewrites too! All those people who say "A page of crap is better than a blank page" are nuts IMHO. I'd much rather stare at a blank page with a million possibilities. However, the good part is that once you get them done, it's really done :-D<BR/><BR/>JenJennifer Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08659912776999745204noreply@blogger.com