Insecure Writers Support Group: February 2015 #IWSG

Has anyone out there not heard of IWSG yet? If so, learn all about it here. Thank you Alex J. Cavanaugh for bringing us all together!

I know everyone has their own writing process and that what works for one person may not work for another, but I've just realized another benefit to the plow-through-the-first-draft-no-looking-back approach, and I want to share it with you.  I write this way because I learned that if I don't, I'll never finish anything. I get too caught up in editing, so I simply can't let myself do it until version one of the story is all out of me. That's benefit #1.

As I work on the second draft of my current WIP, I've seen benefit #2 in action. Since I didn't spend time re-re-re-re-reading chapters to mold and polish along the way, I'm able to attack this draft almost like a first time reader. I think with all writers, the more times we read our own words, the more attached to them we become and the more right they sound to us no matter how very wrong they might be. Since I haven't read these words multiple times, I can slice and dice them more objectively. It's sort of freeing. Have any of you experienced this benefit? Have you tried the no looking back approach?


In case the graphic in my sidebar issn't obnoxious enough, I have some exciting news this week---my upcoming novel VIBRIZZIO is up for pre-order at Amazon!  Right now it's at a special pre-order price of 99c. I don't know how long that'll last, so if you're interested in a love story that's a little bit smart and a lotta bit naughty, you might want to snatch it up now. Scroll down to the bottom of this link for a free sample (i.e. the opening scene)


Comments

Jackie said…
I'm so glad I came here and read this! I have a habit of editing as I go. For NaNo, I put the inner editor away, which was both freeing and terrifying! This is an excellent point you made... "I think with all writers, the more times we read our own words, the more attached to them we become and the more right they sound to us no matter how very wrong they might be." So true, Nikki!!!
I don't edit as I write for the same reasons. I just get it all down on paper and then go back to the beginning with fresh eyes.
This past NaNo, I let myself just run with the story, not going back and analyzing word choice and scenes, etc. If I wasn't sure what to do, I just made a decision and plowed forward, or I wrote the same scene from various angles and POVS and then moved on. :)
Julie Flanders said…
I agree, I can't get anything done if I edit as I go. Although lately I can't seem to get anything done no matter what. Hope your pre-order sale is a big success!
Sarah Foster said…
I wouldn't say I edit as I write, but I do kind of stare at the screen until the words are perfect in my head, which does hold me back a bit. It would be good to just write without worrying about it at all.

February IWSG Co-host
Crystal Collier said…
I have tried the "no-look-back" approach. It's called NANOWRIMO, and it was an epic failure. *sigh* Well, we try new things and we learn, eh? I do like that approach--being able to read something almost like a first time reader. I find that happens when I put something away for a while...but I did draft my last book rather quickly, and it helped, not being attached to the words. It definitely lends to heeding editors in a publishing time frame.
randi lee said…
I'm another one who doesn't edit as they write :) I like to finish a draft, stick it on a shelf for a week or two, and then come back to it with fresh eyes. It works wonders for me as I pick up things I wouldn't have noticed if the work remained in my face all the time!
You're so right. I used to edit as I went along and it bogged me down, and took forever. For my last ms I stopped editing and made myself continue on until the end. I can't even remember what I wrote in the middle. I let it stew for a while, now going back like it's a new read. I like this way. Good Post, Nicki.
Chrys Fey said…
I have the problem of editing while I write, but no matter what I do I can't help it!
cleemckenzie said…
Good crit partners are a must for me. They shake me up and make me see where my words just aren't working.
Jennifer Lane said…
I'm impressed how quickly you finished book two! And I think it's pretty polished by the time I get it :-) How exciting about the pre-order! I love that your publisher is getting it out there in the world now
Loni Townsend said…
I'm an edit as I go type of person too. Hopefully I'll learn to ignore it someday. :)

Yay for pre-orders! I wish you great success!
Anonymous said…
As you say, we all have a different process. I edit as I go, and I can't do it any other way. If I don't feel confident about the scene that came before, I feel like I don't have my feet planted firmly on the ground as I start the next part of the story.

But the advantages you mention, those sounds like good advantages. Keep doing what works for you.
L. Diane Wolfe said…
Maybe that's been my struggle with my fiction. I do go back and edit over what I've written many times before I finish. I don't do that with my non-fiction and it takes me far less time to write it.
Arlee Bird said…
I like your technique and I try to apply to my own writing. My problem is that I plow through until I'm almost done and then I sit at the edge of the field to take a break to sip on some lemonade. Before you know it I'm daydreaming my next project and moving on to the next field before I've finish plowing the first one. I've got to stop doing that. You've got the right idea.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
dolorah said…
Its hard not to let that inner critic ruin a good story.
I do a mix of both. When I have spent too long away from a project, I re-read it and edit it as I go, then when ?I reach the point where I left it, I put away my inner editor and continue writing. But it's hard!
Liz Blocker said…
Ok, you know I'm a plotter, but this IS a good point: "Since I haven't read these words multiple times, I can slice and dice them more objectively."

yeah. I think maybe I might benefit from trying this... who knows, Nicki, maybe you'll convert me!!
Carrie-Anne said…
I don't edit as I'm writing either. Since so many of my files were trapped on obsolete file formats on disks for so many years, it was like reading them all over again when I finally figured out how to open, convert, and reformat them. I was able to be much more objective about editing and revising after 10 years away.
Rachna Chhabria said…
I am trying to stop editing as I write. I want the first draft to be all about getting the story out, the rest can come later. Love the title of your novel 'Vibrizzio.' Good luck with it.
Suze said…
'I think with all writers, the more times we read our own words, the more attached to them we become and the more right they sound to us no matter how very wrong they might be.'

Totally. It's like treading and retreading a groove until it's dangerously permanent for no other reason except that it's become second-skin familiar.
Juneta key said…
I seesaw with I do and then I don't. It is an ongoing battle with self. Great Post.
Juneta at Writer's Gambit
A little bit smart and a little bit naughty? The naughty will sell it! :-)

Sally Troll emailed me about my book, "Obviously, I'm not smart enough to enjoy your books. They're full of thoughts about death, pain, love and stuff. I don't read to think, man!"

Not smart enough? I wondered if I used too many big words. Sally gave me the key to success: we're to help our readers stay asleep!"

I felt like I had stumbled into the John Carpenter's movie, THEY LIVE.

I wish you luck with your pre-order sales!
Tara Tyler said…
im totally with you on the plow thru and don't look back - or i'll never get it done either. then i have something to work with and add to - and i love thinking, hey, i remember that, i'm funny!

let me know if you need any blog advertising =)
nice to see ya!
Zan Marie said…
Each of us has our own process and that's good. Finding what works is a glorious day. Thanks for dropping by my blog on Blitz Day!
Stephanie Faris said…
I do find going away from a novel for a while and coming back again really helps give me that fresh perspective. I love the cover of your book. It's very eye catching!
Donna McDine said…
I agree with you full heartedly. Get the first draft done then edit away!
Donna Smith said…
Hmm. I liked this. I have done this when writing poetry and enjoyed the process of editing and cutting bunches and bunches of junk out. So liberating sometimes and I know what you mean about not "owning" the words so much. I have to do this more often!
BTW: Thanks for the recent blitz-visit!
mainelywrite.blogspot.com

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