the delphic expanse

Again, found this through one of the writers I follow on Twitter:

15 Steps to Avoid Overwriting

I remember after I sent the prologue of "Dark Echoes" off to my beta, HopefulRomantic, and asked her to unleash her inner editor, her first note was that I was overwriting.

I believe this article is an excellent litmus test on how to avoid that mistake. I still have my moments, but I think I've improved.

Misplaced, I made this one announcement status because I think it's essential for every writer to read. Many of the things I catch in beta have something to do with the items on this list.

Great article, but it's showing in the Rewatch area... *avoids overwriting reviews*

ooh! Good Article. Off to reread some stuff before posting....

Misplaced wrote:Again, found this through one of the writers I follow on Twitter:

15 Steps to Avoid Overwriting

I remember after I sent the prologue of "Dark Echoes" off to my beta, HopefulRomantic, and asked her to unleash her inner editor, her first note was that I was overwriting.

I know about overwriting because I'm a veteran at it, LOL. When I went back and polished the Reconnecting Series, I took out a criminally large amount of needless words and descriptive terms. But hey, look-- you don't have to take out all the adverbs! Just...almost all of them, ha.

This article is a great find. Worthy of adding to my "story checklist" folder along with Dean's Hints.

I like Lois's take-no-prisoners directness. She even has a bonus Step #16 in her comments after the article, something I often struggle with: be a writer during the first draft and just get it down. Then put on your editor's hat and polish. Otherwise, you can run the risk of getting bogged down seeking perfection, and inhibiting your muse in the process. I guess you might call that "over-editing."

HopefulRomantic wrote:I like Lois's take-no-prisoners directness. She even has a bonus Step #16 in her comments after the article, something I often struggle with: be a writer during the first draft and just get it down. Then put on your editor's hat and polish. Otherwise, you can run the risk of getting bogged down seeking perfection, and inhibiting your muse in the process. I guess you might call that "over-editing."

So. Very. Guilty. *head-desk* I keep trying so hard to break this habit.

I'm so glad that everyone found it to be helpful!