tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791370181970390465.post5633010593323615689..comments2023-09-29T05:00:23.551-05:00Comments on ~ The Borrowed Book ~: Writing 101: Pass the ScalpelElizabeth Ludwighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00056509500051387657noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791370181970390465.post-10865623796148311722011-02-16T14:32:30.908-06:002011-02-16T14:32:30.908-06:00Yes, thanks for the reminder, Sandra. I'm as y...Yes, thanks for the reminder, Sandra. I'm as yet unpublished, like the other writers of whom you spoke. I've been practicing the "cut" method for a long while as I write comments on blogs, Facebook and personal letters. It's fun to do it right, and sometimes you can overdo it. I am trying to get up the nerve to finish the stories I've started. I am enjoying the learning process, particularly blog articles such as yours. Do you know a blog site particularly for unpublished and fearful writers? LOL I'd be the first to join. Do you personally have a blog that is teaching the art of book writing? If so, I'd like to sign up. God bless your efforts at finishing that important manuscript for the publishers. I have a feeling you'll be finished ahead of time.<br /><br />Sharing His Love,<br />Barb Shelton<br />barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14882288703593261021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791370181970390465.post-83417148123714296222011-02-15T12:30:57.055-06:002011-02-15T12:30:57.055-06:00Glad to be of service, Terri. I'm reminding my...Glad to be of service, Terri. I'm reminding myself, too, as I consider a long length of unnecessary words in my current manuscript. Yikes! It's not the cutting that hurts me most, for I truly do know the ms will be better for it, it's cutting word count. Because, you see, this ms is due March 1. SOMEone is going to have to really get her fingers dancing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791370181970390465.post-32535665484068828372011-02-15T11:53:21.638-06:002011-02-15T11:53:21.638-06:00Thanks for sharing this, Sandra. It's so impor...Thanks for sharing this, Sandra. It's so important to admit, and then cut, for the sake of the story. Great reminder as I'm editing my novel right now.Terri Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09042987080469116348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791370181970390465.post-87733773161401102192011-02-15T08:33:32.271-06:002011-02-15T08:33:32.271-06:00Amber, several years ago, I wrote a Scottish histo...Amber, several years ago, I wrote a Scottish historical and had it professionally edited. The freelance editor I hired did a wonderful job, except for one thing...she suggested (strongly) that I cut the first chapter. <br /><br />AN ENTIRE CHAPTER!<br /><br />I was devastated, especially because the quality of those first scenes was so beautiful and polished, so poetic and lyrical, I was just certain she simply hadn't taken the time to see it. ;-)<br /><br />Now, several years and stories later, I have learned just how wise and knowledgable this lady was. My goal shouldn't be word count, it should be about crafting a quality book where every scene is important. I should probably email her and tell her so...Elizabeth Ludwighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00056509500051387657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791370181970390465.post-56580201175599588722011-02-15T08:28:36.602-06:002011-02-15T08:28:36.602-06:00Anyone who has ever read James Fenimore Cooper kno...Anyone who has ever read James Fenimore Cooper knows that a skillful scalpel could (and possibly should?) have been applied. Take Last of the Mohicans for example. It's a wonderful story. A beautiful, poignant story. But pages and pages of description?? Oy. By the time I finished that one, I was glad for the movie.Elizabeth Ludwighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00056509500051387657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791370181970390465.post-84631313211294772042011-02-15T07:51:59.916-06:002011-02-15T07:51:59.916-06:00There are two types of writers, those that write w...There are two types of writers, those that write way over word count and those who write under word count. Those who set out to write a story marketable to several publishing houses will probably shoot for about 80K on their manuscripts. They might write to 100K, but guess what they will have to do? Apply the scalpel to bring word count down to 80K. <br /><br />Different publishers have different target word counts. What are you going to do if you have a manuscript that comes in at 78,500 and the publisher wants 100K? Another wants 75K, and yet another wants 85K? This is part of the dilemma (and hard work) that an author faces. You have to apply the scalpel for the 75K target, but then smart enough to know what scene or character or plotline can be expanded upon to add word count, without simply adding unnecessary bulk, to build the story to 85K and then 100K. Oy! <br /><br />Welcome to the world of writers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3791370181970390465.post-58556539874645181982011-02-15T01:24:23.613-06:002011-02-15T01:24:23.613-06:00Great post, Sandra!
I confess that the thought o...Great post, Sandra! <br /><br />I confess that the thought of a scalpel kind of fills me with dread at this point... ;) But I like that idea of an orchestra--the point being that everything needs to fit together succinctly in order to convey the theme/message, and humility is important. :) <br /><br />I have to ask, though...what about the Word Count publishers look for? If you cut too much, will you run the risk of not having a long enough book that can be published?<br /><br />~AmberAmber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com