What do you do when you edit your story or rewrite it?

[A_veil_of_red_ink]

So, this is not about how to edit the story, but when to edit it. Do you just update your fiction, or do you remove every chapter and add edited ones?

Because I'm thinking that when I edit my chapters, I might remove the whole book itself.?
Why remove it entirely? Because it's my choice—I’m joking, I don't really care about numbers. I just want to remove it.
And originally, when I posted my story here, I wanted some feedback, then I removed it, but someone told me not to, so now I’ve posted seven chapters...

But when the first arc ends, I'll remove and edit it, then post it again.

If you have something to add or some advice, please give me.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I'm on hiatus for three years I think? Been writing all this time, but nothing serious or too prolonged, mostly practicing, trying to tackle my problems. So when I came back to my story I come to understand, my writing has changed too much. So the only thing I can do now is to rewrite and post a separate, rewritten version of the story.

I think this is the only way that you can justify deleteing and\or starting a 'new' story. If you simply fix mistakes you can just update your chapters. Lastly, rewrites are useless if you: 1 didn't finish the story, 2 wasn't on a super long hiatus.

 

[A_veil_of_red_ink]

I'm on hiatus for three years I think? Been writing all this time, but nothing serious or too prolonged, mostly practicing, trying to tackle my problems. So when I came back to my story I come to understand, my writing has changed too much. So the only thing I can do now is to rewrite and post a separate, rewritten version of the story.

I think this is the only way that you can justify deleteing and\or starting a 'new' story. If you simply fix mistakes you can just update your chapters. Lastly, rewrites are useless if you: 1 didn't finish the story, 2 wasn't on a super long hiatus.

Yeah, but I'll remove it and start with connecting points in the story...
While also stacking 20-30 chapters, so I can have consistent posting.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Yeah, but I'll remove it and start with connecting points in the story...
While also stacking 20-30 chapters, so I can have consistent posting.

I think before connecting points you gotta finish the story. It's all cool, making the story better and whatnot... but...

But when the first arc ends,

Connecting points of what? Since you wrote "the first arc" there will be at least one more, otherwise you would've written when the story ends. What's the point of connecting arc one to arc one when there is going to be, at the very least, the second arc and you will be forced to rewrite everything again?

I think it's better to finish the story, document all the mistakes you've made, and to keep those mistakes so you won't forget them. And once you are done with the story, you make a rewrite that is better.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I edit frequently/constantly. Whenever I find an error, I go back and edit (listening to the audio versions shows a lot of errors I'd miss just reading it, by the way). Whenever I realize something in a previous chapter no longer works, I go back and edit. Any time I post to a new platform I edit. When/If I finish a story, I'll probably go back and edit again.
And still have errors.

 

[Eldoria]

So, this is not about how to edit the story, but when to edit it. Do you just update your fiction, or do you remove every chapter and add edited ones?

Because I'm thinking that when I edit my chapters, I might remove the whole book itself.?
Why remove it entirely? Because it's my choice—I’m joking, I don't really care about numbers. I just want to remove it.
And originally, when I posted my story here, I wanted some feedback, then I removed it, but someone told me not to, so now I’ve posted seven chapters...

But when the first arc ends, I'll remove and edit it, then post it again.

If you have something to add or some advice, please give me.

Perhaps you could study how anime remakes old anime into new ones, adapting their narrative style to the current market while still maintaining the core story, like Fruits Basket. Perhaps you could apply this to novels.

 

[Wenlock]

Hi. So, I edit my chapter immediately after completing it. It's easy because I already have the outline of every chapter written down before I write the book to ensure there are no plotholes.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Incidentally, the late James M. Ward had a kind of neat system. Other than days he had to take off for medical reasons, eight events a year (two charity things his wife took part in, the two conventions he went to regularly, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, The Fourth of July and the day after he saw the first robin of spring), and one day each weekend (decided with wife and family the week before), he set aside two blocks of four to five hours a day, every day. The first block he spent re-reading and editing what he wrote the day before. Then he took lunch and spent the rest of the day working on two or - at most - three of the current projects he had committed himself to (and it seemed like he wasn't happy if he had fewer than four or more than six commitments at a time).
If he had stuff sent back to him from an editor or co-author, he put that in the second block, as, in a sense, it was no longer what he had written.

 

[Deleted member 166465]

Se

So, this is not about how to edit the story, but when to edit it. Do you just update your fiction, or do you remove every chapter and add edited ones?

Because I'm thinking that when I edit my chapters, I might remove the whole book itself.?
Why remove it entirely? Because it's my choice—I’m joking, I don't really care about numbers. I just want to remove it.
And originally, when I posted my story here, I wanted some feedback, then I removed it, but someone told me not to, so now I’ve posted seven chapters...

But when the first arc ends, I'll remove and edit it, then post it again.

If you have something to add or some advice, please give me.

See, this happens couse you guys are doing it on the fly. I prefer to finish the project first, then wait two to three weeks. Read it all, edit. Wait two more weeks, re edit, and then publish. Still... there is so many mistakes...

 

[A_veil_of_red_ink]

Se

See, this happens couse you guys are doing it on the fly. I prefer to finish the project first, then wait two to three weeks. Read it all, edit. Wait two more weeks, re edit, and then publish. Still... there is so many mistakes...

But what if the project itself is like 300-400 chapters long (I outlined the story, and got that number by seeing the pace of my chapters).
While I want feedback and want to improve in my craft.

I can't finish it, like it's not a small project. So yeah, I don't even know...

 

[RepresentingWrath]

But what if the project itself is like 300-400 chapters long

If it is 300-400 chapters long it is double the reason to not completely rewrite it before you finish. You will burn yourself out. Rewriting every 20-30 chapters will effectively turn your 300-400 chapters into 1000+, and it will be the same project too. I bet you will drop writing altogether if you do it.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

But what if the project itself is like 300-400 chapters long (I outlined the story, and got that number by seeing the pace of my chapters).
While I want feedback and want to improve in my craft.

I can't finish it, like it's not a small project. So yeah, I don't even know...

Then you go by arc. One of mine (Between Worlds) should be about 500 total, between either two or three books (expect book one to wrap up around 100 or 120 or so - it's currently at 78 for book 1, 1 for book 2 and nothing for book three, if that one even is needed; might wind up as two 200-chapter books).
Another (Digital Cowboy) will probably clock in around 150 or so (just started writing 90 last night).
And one (Strange Awakening) will be around 70-100 if I ever get back to it - unless I come up with a third major arc to play with.
Another will be about five books of about 20-30 chapters each (Jack Diamond) - again, if I get back to it.
Others aren't plotted out that far yet.

 

[Corty]

Why would I edit an already published work? It's out, it is what it is. I correct grammar errors when pointed out, but I never revisit and rewrite previously published work. It's done. It's already read and followed by people... If I do something like that, then I will write a new novel, not modify one that is already published.

This isn't how it works; you can't go back and change things on an already running story.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Why would I edit an already published work? It's out, it is what it is. I correct grammar errors when pointed out, but I never revisit and rewrite previously published work. It's done. It's already read and followed by people... If I do something like that, then I will write a new novel, not modify one that is already published.

This isn't how it works; you can't go back and change things on an already running story.

Shh: Don't tell my ten readers and about 100 listeners or they might get upset... :D

 

[Deleted member 166465]

But what if the project itself is like 300-400 chapters long (I outlined the story, and got that number by seeing the pace of my chapters).
While I want feedback and want to improve in my craft.

I can't finish it, like it's not a small project. So yeah, I don't even know...

Feedback... really... here... anyway.
It doesnt matter if it is 1000 chapter, just finish it. And lets be honest. No one remember half the story by chapter 50. You would have to do a mayor change on the story like adding a full chapter or killing an important character or what not for ti to matter. No one remembers chapter 20 in detail when you are reading chapter 122. You got a few basic ideas like, who is the bad guy, who is the good guy, who is friend of the good guy, and who is the comedic release. Since you are writing what? a chapter a day, that is a full year for 300+ chapter. Do you thing anyone remembers chapter 5 after 2 months?
So, dont sweat on it and just keep going, if you happen to get a success and get a contract or something (for something bigger), then maybe is worth editing, mean while, keep going. Or you will find yourself procrastinating in the past and losing the impulse to write forward.

 

[A_veil_of_red_ink]

If it is 300-400 chapters long it is double the reason to not completely rewrite it before you finish. You will burn yourself out. Rewriting every 20-30 chapters will effectively turn your 300-400 chapters into 1000+, and it will be the same project too. I bet you will drop writing altogether if you do it.

Then you go by arc. One of mine (Between Worlds) should be about 500 total, between either two or three books (expect book one to wrap up around 100 or 120 or so - it's currently at 78 for book 1, 1 for book 2 and nothing for book three, if that one even is needed; might wind up as two 200-chapter books).
Another (Digital Cowboy) will probably clock in around 150 or so (just started writing 90 last night).
And one (Strange Awakening) will be around 70-100 if I ever get back to it - unless I come up with a third major arc to play with.
Another will be about five books of about 20-30 chapters each (Jack Diamond) - again, if I get back to it.
Others aren't plotted out that far yet.

Why would I edit an already published work? It's out, it is what it is. I correct grammar errors when pointed out, but I never revisit and rewrite previously published work. It's done. It's already read and followed by people... If I do something like that, then I will write a new novel, not modify one that is already published.

This isn't how it works; you can't go back and change things on an already running story.

Feedback... really... here... anyway.
It doesnt matter if it is 1000 chapter, just finish it. And lets be honest. No one remember half the story by chapter 50. You would have to do a mayor change on the story like adding a full chapter or killing an important character or what not for ti to matter. No one remembers chapter 20 in detail when you are reading chapter 122. You got a few basic ideas like, who is the bad guy, who is the good guy, who is friend of the good guy, and who is the comedic release. Since you are writing what? a chapter a day, that is a full year for 300+ chapter. Do you thing anyone remembers chapter 5 after 2 months?
So, dont sweat on it and just keep going, if you happen to get a success and get a contract or something (for something bigger), then maybe is worth editing, mean while, keep going. Or you will find yourself procrastinating in the past and losing the impulse to write forward.

Hmm, yeah...
Well, I'm stacking some of my chapters.
But who cares, right? Just write—one thread, and I'm changing my plans, you people really are something.

Like all of you made good points. Well, for now I'm going to write.

And I wanted to ask how many of you earn from writing? I know it's a 1:100 ratio where someone earns from writing, but did you make any money or just write for the love of the game?

 

[Deleted member 166465]

Hmm, yeah...
Well, I'm stacking some of my chapters so I can rewrite.
But who cares, right? Just write—one thread, and I'm changing my plans, you people really are something.

Like all of you, I made good points. Well, for now I'm going to write.
And I wanted to ask how many of you earn from writing? I know it's a 1:100 ratio where someone earns from writing, but did you make any money or just write for the love of the game?

I earned minus 10000 euros by self publishing 4 books. sold 12 copies (of all 4 books). So I said Fuck it and I published them all online. I am just not a good writer and no much people find my work interesting enough to pay for it. (got 300 physical copies of my books in my storage room). But one day I hope to write something note worthy, just hope i get to enjoy it before I die, if am dead afterwards whats the point?
Yeah, that is how life works.

 

[zephyrtrillian]

Well...I usually read and briefly edit the chapter from the day before. Then I start writing for the day. There's a timer on it, shouldn't take more than 30 minutes or an hour tops.

I'm considering batching my editing all into one day at the end of the week instead. I feel like it takes me out of writing mode to edit.

What I've edited, I've just gone in and reposted the chapters without a word. The changes aren't widespread, it's a word here, an action there. Maybe if I had more followers, it would matter, but it doesn't right now.

 

[mythosandmagic]

I wish I could get someone to read my story and provide feedback so that I can edit it in a meaningful way.

 

[Bartun]

I've been making minor edits to my story ever since I started writing, but now I'm doing a full rewrite. I've learned a lot these years, and the difference between my first and last chapters is just too big.