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Post by Battlechantress on Sept 15, 2010 18:40:33 GMT 1
...Whom I have come to know as "the Bitch", but I didn't think that would work for a subject line. Anyway, we've been having some knock- down, drag- out fights lately, to the point where I seriously considered tracking down a manual or electric typewriter this week (only to find that the closest typewriter repair shop is a long ways away from here). I figured if I sat and typed stories and such out and couldn't simply go back over errors with a backspace key, then I might get said stories done faster than the time it takes me to actually get around to cleaning my disaster of a desk (in theory). Then someone on NaNoWriMo suggested using an Alphasmart (which is basically the same idea as an electric typewriter, except that they can hook up to your printer, let you view 4 lines of text at a time and run on AA batteries). I'm still kind of dubious about owning one, but this may well be my only hope of getting any serious writing completed. (Yeah, it's cool that I can knock out poems at the last minute which are mediocre quality at best, but that really doesn't work for longer pieces of writing.) Are you able to tell your "inner editor/grammar dictator" to go to hell without a few rum and Cokes? If so, how?
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Post by jklinders on Sept 15, 2010 19:00:45 GMT 1
*the board's non-writer looks for a possible answer which is both funny and non offensive*
Ah, well you could try typing a bit without your monitor turned on and then only go over it after you have typed a fair bit. Seems a little extreme to me but you are trying to throttle your inner bi-er I mean editor after all. Could be worth a try. That way you have all your complete thoughts out before it comes time to properly edit your work. It would save a few bucks too.
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Post by Mr. Glow on Sept 15, 2010 20:10:16 GMT 1
Ever since I made the jump from actual physical writing to typing everything up on my laptop, I'm plagued by 'inner editor' "that was too long, "you didn't go into enough detail", "it's just a bad concept" and the like, I normally delete anything in shame before it gets too long. I'm thinking of reverting, getting a good notebook and a pen again.
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Post by lieden on Sept 15, 2010 20:29:57 GMT 1
I don't say a thing against my inner editor. Rather, I let it jeer at me when I post a thing and find errors and shortcomings afterwards. It knows better.
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Post by Mister Buch on Sept 16, 2010 0:31:56 GMT 1
I like my innrer editor - in fact I think he has taken over my main personality now!
I feel really uncomfortable if there's a mistake I can see on the screen. I have to go right back. I know what you mean though - it slows everything down, and also sometimes I'll lose my train of thought while I backtrack. But at least I get rid of those red and green lines. We hates them.
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Post by Knightfall on Sept 16, 2010 1:52:10 GMT 1
Learning to silence your inner editor is invaluable to a writer. You really have to look at it this way: What good is an editor if the story isn't even finished? Imagine getting handed an assignment to write a 3000 word essay, and you turn in a half-page's worth of writing. It doesn't matter how grammatically correct that half-page is, it doesn't change the fact that you really didn't complete anything.
That really is the reality of it. Getting caught up in making sure every step you take is perfect is ultimately pointless if it: A) Slows your writing; or B) Encourages you to not even finish what you've started; or even C) Discourages you from writing altogether. This is coming from someone who's been there, done that.
Yes, you will always want to make sure everything syncs up, that the grammar is correct, that you've kept the pacing solid. But that's why you're writing a rough draft. Don't ever talk yourself into thinking that your're writing the final draft before it's finished. It will be rough, it might suck, it might cause you to bang your head against the wall in aggravation, but that's what it's there for. Go over it when you're done; then you'll have all of the tools and the knowledge you'll ever need to bring the manuscript up to fighting form.
Try and think whose standards you're trying to meet and let it go. You're not trying to impress anyone yet. Hell, look at Cormac McCarthy. He wrote a Pulitzer Prize winning novel, and he didn't even use proper punctuation! He doesn't give a ding dang doodle.
I'm still wrestling with the editor in me, but it hasn't gotten in the way of my writing for a while. I was able to fully complete two novels this year - one being 101,000 words and the other being 171,000. Are they any good? I have no idea, but they're done. Now I can let my inner editor do all the talking he wants. I also know a good British editor, but he just talks about how he gets to see Back to the Future in theaters next month. Damn him for being able to do such cool things. >=O
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Post by Mister Buch on Sept 16, 2010 1:57:50 GMT 1
Honestly, me and my inner editor get along just fine. This kind of thing really doesn't bother me. I like to edit as I write. It helps. I also know a good British editor, but he just talks about how he gets to see Back to the Future in theaters next month. Damn him for being able to do such cool things. >=O lol!
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Post by Knightfall on Sept 16, 2010 2:42:03 GMT 1
My inner editor was the worst kind. My computer is littered with stories that were never finished because I lacked the confidence to complete them. I was so desperate, that's when I tried emailing Drew Karpyshyn for advice. xD
If you prefer that approach, then I wouldn't dissuade you from doing that, but if it absolutely holds you hostage then it serves no purpose.
Also, I saw Back to the Future this week on TV. "The Libyans!" has been my answer to many questions lately. ><!
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Post by Clint Johnston on Sept 16, 2010 4:17:22 GMT 1
Back to the future is awesome.
I'm pretty good at whittling stuff down, but it was a long battle. Actually learned to do it as a kid. I was homeschooled, and my mom came up with how to do it. My book reports tended to be only slightly shorter than the original work, so she made the rule that I only had 5 sentences to work with. Granted that wasn't the only lesson I ever had or needed, but it's served me very well.
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Post by Mister Buch on Sept 16, 2010 11:50:45 GMT 1
'The Libyans!!' has to be my favourite line in that movie!
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Post by Battlechantress on Oct 2, 2010 23:37:19 GMT 1
I brought up Alphasmarts earlier, and I now own a refurbished one. It's missing a tab key (I knew that when I bought it; that's why it was one-third the cost of a new one), but otherwise, it does its job. The spacing of the keys took some getting used to; I made quite a few typos for the first 15 minutes that I used it. The rechargeable battery lasts about 200 hours; if you want to use a few AAs, it lasts for 700. Since they come with USB ports, hooking them up to your desktop computer to transfer files is easy. For those who can't afford a new laptop, can't find a typewriter in their area and want something portable to bang out whatever writing suits their fancy, it could be the way to go. I'm about the only one in my writers' group right now who doesn't own a laptop, so at least I can fake "fitting in" when it comes time to write stuff during our "write-in" sessions. Beyond that, though, I think I can fully utilize this for NaNoWriMo. Which is so gonna piss off my Inner Editor/Bitch.
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Post by madnesshero on Oct 16, 2010 17:12:42 GMT 1
When im actually writing, things seem to go well, the ideas flow out faster than the editor can knock them down. the problem comes later, especially if the story/chapter doesn't receive any attention from other people, ill go back and read it and think to myself 'this part was hokey' or 'that was out of character' or 'this section just doesn't work like i wanted it to.' It tends to be WAY over harsh, with my inner editor trying to tear it all to pieces.
It makes it painful to the point that i don't want to read stuff after I've written it. : (
Ok, enough whining, back to work. Cant believe i didn't see this thread til now lol...
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Post by jklinders on Oct 17, 2010 1:09:56 GMT 1
Never having tried to write anything until recently I never really knew my own inner bast-er editor. He was screaming "this sucks" at me the entire time I was writing the second part of my hacke-er fan fic. I plan to drown him with alcohol before I write anything further.
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Post by Mister Buch on Oct 17, 2010 1:22:39 GMT 1
Alcohol can help!
But I have a better solution. Watch this video immediately before writing.
Ridiculously enough, I actually did use that song to help with writing confidence! And it worked, too ;D
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Post by Battlechantress on Oct 17, 2010 1:48:29 GMT 1
Never having tried to write anything until recently I never really knew my own inner bast-er editor. He was screaming "this sucks" at me the entire time I was writing the second part of my hacke-er fan fic. I plan to drown him with alcohol before I write anything further. I went to a meeting today to visit other fellow future sufferers in NaNoWriMo next month, and got to sit next to a woman who has a degree in Art and is a pro photographer. She apparently has an Inner Editor even worse than mine, and told me that one of her former profs got so tired of her ripping up artwork before it was completed that he made her watch a famous artist at work. Half of what he did was brilliant, and the other half was basically shit. After seeing him at work, her professor told her, "It is NOT up to you to judge your own art. Your job is only to create it!" She said that outlook has helped her with her art and writing projects ever since. So yes, Captain Morgan gives great writing advice, but her former prof does too. (I haven't seen the video that Buch posted yet, I just wanted to post that part about the art professor before doing so 'cause I knew I'd forget exactly what he said in an hour.)
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