tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post5745941753088470028..comments2023-09-05T12:51:25.656-05:00Comments on edittorrent: FocusEdittorrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-52335116506608660822012-05-17T10:21:53.151-05:002012-05-17T10:21:53.151-05:00I didn't think you were arguing -- I was just ...I didn't think you were arguing -- I was just trying to offer some feedback. The thing is, this is not a one-size-fits all editing tool, but it will help refocus a certain kind of wandering, bloated scene. <br /><br />TheresaEdittorrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-40377956674413063142012-05-17T09:14:27.786-05:002012-05-17T09:14:27.786-05:00Wasn't arguing - just expanding. In fact, I...Wasn't arguing - just expanding. In fact, I'm trying to locate a third highlighter so I can go try this very thing.<br />It is a delicate balance - when is something foreshadowed in the right place, and when should it be moved to a later spot is never obvious. I've read recently that computers are 'writing' standard sports and financial stories - and that the results are both acceptable and indistinguishable from human efforts. But that is only because the human efforts in those areas have little 'human' in them: even the humans do it by rote.<br />When computers can write good fiction, I'll know the end of the world is near.<br />ABEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-22782595601978337432012-05-17T07:57:51.404-05:002012-05-17T07:57:51.404-05:00In my experience, writers often have a very diffic...In my experience, writers often have a very difficult time deciding what is essential to the scene and what is discretionary. It all seems essential if we wrote it! <br /><br />"Discretionary" means we can put it back in if it helps the scene. Theresa's great method gives the writer a way to determine what is discretionary and then look at it objectively.<br /><br />I'd say "the reader will need that information" means discretionary but probably desired. But if you have the objectivity to determine that, you might not need to back off as so many writers do- you might be selecting as you write. But you might still go ahead and highlight that material and decide to put it back in. Theresa specifically said that you don't delete everything else, merely identify it so that you can decide if there's a good reason to keep it (and where to put it).<br /><br />Some writers are more naturally analytical and design scenes pretty efficiently. But you probably can't know that without analyzing your analysis. :)<br />AAlicianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-68911913489185854412012-05-16T22:44:52.783-05:002012-05-16T22:44:52.783-05:00Okay, but if the scene isn't working, and it i...Okay, but if the scene isn't working, and it includes bits of information that the reader won't need until later, you might want to move those bits to a later scene.<br /><br />TheresaEdittorrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-48103049583097456402012-05-16T22:20:15.386-05:002012-05-16T22:20:15.386-05:00Okay in principle. I would alter it a little bit: ...Okay in principle. I would alter it a little bit: my scenes have lots of bits that are put in intentionally because the reader is going to need to have that information, some of it now, and other stuff later. This makes scenes do double duty. If I gave a scene to every individual piece, we'd never be done.<br />But your method, a tiny bit altered to mark those pieces that are essential, instead of just one key bit (the yellow bit), will still work - to separate the necessary from the frills. Make what stays earn its place and I will agree the rest can go. Even when it is special.<br />ABEABEnoreply@blogger.com