After I’d written novel five (and abandoned number 4, because it had derailed), I was sent a video from a producer I was working with at the time. The writer in it talked about how he’d finished a 100,000 word book, and called his publisher to tell them it was done. The publisher said, “we don’t publish books over 60,000 words.”
The writer went through and hurriedly slashed and cut out 40,000 words – and he was amazed to find out how much better his novel was.
At the time, I stubbornly thought, “well, my publisher is going to have to deal with my 180,000 word novel – it’s perfect as it is!”
I’ve since learned the errors of my ways. I’ve slashed almost 40,000 words from that novel. Like that author, the very first thing I did was find all the scenes I’d arrogantly said, “This scene does not get cut – I’ll refuse a book contract first!”
I cut those scenes.
No scene was immune. If it didn’t force the novel along, forget it. Out. Did I repeat myself? Do any “throat clearing”? Endlessly fiddle instead of getting to the point? Did I use any writer’s crutch words like “grinned” “murmured” “sat” “walked” “nodded”?
I’ve still got about a third of the novel to edit still. I haven’t completed the forbidden word edits. Filter word edits. Writer’s crutch edits. Sure, I’ve spotted some here and there. I’m just on the First Draft edits of it right now, cutting, tightening.
Do you know that sometimes I’ve only cut one or two words a page? On a book that size, that can remove about 15% of the novel!
I am amazed how much better it is. Scenes are concise. Clear. Enjoyable. The book RUSHES from one plot point to the next.
This is the crucial lesson every writer must learn.
It’s also the hardest and most bitter lesson to learn.
Your book, as good as you think the rough draft is, requires editing. You cannot be in love with the writing in a sentence. You cannot be in love with a scene. If you think that way about it, move it to a holding folder in the research folder in Scrivener and see if the book survives without it!
If it survives – and I bet it does – leave it out.
This lesson truly hurts. It’s amazingly painful. A good editor at a publishing company will show some compassion if you still haven’t learned this by the time you get signed. They’ll commiserate with you. But bottom line, any extraneous writing must be excised, like flesh from a wound.
You will read your book after all those painful edits, the agony of watching your favorite prose fall to the floor.
And you will be dumbfounded how wonderful your novel has become.
Writing is sculpting with words. Inside the block of stone is an angel waiting to be revealed.
Start chipping.
