Author Tim George recently asked this question:
To those who are writers – how difficult do you find it to strike the balance between preserving the story while cutting away all that hinders it? What do you find harder, fashioning characters and plot or chipping away at them through ruthless editing?
There is a saying which I’ve heard applied variously: It’s easier to prune a jungle than to irrigate a desert. In other words, harnessing life is easier than creating life; managing what is over-grown is easier than resurrecting the non-existent.
This is true for writing stories.
Many stories start as either jungles or deserts. For instance, some tales are inherently laden with depth and density, they seem to exist on their own. I recall hearing Dean Koontz discuss his Odd Thomas character and how it just seemed to come alive on its own. Koontz sat down to write and within the hour had the character’s history, gifting, traits, and idiosyncrasies. Likewise, some stories seem to arise naturally, their world is rich, and the plot takes root with little coaxing. Others stories seem just the opposite. The characters are two-dimensional, the storyworld is flat, and the plot is arid. Try as we might, no amount of water seems to force any bloom.
Tim asks this question about editing: “What do you find harder, fashioning characters and plot or chipping away at them through ruthless editing?” I think one answer to that might have to do with the type of story you’re dealing with.
When it comes to editing, having too much is better than not having enough. In other words, it is a lot harder to work with a “desert” story (one that feels like you’re irrigating a Sahara), than a “jungle” story (one that is lush, green, tangled, and totally overgrown). It’s easier to prune an overgrown story than make a barren one bloom.
Many authors dread editorial pruning. But why? Isn’t it the belief that the more of their story they cut away, the less of the story there actually is? But if there’s a lot of story to begin with, then the editorial process is not about removing story but making it more visible, more accessible. In the same way that agricultural pruning removes excess growth and shapes a plant, editing reveals the essence of your story and cuts a path through the jungle.
I am a firm believer in the “less is more” philosophy, but only if the “less” starts with “more.” It is always better leaving people with the sense that you know more than you’re saying. But that only works if you actually do! It’s better leaving your audience wanting more, than exhausted from too much. However, leaving them wanting more requires having more to potentially leave them. So let me ask you: Do you know enough about your story to not have to say everything about it? Do you know enough about your story to not have to leave everything on the table?
I wonder if one of the reasons writers struggle with the editing process is simply because they don’t have enough “story” to work with from the beginning. They are deceived into thinking that more words on the page equals more story. When in reality, more story might actually require less words on the page.
My advice to people who don’t like editing: Put more into the front end of your story — more research, more world building, and more character development. Then, when it comes time to edit, it will feel more like you’re pruning a jungle, than watering a desert.
I’m learning that this is so true. After a recent professional edit I found adding more emotion and more depth to some scenes extremely difficult and time-consuming during the sixth or so run through the same novel. But occasinally I had a scene that had a little too much backstory or a little too much insight. It was much easier to cut and see immediate improvement.
Great post, Mike!
Thanks for picking up this conversation here as well as over at my site. You make a valid point about having enough story to begin with. I think many writers have trouble separating the words in their MS with the story itself. Descriptions, settings, and dialogue or not “the story.” They are the foundation, superstructure, and roof that contain the story. This is heard to remember at times.
I’m in the process of doing this with my book, the first draft of which came out DOUBLE the maximum for the type of story I was going for. It’s an amateur mistake to yield under the pressure to pound out the words to seem like I was keeping up with the big kids. But the big kids know what they’re doing more than I do.
The sole reason writers find pruning harder is because it’s an ego blow. You’re basically telling yourself to shut up a little bit, and people that like to talk (write) don’t like being told that. Yet if the story demands it there’s little arguing it, and it will be less damaging to preempt your editor, who will probably be far less tactful.
“The sole reason writers find pruning harder is because it’s an ego blow. You’re basically telling yourself to shut up a little bit, and people that like to talk (write) don’t like being told that.”
Jay, that’s a great point. Words are a writer’s stock in trade and the suggestion that they might need less of them can strike at the ego. I wonder if that’s the real reason why so many aspiring authors remain unpublished, they just hate to concede critique. So it’s an ego issue as much as a craft issue.
The thing that’s difficult to me, when it comes to editing, is that it doesn’t always involve taking something away from the story. It can require serious restructuring and rewriting. It is never that I think the edits aren’t warranted, but rather I wonder whether I am up to the task. Honestly, by the time I get my editorial letter, I have very little ego left. I just want the book to be the best that it can be.
Write more words or write less? I’m not sure. I think the best advice I could give is don’t turn your book in until you are sure that you’ve done the best job that you can.
So, THAT’s what I’m doing! I’m creating a jungle like Kudzu running rampant over red Georgia clay. But, what a verdant jungle it is as I allow myself to express the emotions and scenes that I remember, along with a generous amount of fictionlizing as I make the characters say what I wish had been said years ago. This is my first year doing the National Novel Writers Month of November, and I’m delighted to learn that the words can flow. Do I want fewer (not less folks) words? No indeed. I plan to surpass the planned 50,000. As a novice novel writer I’m wary of slithering jungle creatures who whisper that I cannot do this. Pardon me as I go back to clawing my computer keys… Enjoyed your posts.