🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1993Jan21.213705.6410@digi.lonestar.org> gpalo@digi.lonestar.org (Gerry Palo) writes:
>This idea of not rewriting is fascinating as a possible exercise.  I have
>had a couple of articles published, the first one two years ago, my first
>ever (at age 47).  It was an exhausting process and I worked on it and rewrote
>it multiple times.  I was very happy with the results and others, including
>the editor, said so too (it even got translated into German and published 
>in another magazine). But I realized that this was no way to run a railroad,
>and it really was a strain on my family for me to spend so much time in front
>of the word processor for such a long stretch.  Since then I have written a 
>couple more and got two published.  I still take too much time, but I am 
>improving.

Well, as far as I'm concerned rewriting is part and parcel of writing.
With practice you will probably find that your rewriting will not be
quite so extensive, but don't imagine for a minute that you will reach
the stage where a first draft is the best you can do. Writing is very
hard to do well. All the outstanding writers whose opinion I've read
say that they rewrite and rewrite. If one cannot be bothered to make
a piece as good as possible, one is liable to produce nothing but
rubbish - which may help explain why there is so much rubbish published.

>
>As far as using Heinlein's rule, I wonder if anyone has ever tried it, with
>the added twist that when you finish a piece, if it is not worth submitting,
>then throw it away and start something new - don't submit it at all.
>I admit this would be very hard to do, but the discipline might help one to
>improve one's overall skills and productivity.  I would think also that the
>act of throwing a piece away might help in detaching one's ego from the
>work, something I find very difficult to do. 

It is not uncommon for writers to abandon pieces, for all sorts of
reasons. Or they throw away the whole thing and start afresh. Highly
acclaimed writers do this. If something you produce is no good and you
feel you can do nothing with, it makes sense to throw it away and try
again.


Nigel