Mr. Blix

Hello everyone, I hope this makes sense.

Almost every piece of advice I've ever read or heard on how to "be a writer", says that the number one thing you should do is write every day.

Now, does editing/rewriting count towards writing every day? Or are you supposed to be working on something new or trying to finish a story in addition to your editing/rewriting.

I'd like others opinions on this. I generally count it, especially if I'm rewriting major portions of a story and I'm blocked on my half finished ideas.

mwd

I don't count it. To me writing and rewriting/editing are separate things. I always have a new first draft of either a story or novel to work on, in addition to all the things I am polishing up, of which there will usually be more than one at any given time.

For me at least, the reason I consider them different things:

Writing happens at the computer. Editing happens after I've printed something out, when I'm going over it with pen. Then I type my edits into the computer, but that's not really writing so much as transcribing.

Fantasy of You

A lot of people seem to edit as they go when they write. That is probably the worst thing you can do. Wait until you're finished, then rewrite/polish ect.

If you rewrite as you go, I'd say it wouldn't count. If you rewrite after you've finished the story, I'd count it.

Aqua

I find it's best to try and create something new each day, no matter how much there is to fix from yesterday.

daisydaisy

Agreed, I only count actual writing, not editing or rewriting.

However, I don't write every day. I sometimes think it's a good thing to give yourself a break after completing something, a little space to recharge and refresh. Or if you do want to write every day, write something not so serious inbetween projects. There is a reason people with regular jobs have weekends off.

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Foxee

Considering how difficult it is to schedule a regular writing time in with two little kids, I'm just happy if I get my head into something writing related for awhile every day, whether it's writing, editing, or revising. I'm at the point in my life where I have to count some pretty small victories.

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cbrmale

Editing and re-writing is certainly counted as writing. With a full time job, family, children, I don't write every day. I may not do any writing for three or four days, and then spend half a day on a weekend when I am feeling creative.

I write a scene or two, and then re-read and polish the scene(s), and then the next scenes and so on. Then I print the chapter and edit it. This is similar to the technique I use when I am writing for work (which is my job).

At the end, I put the work to one side for a few weeks and re-read it and make final corrections and changes as well as letting some friends review it at the same time.

Different writers have different techniques, no one technique is correct. Kurt Vonnegut used to write and edit each page one a time so the final work was polished and ready for publication.

Krim

Why wouldn't it count? It'd take the same time as finishing the story and then going back (less, most likely, because you'll catch your plot holes and whatnot before you write forty chapters that are based off something that doesn't make sense), so why wouldn't it count?

I don't think it's the worst thing I could do. It might not seem very prolific, going back over the same chapter over and over, but it's just getting the inevitable done quicker and seeing the big glaring errors that you rushed through in the initial chapter write. As for losing inspiration because you don't go fast enough, a lot of the time if you end up losing inspiration and not coming back to it, you shouldn't have spent them time in the first place. No matter what, you're probably going to hate your manuscript at the end of the writing process (including revising) anyway.

mwd

As cbrmale said above, Kurt Vonnegut wrote his novels a page at a time. He rewrote each page again and again and again, until it was perfect. Then, when he finished the novel, he was completely done. No more drafts.

It depends on what works. I've tried both methods. I'm not sure what I like better. Most of my stories have been written after going through multiple, separate, drafts, but for one of my stories I just rewrote each paragraph until it clicked. Sometimes 20+ times. Shrug. Whatever works.

valeca

Whether it's new writing or re-writing, it's still writing words--which is all any type of writing boils down to in the end. There are no universal methods you must follow. If one method is working for you better than the way someone else does it, it's right.

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FrankBlissett

I'll weigh in supporting editing as writing too. There are times that most of what I end up with comes out during successive drafts. Actually, I tend to take a "shotgun" approach to writing - I know the big picture early on and fill in the holes as I go. For me, it's ALL rewriting and editing. That's not to say that I don't go over it once more when it's "done" to pick up typos and such, but I even do that after it's a finished work.

As to how often I write, I try to every day, but often end up going several days between sessions. Of course, my brain's always cluncking away at "thought writing" (I do a lot of editing of my poetry while I'm out taking the dogs for a trot).

-Frank

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Mike C

Whatever works for you. There aren't any rules.

Personally, everything counts. Writing counts. Editing counts. Drinking coffee, thinking about writing counts. Not writing counts.

Don't beat yourself up if you skip a day, or just don't feel like it. Giving yourself a guilt trip achieves nothing.

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suzakugaiden

Wasn't there some quote to the effect of: "A writer will spend three hours working and will end up with a hundred fewer words than she stared with?"

Mr. Blix

Thank you everyone for your advice, its really appreciated. I like reading about all your opinions, since this has been on my mind for awhile. Mike C. thanks for the part about not beating yourself up. I'm pretty guilty when it comes to that!

aspiring

I agree with Mike. Why is everyone hung up on what they are 'supposed' to do? There are no rules.

Ending up with a superb piece of writing is what matters (if your aim is publication) but how you get there is nobody's business but your own.