When Editing Hurts

I’ve edited my stories before (I’ve edited Balance so many times I’ve lost count), but this past week is the first time I can say that I got real about it. How so? I finally cut a scene that wasn’t really working but I was very attached to. I had left it alone because I’d written it awesomely. It hurt to chop it, I mean I had the perfect amount of emotion in it, the pace was right and it just shone! But it didn’t fit my story. And no matter how perfect a scene is, if it doesn’t gel with the rest it must be cut.

One of my Twitter friends reminded me that the pain is a good pain, making your story stronger. Another two gave me a very good tip and is one I want to pass on, keep all your cut pieces of writing and store them in a folder/file/whatever for they may come in handy later. I’m determined to use it somewhere down the track.

I don’t think you can say you have really edited your work until you have cut out a piece that you really love but know just isn’t working. It is this ruthlessness that makes the story work and really, you owe it to yourself and to what you are working on to give it strength and make it the best it can be.

So be brave, read the story like a reader and cut bits out, no matter how much you love them. Save them somewhere safe and who knows, maybe you’ll be able to use them again. Your story will thank you for it.

Let me know how you go about editing your favourite scenes in the comments below. Have a happy and creative week everyone 🙂