Editing vs. writing

[capriox]

I have a completed short story, ~20,000 words, that's "readable" now but really needs some solid editing love from me before I'd post it for all to see. (Editing it would probably drop the word count total quite a bit, maybe by 25%).

I also have a serialized-novel-to-be that I'm working on... I don't write as much as I should, but I'm working on that, and so far I'm around 7000 words with it. Everything I've written so far would also need serious editing love before I'd post it.

I'm pretty sure I should just keep writing on the novel-to-be until I have something like 15,000-20,000 words in it, do the editing on it, and then start posting it as I continue to write more. However, I'm an impatient soul, so a part of me wants to post something, anything, to get people reading, even though editing the completed short would probably stop me from writing the novel for the duration. Still... I want to get the novel story told. I want to get a big pile of it written, so it can get edited and give me a nice big backlog to work under safely when I finally do start posting it. So I should write it...

Just airing my thoughts. Input welcome if you have any.


For reference: completed short is "The Prince's Hunt" and the serialized novel is "The Elemental Magician"

Comments

[aldersprig]

Both sound interesting. I think you should focus on the novel, but that's just me.

[capriox]

That's what my gut is suggesting too. But wanna pooooooost.... ;-)

I'm thinking... maybe write something like 15000-20000 words of Eli's story, let is rest while I edit the Prince's Hunt, and then go back and edit the novel, and then... write more novel and maybe start by posting the Prince's Hunt? Since it would be complete already?

[aldersprig]

That would work! (Or you could post more strongheart. ;-)

[capriox]

auuugh.... too many options

[aldersprig]

Sorry!

Okay. Goal is to have a story to post by... 2/1/12?

[capriox]

That should be my goal... now I'm looking at the calendar and contemplating logistics.

I know I can proofread a novel in two days, and the Prince's Hunt is only half that, but it needs more than proofreading. Basically the final third of it needs major rewriting attention, and blending the whole thing/pacing issues. But if I dedicate a whole weekend to it... probably? eek. Maybe?

I have only two free weekends between now and Feb 1st, and one of those I'm supposed to go traveling. So that's exactly one weekend for the Prince's Hunt. And then if I manage that, start posting it beginning of Feb?

Meanwhile, keep writing Eli in the hopes of hitting 15000+ total by the end of Jan, so I can edit that much while Prince's Hunt starts, and then back to writing...

So the real questions are, can I get the Prince's Hunt rewritten all in one weekend? Maybe, probably yes. And can I get to 15000+ Eli words by the end of January? Currently at ~7000. Realistically, I have 20-25 writing days left in the month, so that's 320-400 words a day.

meep.

(says the girl who wrote 300+ words the last two nights in a row)

(I'm so undisciplined at the daily stuff)

[aldersprig]

I hear ya on the no-time on the editing thing!!

Can I help with the daily writing? I'm willing to give either another read-through before you post it!

[capriox]

I'd love to have a more thorough read through/feedback on the Prince's Hunt. All I've got is my own opinion and a teacher's notes from, um, five years ago.

Daily writing nudges always welcome ;-)

[aldersprig]

All right then! Your writing goal daily is... 350?

I can nudge you. :-D

[capriox]

Apparently it is now *wry*. Nudges yay!

[aldersprig]

*grin* you can dooo ittt!