pjthompson: (Default)
pjthompson ([personal profile] pjthompson) wrote2006-07-07 02:29 pm

The double chickenwing camel clutch

Quote of the day: (a classic)

"Substitute damn every time you're inclined to write very; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be."

—Mark Twain


Writing talk of the day: Very Damn well.

I've been engaged in a tough wrestling match with "Eudora's Song" all week, but I put her in a double chickenwing camel clutch and the match is over. I think . . . we both won. It's a stronger story for all the cutting and reworking. I streamlined the conflict, although it's still more about internal conflict than external. The essence of this story was always, for me, Eudora's struggle with herself, so I made that more evident—and more of a struggle, frankly. As always with my "shorts" I'd been trying to do too much, introducing too many novelistic currents and themes.

It's still not done. I'll have to weed more language and maybe cut some more content, but at least it's a lot farther along the path now, and I feel better about it.

Like "Loose Dogs," this story got some really meaty crits last time I ran it on the OWW. Those helped a great deal is allowing me to let go of some stuff. I let go of about 1000 words so now Eudora is a legitimate short story at 7200 words. Huzzah for moi.

[identity profile] merebrillante.livejournal.com 2006-07-07 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Did I read "Eudora's Song"?

[identity profile] merebrillante.livejournal.com 2006-07-07 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, yes. That was a lovely story. Good luck with your submission(s).

[identity profile] merebrillante.livejournal.com 2006-07-07 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, they're quick and reliable. Have you marketed ES to RoF yet? That would be my next bet.

Congrats!

[identity profile] thursdayhaiku.livejournal.com 2006-07-08 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
That's a great feeling, but cutting 1000 words? The very thought gives a rookie like me the heebie jeebies....

[identity profile] java-fiend.livejournal.com 2006-07-11 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Substitute damn every time you're inclined to write very; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be."

That is awesome. LOL... I know that I've got a bad tendency to use "very" quite a bit. Maybe I should try that.

Nice job on kicking Eudora's ass. Show her who's boss. ;-) Congrats.