So I received some really great input at Brian’s workshop – all of which I totally agree with. With first drafts and first chapters, I have a really bad habit of info dumping! And using too lengthy and descriptive prose. Both of which I’m trying amend *fingers-crossed*.
Brian suggested also I try doing a re-write in a different Narrative Mode – 3rd Person. I don’t have an issue with writing in 3rd. Person. But as a reader, I have ALWAYS hated reading any type of fiction in 3rd. person. I want to be immersed inside the narrators heart, head and life. I have always found that 3rd. person (most often used in Science Fiction) detaches the reader from the story. I don’t like that. I guess that’s a personal preference.
- What are your thoughts? Which Narrative Mode do you most often prefer or lean-to when you choose fiction to read? And, why?
- Which Narrative Mode do you prefer writing in?
Anyways, I will be changing up the first chapter quite a bit. When I do cut parts out (dialogue and descriptions – whatever), I often move the discards to a folder specifically created and named, “Cuts”.
Lesson: Keep what you cut out. You just never know. Kicking yourself in the butt post-permanent delete, is about as useful as flogging the [idiomatic] dead horse. And it’s horrible having to dig through your recycle bin from DOS trying to locate what you’ve deleted. Even with using a file-recovery program!
It’s helpful because sometimes I find I do want to use these chop-aways by either rewording them or using them in a better, more effective way on another page or chapter.
Make it easy on yourself too. Create direct access to your folder by making a desktop short-cut to it.
(Win 8.1 – Desktop View)
~Sara
SM CADMAN 