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.

~Sara