January Writing Challenge: Music of the Spheres

[Nerys Ghemor]

Well I was tempted to go for something by Britney , but in the end decided on something older...will likely wait to post the link till the story's done though.

Good idea, cause now I'm thinking of changing mine.

Can we only use one song? Or multiple? Most of my stuff is written to several songs that are playing in the back ground while I'm working.

One main song and its lyrics are what should be linked.

That didn't stop me from listening to multiple songs as I wrote mine, but there's one that is a central focus above all the others, and that's the one that when I submit my entry, I'll be linking.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Here's my entry--"Exits in the Haze."

 

[trampledamage]

And here's mine: It's Four In The Morning

 

[Kaziarl]

Kinda short, I hope you like it.

http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=79565

 

[Kaziarl]

not much going on this time, huh?

 

[SLWalker]

not much going on this time, huh?

Still some time left!

 

[Kaziarl]

not much going on this time, huh?

Still some time left!

true, i hope there's more entries

 

[trampledamage]

There's been six so far - that's actually a good amount! There's always a lull during the middle of the month anyway, anyone who was quickly inspired has already entered and anyone who's working more slowly will enter at the end of the month.

 

[Hoshi_Mayweather]

Hmmm, very busy...but this sounds like fun, and I may try to whip up something before the month's end.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

As to the lack of entries--I think my entry scared people with its...madness! :-/

 

[trampledamage]

Round here we embrace the madness!

 

[Starkers]

Hey its only the middle of the month! Just for the record I'm currently 3000 words into a story that will probably go to the 5000 word wire in the end It's going quite well though so should be able to post it next week, then I'll get around to reading the other entries!

 

[CeJay]

I'm pretty much done with my entry but I'm notoriously bad when it comes to the word count.

My story currently runs at almost 500 words over the set limit. I'm torn between posting it as is and risk disqualification or to cut it down aggressively and probably lose the ending to make it come in at the word limit.

Any suggestions?

 

[SLWalker]

I'm pretty much done with my entry but I'm notoriously bad when it comes to the word count.

My story currently runs at almost 500 words over the set limit. I'm torn between posting it as is and risk disqualification or to cut it down aggressively and probably lose the ending to make it come in at the word limit.

Any suggestions?

Comb back through, reword some things, cut any extraneous words. If in doubt, always simplify.

 

[CeJay]

I'm pretty much done with my entry but I'm notoriously bad when it comes to the word count.

My story currently runs at almost 500 words over the set limit. I'm torn between posting it as is and risk disqualification or to cut it down aggressively and probably lose the ending to make it come in at the word limit.

Any suggestions?

Comb back through, reword some things, cut any extraneous words. If in doubt, always simplify.

Hey, great advice.

I went back and did some thorough editing and cut it down to just about the word limit without losing the ending I wanted. Didn't think it could work at first.

Just goes to show you, you can always trim the fat.

 

[SLWalker]

Hey, great advice.

I went back and did some thorough editing and cut it down to just about the word limit without losing the ending I wanted. Didn't think it could work at first.

Just goes to show you, you can always trim the fat.

LOL! It's a learned art, no doubts. But I've had to play editor enough times now, plus write for the newspaper (where word limits are a big deal) that I've done a lot of cutting of my own stuff before it ever hits the public eye.

 

[CeJay]

They do say that editing is half the writing process. In fact I once read that some professional authors throw out half of what they write in their early drafts.

One reason I could never be a professional writer. I just can't get myself to cut things out. I get too attached to it.

 

[SLWalker]

They do say that editing is half the writing process. In fact I once read that some professional authors throw out half of what they write in their early drafts.

One reason I could never be a professional writer. I just can't get myself to cut things out. I get too attached to it.

LOL! That's why you keep your first drafts. That way, you don't lose anything.

 

[trampledamage]

They do say that editing is half the writing process. In fact I once read that some professional authors throw out half of what they write in their early drafts.

One reason I could never be a professional writer. I just can't get myself to cut things out. I get too attached to it.

Whenever I've been forced to go back and edit something to make it shorter, I nearly always finish up with a better story that I started with.

And yes, I also end up with a "for me" version of the story with all the bits I like in and a "for publication" version with all those extra bits taken out. A bit like the theatrical and extended cuts of movies I suppose.

 

[SLWalker]

Whenever I've been forced to go back and edit something to make it shorter, I nearly always finish up with a better story that I started with.

And yes, I also end up with a "for me" version of the story with all the bits I like in and a "for publication" version with all those extra bits taken out. A bit like the theatrical and extended cuts of movies I suppose.

Yup! And after awhile, you get good at seeing where not to put words and that, so you really have less editing to do in the end. I keep all my old drafts; mercifully, none of them will ever see the light of day.