I'm almost halfway through the 3rd Edit of Air Pirates (as you can see on the sidebar, or you could if you also knew that there are 28 chapters). I always notice interesting things when I edit. For one thing, there are always more typos. I mean, what's up with that?
For another, I've discovered that there are certain words -- words I think are cool, or that make me love the story or the world -- that I use way more often than necessary. Pirates, airships, monks, names of ships, etc. I use them over and over again when, after the initial introduction, I could just say "men" or "ships" or "they." I think I just find the words so cool that I want to use them over and over again, not realizing of course that their coolness gets diluted with use.
Does anyone else do this?
I do it with phrases more often than individual words, but I know what you mean.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with using the cool words multiple times ... so long as it makes sense in the context of your tale.
I am a serial repetitor.
ReplyDeleteSee?! I need help!
When you think it's ready for submission, make this your last edit: Print a hard copy, then read it out loud. You'll be amazed at what the eye sees on paper and the ear hears that are missed on a computer screen.
ReplyDeleteYes! I overuse the simplest things, and always have to catch them on editing rounds. "And then" "she realised" - all sorts of junk like that. I try to do writing exercise on changing up my phrases...
ReplyDeleteMatt: True, but I find it multiple times in one paragraph: "The PIRATES attacked. Hagai tried to run from the PIRATES(!), but the PIRATESthiswordissocool had him surrounded."
ReplyDeleteL.T: We're not alone nor without others.
Anne: I'm actually reading this edit aloud, but I haven't tried printing it out yet. I think I fear the cost (sad, I know, if this is really my dream).
Deniz: I've got tons of those too. "He saw/heard" "He started walking" (gah, I hate seeing my characters start to do something when they could just be doing it!).
I find verbs repeated in certain chapters. Serious pet peeve. I can completely relate.
ReplyDeletehhs
Adam, it's a tricky one. Yeah, we want to mix it up, but sometimes repetition is better for clarity. Another knife's edge to balance on, I guess.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like one should be able to psychoanalyze the things a particular writer always does in the first draft. Editing as therapy.
ReplyDeleteMy characters are always "rather" this or "almost" that. Fear of commitment, perhaps?
And I second the suggestion of reading out loud, even if you don't print the work. It's also phenomenally helpful for dialogue - you realize what phrases are, for example, inherently awkward to say. It's a wonderful help.