Hey Chris, just wanted to thank you for all the work you put on your videos. I found you a little over 2 weeks ago and your tips have really helped me with my writing. This video was particularly helpful, I loved that you made a list with examples. I'm not a native English speaker, so strengthening my writing is something I'm very concerned about. Also, love keeping up with how your progress is going, thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the kind words =). I've been lagging on videos, but I'm just overloaded at this point. I'll be hanging out with Lindsay Buroker tonight on her podcast for a check in though. Hope your writing is going well!
This editing technique is very similar to the one that Dean Wesley Smith explains in his book Writing into the Dark. I think I found that book because Chris mentioned it a few times. Love it and all Chris' non-fiction. Every one of them is great. I personally am still struggling with that loop back, and edit immediately process. It seems that I have to access a very different part of my brain and, at least so far, that is a bit of a wall for me. This videos are incredibly valuable! Thanks so much for doing them Chris!
I found you yesterday right before I met up with Keith Wheeler on zoom. I’m a pantser, but I do see the value of plotting to cut down on later editing especially in timeline. Thanks for this video. I’ll be following you.
So, if got this right, and I feel that it is simple enough as it is: You write for the day, then read the chapters you did that day and edit them, all in one day? or if the case calls for it at the start of the next day? when it is finished and the editor finishes too, then you read the entire thing in one go and edit it once more, then the editor goes through it too one more, and it is finished? Other than that, I would love to see how you plot these days. I saw those videos you did years ago but I wonder if I could learn something new this time. Besides that, I certainly am waiting for the video on plotting entire epic series :P that certainly piked my interest to say the least. You didn't said it in the video but in the comments of a prior video to this one, I think it was two videos ago.
Yep, you have it right. The fantasy process will be much, much more involved, but it will begin with this exactly process. From there I will start surveying blocks of beta readers, and setting up a discord to discuss the book. I'll have time to fix problems, and to adopt any amazing changes the community suggests that I didn't think of =)
@@emmanuelgonzalezcaseira9141 I'm going to ask every fantasy reader I can find, but there will be a quiz asking questions from Narnia, Krynn, and a few other fantasy properties. Get a couple right and you're in.
@@ChrisFoxWrites I see, yeah it seems right. You may want to add a timer so they can't just search for the answers with Google. That, or asks questions that aren't on the internet.
Thanks for the great tips Chris! I’ve been working my way through your course, and I’m still trying to get over the backspace habit when I’m doing sprints and get hung up on word choice or can’t think of the right verb. My word counts are low but forward motion is counted as victory right now!
Starting low means that those counts will definitely grow. I remember hunting and pecking for words for so long, especially verbs and any effective description. I'd just freeze. If you haven't already done so I'd recommend a copy of Line By Line. It's a great self editing book that helped me find better verbs as I write, and definitely sped up the process. =)
do you make a detailed plot and story circle or more a rough layout and then fill it in as you go while making sure to hit the big milestone pieces along the way to tie it all together?
There's no way I'd have attempted this three years ago, much less when I only had a few books out. This is pure experience, and it isn't nearly as fun as having some room to breath and consider the plot.
Stronger verbs, typos, and better descriptions the next day editing what you wrote the day before if you didn’t read it then. Got it. I also edit for action to replace dialogue tags.
Hi Chris, I'm really enjoying these videos, thank you! I have a question: do you dictate your words to get these word counts? I'm trying to gather enough courage to take the plunge with dictating, but the learning curve seems daunting. :) Happy writing!
@@ChrisFoxWrites Ooh! That's awesome. I'm working through your book rn and doing micro sprints again (my usual length is 30min but I'm willing to try new things).
How do you calculate word count when editing. Can you explain this a bit better. With straight writing it's simple. Just reset the word counter and type away until you reach the goal. But with editing you are deleting then rewriting, then possibly rewriting yet another version until happy. You're also cut and pasting paragraphs up or down the page. Possibly moving whole chapters. Or cutting scene our of chapter and placing in another chapter. I would like to be able to track the word count. So now my goal is basically revise a scene a day. Which I know is slow. But I work construction. Trying to live my dream now. Thanks again for your time and treasure you have given to us.
@@ChrisFoxWrites How do you count how many you've edited? Im using Scrivener. I appreciate this type of wordcount managment as it motivates me, since I hate editing. thanks!!!
For those of us without a Lisa who ship off a finished book to an editor for final edits, do you think there is value in editing as you do each day, or editing once the book is finished?
I don't know. I'm just showing my process, and how it's changed. You can take a look back to the beginning and see the differences. I don't know that working at my frenetic pace should be a goal haha.
I'm going to try this technique the next time I write a book. Right now I have a book magnet and two novels that I need to edit. Its very difficult to get myself motivated to get it done when I have 150,000 words that need attention.
@@ChrisFoxWrites i have four children that range in ages from 10 years down to 18 months. The older two I homeschool. I don't get an entire hour to do something, let alone a day. That's the hardest part, not being able to really focus on something and just knock it out like I did pre-kid.
@@kempfreehold9450 as a mom that homeschools I've found that I can get my kid to honor sprints. Set it up, or if it is live thats even better. She knows that unless the house is burning down she can wait until I'm on my 5 minute break to interrupt me. So thats 25 minutes of work in a stretch of focus. I can get about 3 hrs in if I get everything sorted in those 5 minute breaks. Other people controlling the timers helps too.
Hey Chris, just wanted to thank you for all the work you put on your videos. I found you a little over 2 weeks ago and your tips have really helped me with my writing. This video was particularly helpful, I loved that you made a list with examples. I'm not a native English speaker, so strengthening my writing is something I'm very concerned about.
Also, love keeping up with how your progress is going, thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the kind words =). I've been lagging on videos, but I'm just overloaded at this point. I'll be hanging out with Lindsay Buroker tonight on her podcast for a check in though. Hope your writing is going well!
This editing technique is very similar to the one that Dean Wesley Smith explains in his book Writing into the Dark. I think I found that book because Chris mentioned it a few times. Love it and all Chris' non-fiction. Every one of them is great. I personally am still struggling with that loop back, and edit immediately process. It seems that I have to access a very different part of my brain and, at least so far, that is a bit of a wall for me. This videos are incredibly valuable! Thanks so much for doing them Chris!
I found you yesterday right before I met up with Keith Wheeler on zoom. I’m a pantser, but I do see the value of plotting to cut down on later editing especially in timeline. Thanks for this video. I’ll be following you.
It was nice to get a window into your editing process.
I’m trying a similar editing technique as well and I’m liking it!
Great video, Chris. I’m still working on my card game based on my children’s book series and I have you to thank for the inspiration.
Great stuff as always. Thanks for sharing Chris!
So, if got this right, and I feel that it is simple enough as it is: You write for the day, then read the chapters you did that day and edit them, all in one day? or if the case calls for it at the start of the next day? when it is finished and the editor finishes too, then you read the entire thing in one go and edit it once more, then the editor goes through it too one more, and it is finished?
Other than that, I would love to see how you plot these days. I saw those videos you did years ago but I wonder if I could learn something new this time. Besides that, I certainly am waiting for the video on plotting entire epic series :P that certainly piked my interest to say the least. You didn't said it in the video but in the comments of a prior video to this one, I think it was two videos ago.
Yep, you have it right. The fantasy process will be much, much more involved, but it will begin with this exactly process. From there I will start surveying blocks of beta readers, and setting up a discord to discuss the book. I'll have time to fix problems, and to adopt any amazing changes the community suggests that I didn't think of =)
@@ChrisFoxWrites Indeed it sounds much more involved. Either way, how are you going to pick beta readers? I would love to be part of the group.
@@emmanuelgonzalezcaseira9141 I'm going to ask every fantasy reader I can find, but there will be a quiz asking questions from Narnia, Krynn, and a few other fantasy properties. Get a couple right and you're in.
@@ChrisFoxWrites what kind of quiz and will we have to reread the horse and his boy to pass?
@@ChrisFoxWrites I see, yeah it seems right. You may want to add a timer so they can't just search for the answers with Google. That, or asks questions that aren't on the internet.
Thanks for the great tips Chris! I’ve been working my way through your course, and I’m still trying to get over the backspace habit when I’m doing sprints and get hung up on word choice or can’t think of the right verb. My word counts are low but forward motion is counted as victory right now!
Starting low means that those counts will definitely grow. I remember hunting and pecking for words for so long, especially verbs and any effective description. I'd just freeze. If you haven't already done so I'd recommend a copy of Line By Line. It's a great self editing book that helped me find better verbs as I write, and definitely sped up the process. =)
@@ChrisFoxWrites I will definitely grab a copy! I’m still building my reference library:) thank you!!
This was super illuminating! Definitely a video I'll come back to for motivation.
This is what elmore leonard did. Way of the masters
do you make a detailed plot and story circle or more a rough layout and then fill it in as you go while making sure to hit the big milestone pieces along the way to tie it all together?
Okay, @Chris Fox - What is the difference between your editing, and Lisa's editing "for publication"?
This is brilliant. Thank you.
I would freak out without some space between my drafting and editing. All my best ideas come from the first read after putting it away for a while.
There's no way I'd have attempted this three years ago, much less when I only had a few books out. This is pure experience, and it isn't nearly as fun as having some room to breath and consider the plot.
Stronger verbs, typos, and better descriptions the next day editing what you wrote the day before if you didn’t read it then. Got it. I also edit for action to replace dialogue tags.
Hi Chris, I'm really enjoying these videos, thank you! I have a question: do you dictate your words to get these word counts? I'm trying to gather enough courage to take the plunge with dictating, but the learning curve seems daunting. :) Happy writing!
Nope, these are all typed. Dictation is a powerful time saving tool, and one I may pick up again.
@@ChrisFoxWrites Ooh! That's awesome. I'm working through your book rn and doing micro sprints again (my usual length is 30min but I'm willing to try new things).
Love these videos. How do I get access so I can add my own word counts to the spreadsheet?
How do you calculate word count when editing. Can you explain this a bit better. With straight writing it's simple. Just reset the word counter and type away until you reach the goal. But with editing you are deleting then rewriting, then possibly rewriting yet another version until happy. You're also cut and pasting paragraphs up or down the page. Possibly moving whole chapters. Or cutting scene our of chapter and placing in another chapter. I would like to be able to track the word count. So now my goal is basically revise a scene a day. Which I know is slow. But I work construction. Trying to live my dream now. Thanks again for your time and treasure you have given to us.
I count final words after the edit, so if I'm at 50k exactly, and I edit through 10k, and the new total is say 51k, I get credit for 10k.
@@ChrisFoxWrites How do you count how many you've edited? Im using Scrivener. I appreciate this type of wordcount managment as it motivates me, since I hate editing. thanks!!!
For those of us without a Lisa who ship off a finished book to an editor for final edits, do you think there is value in editing as you do each day, or editing once the book is finished?
I don't know. I'm just showing my process, and how it's changed. You can take a look back to the beginning and see the differences. I don't know that working at my frenetic pace should be a goal haha.
how long does it take you to come up with each replacement phrase or word? like x = y, how long does it take you to come up with the y?
Under a second.
I'm going to try this technique the next time I write a book. Right now I have a book magnet and two novels that I need to edit. Its very difficult to get myself motivated to get it done when I have 150,000 words that need attention.
That's two really painful days. Three tops. Set an aggressive word count, and resolve to give it one entire pass =)
@@ChrisFoxWrites i have four children that range in ages from 10 years down to 18 months. The older two I homeschool. I don't get an entire hour to do something, let alone a day.
That's the hardest part, not being able to really focus on something and just knock it out like I did pre-kid.
@@kempfreehold9450 as a mom that homeschools I've found that I can get my kid to honor sprints. Set it up, or if it is live thats even better. She knows that unless the house is burning down she can wait until I'm on my 5 minute break to interrupt me. So thats 25 minutes of work in a stretch of focus. I can get about 3 hrs in if I get everything sorted in those 5 minute breaks. Other people controlling the timers helps too.
How many beta readers do you like to use?
As many as possible. If I use 100 people I'll probably get useful feedback from 15.