what to CUT OUT of your book ✂️ line editing tips + how to trim word count for overwriters

Рет қаралды 1,716

5 ай бұрын

shop the Merit Beauty (@meritbeauty) collection for your makeup essentials + The Signature Bag comes free with every first purchase ✨ muse.meritbeauty.com/kristen3gl // today, I discuss some suggestions for how to trim word count while you're line editing! this video is specifically for any writer who tends to "overwrite" the first drafts of their books. I'm focusing on line-level edits, rather than structural/developmental edits, which usually take a bit more work and depends on your story.
0:00 intro
0:39 beta readers and editors are not your saviour
1:40 k word your darlings !
5:11 scene efficiency
9:01 description
11:18 metaphors
12:26 the ending
15:38 exciting video coming up soon...
_____
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Пікірлер: 18

@mhjmakes3631 5 ай бұрын

Cutting out the travel scene and skipping straight to the next scene (unless necessary) is something that I've had to learn over time. I'm guilty of getting a little too into character banter. For some reason, I just love making my characters roast the heck out of each other. Which is fun, but it definitely adds up unnecessarily to the total word count.

@KrisMF 5 ай бұрын

i love them too and would totally keep more of them if i was allowed to lol

@kelleyiswriting 5 ай бұрын

Omg I feel so called out by the extended metaphor. I 100% have that problem, and that's why I'm so concerned about my pacing!! I love this video

@KrisMF 5 ай бұрын

this is like one of my biggest issues tbh 😭😭 you’re NOT ALONE !!

@arcane9205 5 ай бұрын

Omg this came at a great time, the next wave of editing after what I'm working on now is gonna be shredding

@KrisMF 5 ай бұрын

good luck with editing!!

@brittanya.silveira3102 5 ай бұрын

You always offer such valuable insight, Kris! I also love vibey scenes :) As a writer who often takes months to complete a piece because the wording never seems perfect, something I started utilizing recently that has helped me *actually* finish poems/prose much quicker is Gdoc comments. Simply being able to put all those word/phrase options somewhere, stick to what I think works best (at least for the moment), and resolve the comments helps my brain feel secure in moving on. Like, ok, if ever I decide my word/metaphor/idea wasn't actually the best, all I have to do is scroll through my resolved comments. What I've found is that I usually end up sticking to my original choice and don't even bother looking through most comments once they're out of sight. It's been super beneficial and can't believe it took me this long to think of it!

@KrisMF 5 ай бұрын

thats a really good idea!!! i use the notes window in scrivener in exactly the same way :) i dump any alternative lines there so i can always return to them if needed ✨

@Lara_Ameen 5 ай бұрын

This is so interesting to listen to because I’m not an over writer at all. But it’s always good to know about when to cut scenes and how to do line editing. I always struggle with line editing, and it’s something that I’m still struggling with as I revise. The structure/developmental part of my book actually works. I’m definitely an underwriter. My PhD dissertation novel (Adult contemporary fantasy) is currently 73K. I’m sure the word count will go to above 80K with my next draft (draft 4), but I’m definitely not worried about hitting 100K. Excited for your news! Good luck on sub with LOCAL HEAVENS! 🥳

@Neil-writer-author 5 ай бұрын

❤Im thinking of my book as im watching this.

@lynndjung 5 ай бұрын

These tips are so helpful

@KrisMF 5 ай бұрын

yayyyy so excited for moths 🥺✨

@user-qw8im6dd5u 4 ай бұрын

Excellent insights on self editing. I could relate to all the suggestions. Thanks Kris.

@ndidiisntwriting5735 5 ай бұрын

This video came at the perfect time! Currently line editing and it's hard to discern between what's adding to and subtracting from my book. Sharing it with others helps, but only to a point. Rooting for you as you prep to go on sub!

@KrisMF 5 ай бұрын

thank you!!! ✨

@laurenct 5 ай бұрын

vibey scenes make my heart full adjajkas and i love when stories end in a way where there’s things left unsaid!! best kind of book hangover,,,you got me wondering what next vid will beee !!

@mjikayla 5 ай бұрын

Always love watching your content Kris! So excited to continue to watch you on your journey :)

@ceclar_b012 5 ай бұрын

My guess with the vid lineup is premise reveal finally? /lh 👀 Either way the weeks to come sound super promising. Good luck as you venture toward sub!