slashpervert (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} slashpervert) wrote in ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} fanficrants,@ 2008-05-01 23:37:00 |
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An Essay: The Curse of the WIP – The Lost Art of Rewriting in Fan Fiction
Inspired by some discussions here and in other communities, I have been thinking a lot about the craft of writing fan fiction and wanted to share this:
The Curse of the WIP – The Lost Art of Rewriting in Fan Fiction
Like many people, I rarely read Works in Progress (WIP) anymore. I only do so from someone whose work I have enjoyed in the past or whose work comes strongly recommended by someone I trust. I have been too frustrated with the lack of quality or the works that are abandoned. I also have trouble remembering what came before if there is too long of a gap between updates.
I know I am in the minority on this, but I do not publish even a single chapter of a story until I have completed an entire first draft, and usually a second or third. Maybe it is because I am a published writer of print books as well. Or maybe because I entered fandom back when we printed them on paper in fanzines. Or maybe because the one story I was co-writing with others and published before it was done was abandoned by my co-writers. No matter what the reasons, it is a policy I have come to strongly endorse. I would like fan fiction writers to take a minute and listen to my plea on behalf of the process of editing a completed work before publishing.
I firmly believe that if a writer publishes a story before the first draft is complete, they are selling their writing short. (And will often disappoint those of us reading.) Most writers do their best work in the rewrite stage. It can make the difference between mediocre writing and polished fiction.
When I worked as an editor for a fiction magazine, I was fond of the phrase: “Are you a stone-cutter or an author?” A stone-cutter is a writer who is so enamored of his/her first draft they won’t rewrite. It’s as if they think their words are so good the first time they should be carved in stone and never touched again. An author is someone who works at their craft, rewriting and trying to produce a story (or essay, etc.) that both satisfies themselves and their audience. No one can please everyone. Yet, as a craft, much of the work and skill in writing is in the editing process.
Unfortunately, if the writer only edits chapter by chapter and not the entire work as a whole, they are actually missing a large part of what makes a story work. Maybe it is episodic television that has given people the idea that chapter by chapter makes a story. The truly dismal lack of continuity on most episodic television should indicate otherwise. The best television I have seen is when the primary creator of the series actually has a vision for the overall story arc and holds the story to that vision. But fiction writers don’t have that limitation. They can write a coherent story if they give themselves the chance to, instead of jumping in too soon and publishing before it is done.
So here is what my co-authors and I do:
First draft – We write the story from beginning to end. We don't stop to correct errors or rewrite. Editing at this stage can slow one down, bring doubt into play and may often result in writer's block. (If the writer needs motivation along the way, they can find a friend who will read it for them. A friend or small group can give encouragement and ideas without locking into that first version. There is a long history of writers' circles for this kind of thing, from which both Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia benefited.)
Second draft -- After we have finished the story arc that feels good, we go back and reread the entire thing, making notes of things to change, fixing some things as we go. We do the best we can to rewrite it and then send it to a beta.
A note on betas: In the professional world, we have editors and proofreaders. They are actually separate jobs in the real world. (Sometimes there is even a third category job – fact checker.) In fan fiction, we have betas who are often called upon to do it all, and for free no less. (Bless them all.) But not all betas are good at the same things. Some can proof but not edit or vice versa. A good story really needs both. Sometimes that means more than one beta for a story unless the beta is really good at both. Editing is the stage where the beta helps evaluate the entire story – looks for inconsistencies, find the gaps in the story, places that need more or need less, sometimes reorganizing scenes or other structural/story issues. Then comes proofreading – looking for all those little mistakes that drive everyone nuts and fixing them.
Third draft – We go through and rewrite – add scenes where needed, cut where they are redundant or detract from the overall story. This is the polish that makes the biggest difference and what we can't do if we publish it a chapter at a time. We repeat this until we and our editing-beta are satisfied with the story and then send it for proofreading. It helps to have a second beta who has never seen the first drafts also read this now for fresh eyes.
Final draft – After it has been read so many times we don't know if we can look at it again and neither we nor our betas can find any more typos, then we publish.
I will publish chapters of fan fiction after I have passed the rewrite stage and as we finish the final polishing stage. Some of the best parts of my fiction would never have happened if I hadn't waited to see the entire arc and then found what was missing.
I believe that publishing it without that rewrite stage is one of the things that makes the quality of fan fiction so much lower than it could be. No first draft will ever be as good as it could be without editing and rewriting. And rewriting chapter by chapter doesn't give the consistency to make a solid story.
When I begin to publish a story, usually on a schedule of a certain number of chapters per week, people who normally don’t read WIP are more likely to read it. Why? Because they know it won’t be abandoned. It has already been written and is just being polished now. And, because they can depend on the fact that it will be published at regular intervals, they don’t have to worry about losing track of the story. Even then, there are some readers who wait until it is done and then read it all at once.
I do serialize my fan fiction, though. Meaning, I do publish one chapter at a time at regular intervals. Why do I do this? I love the interactive nature of the experience. If I publish the complete work at once, it doesn’t get near the buildup or energy from people as it does in the chapter at a time format. I try to make sure the updates are evenly spaced so that it holds the energy that people have in the story. I have found we get more feedback and the readers seem to truly get excited by this format.
It differs from the fandom WIP style of “publish as you write” because, as authors, we already have the story arc completed. I think it has saved the integrity of the story on a number of occasions. Because the story is written, we feel less pressure to “change it” to suit the fans. We do pay attention to what fans like and don’t like but we have a firmer ground for avoiding being blown off course of our own story by the whims of others than someone who hasn’t completed the story.
Does everyone have to do all this? No. If the fan fiction (or any fiction) is just a text version of costume play with their favorite characters, then they probably shouldn’t bother. (But then again, why bother to publish it either?) If it is all about the fun of writing and not about the audience or the craft of becoming a better writer, then it really doesn’t matter if it is edited. Though I am sick of many of these same “writers” whining that the story they weren’t willing to work at didn’t get enough positive feedback.
On the other hand, if a writer wants to write stories that captures people and holds their thoughts long after they have clicked away to somewhere else, they really should consider making an effort at perfecting the craft of storytelling.
P.S. I use "we" in this essay much of the time because 90% of the fan fiction I have published are collaborative works with two authors. It is not meant to encompass others besides my co-authors.
P.P.S. Interesting that even though this is posted in a "rant" community, people are angry that my tone wasn't "nice."
And yes, I know that some people write well using the style I am criticising. I did point out that I read some WIP when I felt the author was good enough to pull it off. But very few people have the talent (myself included) to do as Dickens did. And even the best writer's works could probably be improved if they edit the complete work. I guess I wouldn't mind the WIP if the person were just posting to their own journal for feedback and not presenting it for wider readership on comms or archives. Or if the same people didn't get angry that we weren't raving about their work that wasn't finished and annoyed when people pointed out their mistakes. I find that it is much more useful to find a smaller group of people whose opinions are solicited and trusted than to use the comms as unsolicited betas.
Some people have replied that because they aren't getting paid, they shouldn't care about quality. My sisters are athletes and I can imagine what they would say (with much mirth and arse kicking) if someone on one of their teams gave the justification that trying their best and practising before games was a waste of time because they didn't get paid for it. Same with my friends who are into community theatre. Just because it is a hobby and fun doesn't mean one should not try to improve your skills and do the best for your team/audience.
Inspired by some discussions here and in other communities, I have been thinking a lot about the craft of writing fan fiction and wanted to share this:
The Curse of the WIP – The Lost Art of Rewriting in Fan Fiction
Like many people, I rarely read Works in Progress (WIP) anymore. I only do so from someone whose work I have enjoyed in the past or whose work comes strongly recommended by someone I trust. I have been too frustrated with the lack of quality or the works that are abandoned. I also have trouble remembering what came before if there is too long of a gap between updates.
I know I am in the minority on this, but I do not publish even a single chapter of a story until I have completed an entire first draft, and usually a second or third. Maybe it is because I am a published writer of print books as well. Or maybe because I entered fandom back when we printed them on paper in fanzines. Or maybe because the one story I was co-writing with others and published before it was done was abandoned by my co-writers. No matter what the reasons, it is a policy I have come to strongly endorse. I would like fan fiction writers to take a minute and listen to my plea on behalf of the process of editing a completed work before publishing.
I firmly believe that if a writer publishes a story before the first draft is complete, they are selling their writing short. (And will often disappoint those of us reading.) Most writers do their best work in the rewrite stage. It can make the difference between mediocre writing and polished fiction.
When I worked as an editor for a fiction magazine, I was fond of the phrase: “Are you a stone-cutter or an author?” A stone-cutter is a writer who is so enamored of his/her first draft they won’t rewrite. It’s as if they think their words are so good the first time they should be carved in stone and never touched again. An author is someone who works at their craft, rewriting and trying to produce a story (or essay, etc.) that both satisfies themselves and their audience. No one can please everyone. Yet, as a craft, much of the work and skill in writing is in the editing process.
Unfortunately, if the writer only edits chapter by chapter and not the entire work as a whole, they are actually missing a large part of what makes a story work. Maybe it is episodic television that has given people the idea that chapter by chapter makes a story. The truly dismal lack of continuity on most episodic television should indicate otherwise. The best television I have seen is when the primary creator of the series actually has a vision for the overall story arc and holds the story to that vision. But fiction writers don’t have that limitation. They can write a coherent story if they give themselves the chance to, instead of jumping in too soon and publishing before it is done.
So here is what my co-authors and I do:
First draft – We write the story from beginning to end. We don't stop to correct errors or rewrite. Editing at this stage can slow one down, bring doubt into play and may often result in writer's block. (If the writer needs motivation along the way, they can find a friend who will read it for them. A friend or small group can give encouragement and ideas without locking into that first version. There is a long history of writers' circles for this kind of thing, from which both Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia benefited.)
Second draft -- After we have finished the story arc that feels good, we go back and reread the entire thing, making notes of things to change, fixing some things as we go. We do the best we can to rewrite it and then send it to a beta.
A note on betas: In the professional world, we have editors and proofreaders. They are actually separate jobs in the real world. (Sometimes there is even a third category job – fact checker.) In fan fiction, we have betas who are often called upon to do it all, and for free no less. (Bless them all.) But not all betas are good at the same things. Some can proof but not edit or vice versa. A good story really needs both. Sometimes that means more than one beta for a story unless the beta is really good at both. Editing is the stage where the beta helps evaluate the entire story – looks for inconsistencies, find the gaps in the story, places that need more or need less, sometimes reorganizing scenes or other structural/story issues. Then comes proofreading – looking for all those little mistakes that drive everyone nuts and fixing them.
Third draft – We go through and rewrite – add scenes where needed, cut where they are redundant or detract from the overall story. This is the polish that makes the biggest difference and what we can't do if we publish it a chapter at a time. We repeat this until we and our editing-beta are satisfied with the story and then send it for proofreading. It helps to have a second beta who has never seen the first drafts also read this now for fresh eyes.
Final draft – After it has been read so many times we don't know if we can look at it again and neither we nor our betas can find any more typos, then we publish.
I will publish chapters of fan fiction after I have passed the rewrite stage and as we finish the final polishing stage. Some of the best parts of my fiction would never have happened if I hadn't waited to see the entire arc and then found what was missing.
I believe that publishing it without that rewrite stage is one of the things that makes the quality of fan fiction so much lower than it could be. No first draft will ever be as good as it could be without editing and rewriting. And rewriting chapter by chapter doesn't give the consistency to make a solid story.
When I begin to publish a story, usually on a schedule of a certain number of chapters per week, people who normally don’t read WIP are more likely to read it. Why? Because they know it won’t be abandoned. It has already been written and is just being polished now. And, because they can depend on the fact that it will be published at regular intervals, they don’t have to worry about losing track of the story. Even then, there are some readers who wait until it is done and then read it all at once.
I do serialize my fan fiction, though. Meaning, I do publish one chapter at a time at regular intervals. Why do I do this? I love the interactive nature of the experience. If I publish the complete work at once, it doesn’t get near the buildup or energy from people as it does in the chapter at a time format. I try to make sure the updates are evenly spaced so that it holds the energy that people have in the story. I have found we get more feedback and the readers seem to truly get excited by this format.
It differs from the fandom WIP style of “publish as you write” because, as authors, we already have the story arc completed. I think it has saved the integrity of the story on a number of occasions. Because the story is written, we feel less pressure to “change it” to suit the fans. We do pay attention to what fans like and don’t like but we have a firmer ground for avoiding being blown off course of our own story by the whims of others than someone who hasn’t completed the story.
Does everyone have to do all this? No. If the fan fiction (or any fiction) is just a text version of costume play with their favorite characters, then they probably shouldn’t bother. (But then again, why bother to publish it either?) If it is all about the fun of writing and not about the audience or the craft of becoming a better writer, then it really doesn’t matter if it is edited. Though I am sick of many of these same “writers” whining that the story they weren’t willing to work at didn’t get enough positive feedback.
On the other hand, if a writer wants to write stories that captures people and holds their thoughts long after they have clicked away to somewhere else, they really should consider making an effort at perfecting the craft of storytelling.
Replies can be included here or at my original POST on my LJ. Warning: some nudity in my journal theme.
P.S. I use "we" in this essay much of the time because 90% of the fan fiction I have published are collaborative works with two authors. It is not meant to encompass others besides my co-authors.
P.P.S. Interesting that even though this is posted in a "rant" community, people are angry that my tone wasn't "nice."
And yes, I know that some people write well using the style I am criticising. I did point out that I read some WIP when I felt the author was good enough to pull it off. But very few people have the talent (myself included) to do as Dickens did. And even the best writer's works could probably be improved if they edit the complete work. I guess I wouldn't mind the WIP if the person were just posting to their own journal for feedback and not presenting it for wider readership on comms or archives. Or if the same people didn't get angry that we weren't raving about their work that wasn't finished and annoyed when people pointed out their mistakes. I find that it is much more useful to find a smaller group of people whose opinions are solicited and trusted than to use the comms as unsolicited betas.
Some people have replied that because they aren't getting paid, they shouldn't care about quality. My sisters are athletes and I can imagine what they would say (with much mirth and arse kicking) if someone on one of their teams gave the justification that trying their best and practising before games was a waste of time because they didn't get paid for it. Same with my friends who are into community theatre. Just because it is a hobby and fun doesn't mean one should not try to improve your skills and do the best for your team/audience.
