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May
20
2010

Forward Go, or Edit Slow?

I’m facing a crossroads with my novel today. I’ve written about 10,000 words in the last two weeks, which is a lot for me.  Normally I write about 1000 words in a writing session, then I take the time to edit them.  Once I’m very happy with those 1000 words, I write again and repeat the process.  Write, edit, repeat.  This is how I’ve written the first 2/3 of my novel.

Recently, I’ve had my mum visiting in town and she’s been helping with the kids.  She’s been chauffering them to and from preschool, she magically made them start taking naps again after a year of no naps — she may be part witch, but in a good way — and she’s been helping to cook meals too.  Needless to say, I’ve had more time to write than usual.  It helps that she is one of my beta readers and she is eagerly looking forward to new chapters.

So, instead of my usual 1000 words at one sitting, I’ve been able to accomplish upwards of 4000!  I’m incredibly happy to make such great progress in such a short amount of time!  But now I face my crossroads.  Do I keep charging forward as much as I can, or do I take a break from writing and start my editing?  Which is better?  Is neither better than the other?  I wish I knew the answer, but I have a feeling it’s a ‘chicken or the egg’ style of question.

I guess I’ll just take each writing session as it comes and do whatever feels right at the time.  One way or the other, I’ll find my way to the end.

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Heather