Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Signs That You've Edited Too Much

It sounds like a lot of us are stuck in Revisionland/the Edit Cave. So let's talk about something important: How do you know when you've edited too much? For me, it's a simple line. When I go to put on shorts for the first time and notice that the tops of my thighs are bright red--not from sun but from laptop burn--I know I've been editing too much.

What about you?

14 comments:

Keri Mikulski said...

:) Love it!

When I scroll down to change something and realize I already did it.. It's time. ;)

storyqueen said...

When my back is totally stiff from sitting the the same position FOREVER!!!

I'm right there with you.

Shelley

Jamie Eyberg said...

When I started with a page full of words and now the screen is blank. Doh!

Hilary Wagner said...

"Laptop Burn" You've just coined a new phrase (I think)!

I think you've edited too much when you are no longer fixing anything major, just changing little words here and there that don't change the story in the least...but...er...I do that! :)

xoox -- Hilary

Unknown said...

When I start changing things back to the way I had them in the first place. I think I'm giving myself another 2 weeks and then I'm done - and will hopefully start to query!

Sherrie Petersen said...

When I can't hold coherent conversations with real people because I'm too wrapped up in my fictional lives. Sad but true.

Carolyn V. said...

Carrie, are you almost done with the edit cave? I hope so!

I know I've edited too much when everything is blurry except my computer screen.

Unknown said...

If I start getting eye strain that progresses into a migraine that sends stabbing pains every time I even try to look at words or the computer, I know I've been editing too long.

And I agree with Ms. Wagner, just changing single words out of big groupings of pages is another good clue in.

Lindsay said...

Lol.

I know I've edited too much when I look at the clock and realise it's 3am or some stupid time like that. Tired me is cranky writer :)

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

When the world outside my door seems like a strange land.

Whirlochre said...

It's the little things — like realising you have no fingernails, no fingers. No wrists, no forearms, no elbows. No biceps, no shoulders, no body. That you're just a raw spinal column, thrashing at the keyboard like some wild Naga.

As for the 50lb trade sacks of nachos — a dead giveaway.

C.R. Evers said...

Laptop burn. LOL! I like that.

When I can quote my MS line by line. That's tell-tale

Myrna Foster said...

I'm there with you. Laptop burn hurts.

It's time to stop when my husband's alarm for work goes off (because I've already heard that lecture). In my defense, sometimes he has work at three in the morning.

R. Garrett Wilson said...

When my dreams show me red and blue marks on the paper instead of new scenes to write, I have edited too much.