Delete Freak
This is what I’ve been, lately. Delete, delete, delete. It’s like my obsession with clutter: I can’t fix until I get rid of all the junk around. I get unhappy with my tone or mood and throw the whole thing out. No, I can’t revise or edit it. I have to erase it from existence.
Since December 2009, I believe I have deleted at least 60,000 words. Not even counting the five blog posts I delete for every one I post. How DID I used to write a post every day?
This has got to stop. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me, because I’ve NEVER done this before.
As for good news, the Year of the Ox is over. The Year of the Metal Tiger is here, which is a finish-everything-you-start kind of year. I’m told.
Cool. I can use some of that energy.
(I do know I’m grasping at straws.)
(But whatever works.)
I fired up Write or Die yesterday. Have I talked about Write or Die yet? Why yes, I have. It triples my productivity, but I seem to keep forgetting that fact and not using it. It’s free to use online, but I bought the desktop version ($10), which is prettier and has a few more features. (Customizable font color, background color, save feature that appends to a file, word war, and other stuff.)
It turns writing into a game. You enter a word count or time goal, and you have to keep writing. If you stop writing for more than ten or twenty seconds, it either plays an awful screeching violin sound (Normal Mode), or it starts deleting your words (Kamikaze Mode). It’s fun, and I write fast again. And I actually keep my words, fancy that!
You can give Write or Die a quick whirl online, see if it does it for you or not.
The desktop version also has a “Word War” feature that’s in beta, where you hook up with someone else, and a progress bar at the top of your screen tracks you and your war partner, to see who writes the most words in a certain amount of time. (Doesn’t seem to be working at the moment, though…)
It all sounds silly, I know. But whatever gets the words out. It makes writing feel a bit like a video game. And the quicker I write, the better.
It’s odd, but the faster I write, the better I write. What’s up with that?
Do you have any tricks to get the words out when the words are coming too slow? Ever been on a deleting rampage? Ever play with Write or Die?
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
I’m afraid to try it – I might die – but I’m very happy it works for you!
LOL, David!
Glad that you have a tool to help you get thru the tough times you describe. My re-writing has felt slow, very slow, lots of deleting, but not every word. I hope you have a great writing day and week!
Paul, it helps. I just have to get this darned thing done! Your lips to God’s ear!
Well, you know I’m ALWAYS on a deleting rampage. It’s pathetically viral in my case, almost as if I’m trying to reinvent myself. So far I’m the same old me, but gotta admit, I do feel a bit more rejuvenated now that I’ve stepped away from certain large writing organizations and their spin-offs (you’d think I’d know better by now and maybe now I do, lol).
Back to the question at hand: What do I do when my writing is slow (when I’m actually writing)? I free-write stream of conscious stuff. Sometimes I even pick an unconscious subject to write about, which is usually a personal rant. And there are those things that I’ve haphazardly written that turn out pretty darn good, at least to me.
Great blog piece. I’m so glad you didn’t delete it.
Kath, I’m much happier without writing organization drama, too. They actually never did my writing any good, honestly, though I enjoyed the people in my local group.
So true about haphazard writing!
I’m rewriting a scene tomorrow. I don’t know what I’ll do with it — I need an idea before then. The one I have isn’t good enough. I have to do some heavy thinking tonight, or I’ll be doing a lot of deleting.
I know what you mean, Edie. I need a new opening scene. I don’t like mine!
When I’m having problems in writing a particular story, I put it aside and try to write something completely off the wall (like a short story about the adult movie industry).
Or I’ll get into one of the free form jags that I create exclusively for my blog. I’m fanstatic with descriptions, so I free form that on my blog. It’s fun, it’s easy, and most important, it blows everyone away in the process.
Oh that’s cool, G! I need to do more of that. LOL! Blowing people away is fun!
I should check that website out. But if it started deleting my words, I think I’d freak!
Yeah, I can’t handle that! I always use the normal mode. The screeching and squawking violins are motivating enough for me!
That would give me a heart attack, and I’d be dead, so I’m just going to skip it, if it’s OK with you. *goes into old lady mode* Kids today must be made of sterner stuff.
LOLOL, Robin!
I tried Write or Die during NaNo last year, but only toyed with the Kamikaze mode. I prefer the one where the colors start flashing at you.
I haven’t been deleting, but I also haven’t been writing. Well that’s not true, I’m doing freelance writing now, so I guess my output still tops my (hmm, input doesn’t seem right). Reput.
Yeah, I like the colors and awful music better, too. I’ve used the kamikaze mode, but… yeah. Heart attack city.
Reput! Love it!
~shudders~
I couldn’t handle the stress of having the thing delete – since I like to write a bit and then ponder over stuff.
I just grimly slog along.
LOLOL, Bernita! Slogging sure gets a lot of work done. The turtle wins the race!
I think you need to put your inner editor on vacation for a while.
Amen, Elizabeth!
I think Write or Die would prevent me from ever writing again! After it gobbles up what you’re writing does it then start on your hard drive in general? Sheesh.
And also, you’ve deleted more words this year than I have written.
I’m even getting nervous writing this comment. You can’t turn that Write or Die thing o for commenter’s can you?
LOL, Eric! Naw. But yeah, I tend to go for Normal Mode, which just screeches a violin sound when you stop writing. (It’s like a four-year-old’s first attempts.)
You know how I love to play with technology. If there’s a plugin… one day you may see your words disappear!
Writer or die???? I’d never even heard of it. But since you suggested it, I’m going to give it a try for fun! Thanks, Natasha.
Oh my gosh–it starts deleting your words? That’s so hardcore. I think I need to try it!
Maybe I’ll try this, but since I can see it has “gentle and forgiving” settings, I know that’s where I’d stay, so that might defeat the purpose.