Last night I had a long conversation with my hubby (poor hubby) about a scene I’m struggling with while editing the first in my Flora Lively series. I’d made a few structural changes to tighten things up, and the story is working far better, but … then I came to a scene that simply didn’t fit with the new structure. No problem, you might say, just ditch it. Well, if only it were as simple as that!
The scene involved Flora and a puppy, and the puppy provided just the right tone to offset something else that was going on, as well as adding a bit of important conflict. Oh, and did I mention that the puppy is just so cute? But because of changes made to some earlier scenes, there was just no reason for the puppy to be there anymore! I’d have had to invent a whole new reason for her existence, which would have muddied the waters of the entire plot. Not good! After an hour of going round and round the houses trying to figure out how to make it all work, my husband’s advice was: Lose the puppy!
No! I cried. I can’t do it. I’ve spent hours writing that puppy in – and did I mention that it is just so cute …?
This is the essence of editing, particularly structural. To make some parts better other parts will have to be sacrificed, even if the writing is good, and even if the puppy is cute. It’s hard, but necessary, and it’s what separates you as a writer from those who can’t self-edit. I’ve looked at it again today, and the puppy definitely has to go. Even though it was really just so …
(No puppies were harmed in the writing of this blog post. Petal the puppy will be reincarnated in another Flora Lively story, probably book 2.)
June 21, 2013 at 1:20 pm
CUTE! 😀
Aww petal, can’t she just be a stray and randomly appears as a friend for Flora 😛
xx
June 21, 2013 at 1:27 pm
If only 😉 When you get your beta copy next week I might tell you what happened in the original draft – you’ll see the problem. Don’t worry, though – there is another very cute dog for Flora to love x
June 21, 2013 at 1:49 pm
Oh, this was not the outcome I was hoping for!
Perhaps you could publish this as a special ‘deleted’ scene on your blog, once Flora has seen the light of day?
June 24, 2013 at 9:32 am
Don’t worry, Pauline, there’s another cute dog for you to love 🙂
June 21, 2013 at 1:54 pm
Aww love it, another fabulous and informative post and a score for the hubby’s they often are right lol!
Looking forward to reading x
June 24, 2013 at 9:32 am
Thanks Charlie! Yes, they are often right (annoying though that is) 😉
June 21, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Awww. I know how you feel … I’ve often written characters in which I just love but had to let go for the same reason … but I’m sure you’ll find a way to reintroduce the just-so-cute Petal in another story like you said. It’s just not Petal’s time yet 🙂
June 24, 2013 at 9:33 am
I will, Kathryn, definitely. She’s just sitting there waiting … x
June 21, 2013 at 5:02 pm
“Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it–wholeheartedly–and delete it before sending your manuscript to press. Murder your darlings.” So said Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch (I read in an ancient writing guide on my bookshelf) and it’s a phrase I am constantly repeating to myself. He’s referring to suspiciously fancy phrasing, but when I saw your puppy’s picture, that phrase came again to mind! Looking forward to meeting the puppy in book two, though!
June 24, 2013 at 9:34 am
Me too, Debbie! Although I couldn’t remember who originally said that, so thanks for reminding me. I think ‘lose the puppy’ could replace it now 😉 x
June 21, 2013 at 5:41 pm
Oh Joanne,,, People love puppies and stories with dogs in are more popular. Couldn’t he just have a scene where he’s escaped from his owner and they run after him shouting…. go on… please……
June 24, 2013 at 9:35 am
Don’t worry, Susan, there’s a gorgeous dog in the book already, called Otto. In fact, it’s down to Otto that the puppy became superfluous! (Blame him.) 🙂 Petal will return …
June 21, 2013 at 8:13 pm
“Loose the puppy” will now enter your family lexicon and be used again and again saying SO MUCH with little effort. I appreciate the advice because I too have struggled with the problem: but it’s so well written!
June 24, 2013 at 9:36 am
You’re right, Stepheny! I’ve got another one for you – ‘I’m keeping my panda dry’. See if you can work out what that means! 😉
June 21, 2013 at 11:02 pm
Think ‘Lose the puppy’ could come to replace ‘Murder your darlings’! It makes sense to me. But murder is harsh – perhaps the puppy could be saved to appear in another book? If not, nothing is wasted. The work you (+ hubby) have put into puppy/no puppy will pay for itself in some way, at some stage.
June 24, 2013 at 9:37 am
🙂 See my answer to Debbie above – brilliant minds! x
June 22, 2013 at 7:50 am
Pretty sure no one would mind that cute puppy randomly appearing lol… maybe he needs his own story!
June 24, 2013 at 9:38 am
She does, Ashley – Petal would be wasted with a mere walk-on part. She’s already demanding an equity card! (Never work with children or animals *sigh*)
June 22, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Good for you for seeing the puppy was superfluous!!!! I think that’s so often a mark of an amateur book – one with self-indulgent, unnecessary detail. For me, every sentence has to count…. I’m mid-first re-write of novel six at the moment…!
June 24, 2013 at 9:39 am
Thanks Terry! Absolutely right. How are you finding the re-write? I hope you’re losing lots of puppies 😉
June 22, 2013 at 6:34 pm
You have offered some important advice delivered in the most charming of ways, via Petal the puppy, who is ever so cute. Good post, Joanne!
June 24, 2013 at 9:40 am
Thanks Sherrey 🙂 You can tell me if you think the story has a puppy-shaped hole in it x
June 26, 2013 at 10:13 am
He he he. I remember attending a talk of a thriller writer (cant remember who now) who had a scene in his book where a dog was killed (owned by the detective who was hunting the killer) and he said he got loads of complaints from readers saying he shouldn’t have had the dog killed…he said he wished he’d taken it out lol
So at least you took it out BEFORE it met a sticky end *evil snigger*
xx