The Cutting Room Floor
Well, I’m back after letting another week pass without a blog post. I need to post shorter entries, but more often. We’ll see what I actually manage.
Yesterday was a grueling day. I finished the long process of editing Chapter 12 of Nereids. I’d already spent two days working on the first half, and I was bound and determined to put paid to the beastie. At ~15,000 words, it’s a blockbuster chapter. Several reality comments pointed out that it dragged in places, though, so I was determined to streamline it.
At the end of a marathon editing session (involving lots of distractions, half a block of cheese, an apple with some peanut butter, and two Sprite Zeros), I had cut another ~2,000 words. I’m pretty happy with the leaner, meaner Chapter 12. I only cut two major scenes, but you get the gist of them with a bit of macro introduction in the remaining follow-up scene. The lesser cuts were all organic. In other words, a little here, a little there.
After I finished Ch12, I took a look at Ch11. Somewhere amongst the new computers, I managed to lose some of my work on Ch11. (In addition to the MacBook, I built a new work computer over the past week, a dual-core Athlon 64.) At least I think I lost some work. I kept looking at reviewers’ comments and thinking “Didn’t I fix this already?” Ah well… qué lástima.
The long and the short of my Ch11 “discovery” is that I spent another couple of hours editing it… after I’d already spent hours on Ch12. Era muy cansado.
(Why am I in a Spanish mood? ¿Quién sabe? But I digress…)
Anyway, I finished the edits on Ch11, although I didn’t apply the buzzsaw as freely. I probably cut 200-300 words. Not bad. It’s still a large chapter (~11,000 words).
After all the editing, I sent both chapters off to my reality team for a final round. I’m pretty happy with the changes, and I think Chapter 12 reads better for it. It was a little bloated. (Me? Write bloated stories? Perish the thought! 
The Ruthie’s Club schedule changed a little bit in the interim. They did have a festival scheduled in the middle of the Nereids run, so I was supposed to have a break for the 8/21 issue (two days ago). The festival didn’t work out, and my break broke.
So, I’m on the final drive to get Nereids out the door. I’ve been thinking about what I want to work on next, and SC-B4 is looming large. I think I want to write a couple of shorter stories before then, though. We’ll see.
This is why I like making my own schedule. I know you’re all eager for Book 4, but that’s going to be a 9-12 month process, if not more. So I need to have all my distractions out of the way before I begin. My track record speaks for itself, though: in 4 years of writing, I’ve never quit on a story. So I’ll start B4 when I’m ready… and then I’ll finish it before I start something else.
- Nick
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12 Responses to “The Cutting Room Floor”
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“I need to post shorter entries, but more often” why is that Nick? IMO this Blog gives more incite and understanding into you and your writing than ever before. Sure a new entry is always nice, just post when is convenient.
All the best with the competion of Nereids.
I agree with gonz. I have read everything that I have found that you have writen and eagerly wait for more. But have gotten to know more about you from your bilog. Keep them up and thanks for all the effort.
ill just say one thing…
Apple with peanut butter! GOD MAN
Anyway thanks for all the SC books and Nereids (ill read it later)
Fiskarn,
Haven’t you ever eaten a PB&J sandwich with apple jelly?
Am I alone here? Does anyone else like peanut butter on an apple? Speak up, you culinary wallflowers!
Seriously, you quarter and core an apple, then spread peanut butter on each quarter. It’s a good source of protein, fiber, and energy. Better than potato chips, that’s for sure. And it’s pretty tasty, too.
Try it. You’ll like it.
- Nick
(No objections to the sharp cheddar or Sprite Zero?
Well, I love fresh wholemeal bread, with real butter, PB & Jam, with cream. Or on one memorable occasion, PB & strawberry jam with strawberry yoghurt.
Sprite zero? Never tried it, can’t say. I tend to drink coffee, or water, or if I *do* want carbonated drinks I go full-fat and have the real version with the sugar.
But the cheddar? Oh, yes. And the Cheshire. And the Stilton. And… (I like cheese!)
More importantly, I look forward to whaever you choose to write, in whatever order, Nick. It means I can re-read Summer Camp more slowly…
I am another peanut butter and … person. I like peanut butter on apples, bananas, celery, american and dutch(gouda) cheese, and several other fruits and veggies.
As for the blog note, I agree with gonz - you should post when you can.
Last but not least, I want to thank you for some of the best reading I have seen on the net.
I’m all about the apples & peanutbutter bit, but how anyon can go through a block of sharp cheder is beyond me & Sprite zereo is still diet soda which by nature is tasteless swill. I just wanted to echo the comments of the rest of the respondents. your doing this for free and we’re not paying to read your blog or anything you post here except for neroids. This wonderfull blog while a great insight to your writting is just one more project you take time out of your busy life to do for complete stangers. Don’t worry about these gaps between postings. Those of us who love your writting will keep checking back regularly anyway. If there isn’t something new posted every day there is still all that great archived stuff to keep us going. The important thing is that you are enjoying life. besides your writting might suffer if you were feeling like you needed to miss out on time with your grandkidsfor example, just to apease a vocal minority by getting that next posting out by some arbatrary deadline.
Nitzoplax,
About the cheese… A “block” of cheese is 8oz. I ate half of that, 4oz. (113g, for you metric people). So we’re not talking about a 5lb. wheel of cheese here.
And I don’t drink regular soda. Too much sugar. I don’t drink much caffeine either (the occasional Diet Coke on the weekends). And finally, I don’t like plain water (unless I’m very hot and thirsty). I squeeze a few lemon slices in my water at restaurants. So Sprite Zero fits my drinking criteria: no sugar, no caffeine, and good taste.
Thanks for the other comments, though.
- Nick
I find it somewhat interesting/entertaining that you cut about 2,000 words and I am reading another story where the author posts the number of words in each chapter as if it is a blue ribbon for them and it is almost always below 2,000 words. Your cut is another chapter for them!
-SERocks
Hey, don’t forget about that great southern Peanut butter sandwich. The grilled peanutbutter, banana and marshmallow fluff sandwich. Although there is nothing better than a very sharp cheddar with a nice crisp apple.
Hawkeye87
Since everyone is up in arms over apple and peanut butter, I’ll throw mine here as well. How about peanut butter and waffles?
Before everyone freaks out, I do a lot of physical activity and need every calorie I can find. Slather a nice waffle in PB, dump on the syrup, and then add an extra mile to the morning workout.
Can’t wait to see more of your stuff Nick.
Uhm I dont want to get off the apple and peanut bit but uhm has anybody heard of ants on a trail? Its a stick of celery with peanut butter and raisins. Its really good.
As for this blog I love it. Granted I am posting this after you wrote several others after this one i jut had to say I love apples and Peanut butter. Over where I am at we have a peanut butter type spread in the stores that we can put on our apples. Man is that stuff good! They also have caramel which is not bad either.