I'm on a clean-out phase, and I'm pitching things right and left. I've learned through past experience that you need the right frame of mind to do this. There's no use trying to right-size unless you're willing to let go of Stuff.
The same is true with writing. I went through at least 4 drafts of my last book, Resorts, before I settled on the finished project. There was an entire sub-plot I got rid of, characters who didn't make the final cut, and lots of scenes that vanished.Now I'm working on a large series and I have multiple drafts of these books. Now I've decided on the Final Draft and how I want the series to play out. So I went back to look through those multiple drafts.
I enjoyed a lot of the scenes and the dialog. Some of it will fit into what my plans are for the Final Draft, but some ... not so much. It's so hard to pitch it out, but I'm going to need to do so. I may excerpt a few of them here and there, or rework them but I won't keep much.
I've shuffled those old drafts into a folder and I can't quite press the Delete key. I think I'll let them sit there, out of sight and mind, until the next time I get in the mood to pitch. Maybe then I'll hit delete.
Or maybe not ...
J L
(jayellwilson.com)
