Words Come And Go

Cutting a major portion manuscript is like:

A self-wound.

Watching your favorite thing ripped to pieces.

Having the blast of wind snatch something precious out of your hand and taking off.

I know it hurt. But it has to be done sometimes. If not, they'll tell you it's the most boring story ever told. And I'll have to say, "I told you so, G Low."

Take a deep breath. Delete it. Then drink some coffee and start anew.

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Look at your story objectively. Why do you have to cut?

1. Infodump, infodump, infodump. Readers don't like that these days, especially when it's inserted like a science manual. Or, if a character suddenly goes into a "as you know, Joe" conversation, bringing up important details like a reporter. It's a roll-your-eyes moment.

2. That Villain Who Talk Too Much. Villain motivation is the most difficult to write without moti-dumping. "I hate the world because my momma beat me and everyone used me, so now I'm going to tell you every detail of what I did the last few weeks/months for revenge so you'll have time to find a way to kill me." That kind of dumping.

3. Twenty-page sex scenes are so twentieth century, darling.

4. Plot hole the size of the ozone. Useless to try to cover it. Just cut, cut, cut.

5. Too big a plot and too small a book, and by small, I mean restricted word count. Your reader will think you're naive. Your Muse will kill herself from embarrassment. It isn't that this is wrong, but as a professional writer, writing length IS part of the business is some ways, unless, of course, you're the IT Girl. Then your books can be tomes. But you aren't the IT Girl. So deal.

CUT!

And how are you writers out there with the cutting? What is the biggest weakness in your writing lately? Have your Muse been nudging you to cut? Do you need Auntie Muse to tell you what stuff to look for too?