The Magic of Editing.
Hey-Hey Toon-a-thons!
There's a quote I'd like to present to you all. It goes as follows...
Whether its scripts, drafts, school papers, research documents, video game stories (or levels), film, or even books, you should always be of the mindset that MAYBE the first draft of a story isn't going to be good. It can be, but that's a 1% chance it will realistically happen. HOWEVER! That doesn't mean that its the end. It just means you have to go in and really configure your work to see if you really want your stories to go in that specific direction, especially when writing a series.
Like all media we consume, there's a deleted version that was either edited out for time, pacing, or the lack of direction. If we went around publishing full-fat, unedited versions of all our media, I'm pretty sure that not a lot our pop culture legends would be as beloved as they are today. Say what you will about old STAR WARS (OT and Prequels), the way the films are edited play a huge impact in how those films were received back in the day. Shoot, they're even the reason why fan recuts and re-edits of films are a popular trend in the modern day.
But, hey. I get it. Why re-read what you spent days/weeks/months/years writing just to do it over? Just publish it and move on. Heh! Well, to that I say...
"THAT'S QUITTER TALK!"
Why... if I watched or read every story that was only made based on the first draft alone, I-I'd... I'd probably look like... THIS GUY:
Don't worry! For it's not the end of the world. In fact, just because I like you all so much, I can offer some tips based on my own experience. Your mileage may vary. Heck, some of your techniques may be better than mine. So without further ado, I present to you...
TOON'S ELEVEN STEPS TO STORYTELLING GUIDANCE
STEP 1:
Finish your initial draft. Wherever that draft is found (iCloud Notes, Word Documents, Google Docs, notebooks, etc.), finish it.
STEP 2:
Step away from your initial draft. Take some time off to decompress. If you so happen to start something new after finishing your initial story, do as much as you can. Just don't forget that you have that other draft to finish.
STEP 3:
After a short time, come back to your initial draft and re-read the whole story.
STEP 3.5:
Make small edits (punctuation, grammar, sentence structure) if possible, but don't make it your priority so soon. STEP 4:
Fully read your draft and start to consider what worked, what didn't and what could be improved. STEP 5:
Put on some music or movie/game/tv show scene that feels fitting to a chapter, scene, or segment of your film. Give yourself time to get some inspiration, especially for chapters that may need room for improvement. Imagine film scenes with your characters rather than the ones on screen. For example, I like to imagine how Sonia would react if she was a participant in the big fight with The Shredder and his minions from climactic battle from the debut Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic from 1984.
STEP 6:
When you are ready to edit, start by going through your story chapter by chapter. One chapter at a time is recommended. Work at your own pace.
STEP 7:
Don't be afraid to scrap chapters, sentences, ideas. Just because you like an idea, doesn't mean it will necessarily always work for that particular segment, chapter, or story. Heck, you may have just created something that can be woven into a new story. If you like that idea and see potential... "Don't delete it, Snip it," and save it for later.
STEP 7.5:
Make highlights, comments, strikethroughs, anything to show that you're not only reading your work, but also acting as your own proofreader or editor.
SIDE NOTE: If you have a friend, or know of any kind of proofreading/editing software, utilize them. They might be more useful than you know. Or buy a subscription to Grammarly... they advertise a lot on YouTube.
OTHER RECOMMENDED EDITING SOFTWARE:
Hemingway App
Writesonic
ProWritingAid
TextWizard
STEP 8:
Be confident in your work. If you aren't confident or don't believe in your story, you'll spend every moment trying to perfect it. Not all stories are perfect on the first draft or even your fifth draft. Remember to stop so you don't overwhelm yourself.
STEP 9:
If necessary, write a second version of the story. Don't overwrite the original draft, but instead have it open and available for reference in case you need to remember where your original points were, and what you want or need to change. I usually type everything in a second word document (via Microsoft Word or Google Docs), but recently, I got my hands on some notebooks and a nice ballpoint pen. Sometimes, I feel like using my actual handwriting will get my ideas out faster without burning my eyes out on a computer screen every day.
STEP 10:
Remember to stop. The mind is a flowing river of ideas, but you can't let yourself be hung up on a single story day-in and day-out. Some stories just don't work out no matter how much you tweak them. If something doesn't work, don't let it weigh you down. Maybe you aren't ready to tell that story yet. Heck, salvage it and make something new. A good writer learns to let go of useless ideas, even if its disappointing.
STEP 11:
Have fun. Write what you're passionate about. Storytelling is a gateway to the inner psyche. The stories you tell today could interest someone tomorrow.
Are you not a novelist? Are you instead a comic artist? Then good! These steps apply to you guys too!
Like I said. Some stories are perfect right on the fly, but you can't always be lazy or throw caution to the wind. You have to remember to plan accordingly and have some fun too. Make drafts, drop your pants. Do something silly and get the more useless ideas out of your head. Okay, maybe not the "drop your pants" part. I don't want to know what you do in your spare time.
At the end of the day, we're all doing this because we love the medium of storytelling. From artful masterpieces to abstract, goofy joke-fests... It's ART! I'd sure like to make my art a legitimate profession. But until then, I just enjoy having the opportunity to share it with all of you.
I think that covers things for now. Remember those tips, gang! You'll be doing yourself a favor. Until next time, don't forget to...