I had a 30 minute conversation yesterday with a very kind olive planter named Tony. Why was I talking to an olive planter, you may ask? (Please do because I'd like to answer!) Well, I'm tightening my manuscript to resubmit, and I wanted to verify a few facts. But as I listened to Tony talk about his life's passion, I forgot about verifying facts and pictured ways I could weave more information about olives into my story.
Heady with thoughts of silver leaves and smooth oil, I rewrote my olive orchard scene and had my love interest orate all the knowledge I had just learned. Here's the problem: my love interest wouldn't offer that much information. About anything, really, but especially not about olives. Also, explaining the history of olives didn't add to my characters or plot in a meaningful way. The info--however interesting to me--didn't belong in my story.
So I deleted my additions and focused on polishing the bit of olive info that did fit in my manuscript. Hitting that backspace key HURT. I had to take a break after and secretly apologize to Tony. Do you guys have the same problem? As a reader, I can usually spot info dump and it irritates me. But as a writer? That backspace key just looks cruel.
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20 comments:
It's so hard to hit the backspace key when you know you have to. You loved that piece of information, that insight you had just learned but it doesn't benefit the story. It always takes me longer than it should... but I can't help myself... I want to make it work.
I think it's great that Tony still talked by, spilled the beans all about olives, you enjoyed it so I would say regardless it was information worthwhile!
The backspace key is painful. Ouch. But I had to remove 35,000 words worth of infodump/backstory to get to where my novel actually started. It was the biggest dump I'd ever written...
I have the same problem - I'm terrified of that backspace key, and I know I write way too much all the time. And all of it always seems important!
Don't be afraid of it though, because in the long run you are bettering your manuscript, and in revisions, you'll see that it works :)
Good luck with everything.
Oh it's so hard hitting the backspace key. I had to do this too, cutting an entire scene from a chapter because it just didn't fit (my wise CP was right on that bit).
Just keep the focus on what you are loosing the words for. Keeping it tight. You can do it. :)
Jen: Agreed! Still glad I learned the info, even if I didn't have my character speak it. :)
Lydia: Dang! That sounds painful. Way to revise!
WritingNut: Thanks for visiting and for the encouragement!
Lindsay: It IS hard! Glad you have a wise CP. :)
I think it's great that Tony still talked by, spilled the beans all about olives
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One of my biggest problems with Tom Clancy is when he goes into info dump mode. I can skip whole chapters of his book that are dedicated to excruciatingly boring details.
Avitable: I feel like Jodi Picoult does this sometimes too. Huge fan of her writing, but I can get weighted down by all the facts.
It's tough sometimes to leave out pieces you love, especially when you've done a lot of research and are fascinated with the material. This kind of thing always gets weeded out when I read aloud to my beta reader! He's tells me, why is that in there? And I reach for the backspace button...
Is there any place else you can add this information? Maybe a new character? Does this love interest have an assistant who could discuss the olives?
I try to look for alternatives. If not, then it will be deleted. But it can be useful in another book/article/whatever that you write in the future.
Heather: Sounds like you have a good beta reader! But that backspace key... ouch. :)
notesfromnadir: Great questions to ask ourselves! Maybe I could use this info in the future...
I write mostly PBs so I haven't had to delete really large chunks of my writing. Well, not unless you count entire manuscripts that just weren't working.
That's cool you learned about olives though. I just had some green olives stuffed with habaneros. Hot, hot, hot!
Oh, I have totally done the same thing! After I research, it's like I want to prove to the readers that I know a lot about my timeperiod or whatever. And I realized I was info-dumping and not adding to the story.
I hate that delete button! But sometimes it must be pushed. Multiple times.
Oh yes, the information dump. I know it so well. Yes, hitting tha backspace key is hard, but you know it's the right thing to do!
Rena: Ooh, sounds spicy!
Lydia: And each time you press that button it hurts!
Talli: So true! Deep down we know it needs to go. :)
Oh, the blessed, cursed backspace key...my favorite and most-hated key on the keyboard. :)
But who knows, all that info may come in handy at a book signing or random moment when you want to impress people with your treasures of knowledge. :)
Faith: I love it! If there's ever a lull in the conversation, I can say, "Hey, guys, let me tell you about olive presses." :)
Oh yeah, the backspace key does hurt! I know what you mean, when you write something really well and it holds passion but it just doesn't fit. It's so hard!!
Hello fellow Kansan! My hometown is Dodge City. Yuck! I know!
I hate the backspace key as well, especially if its a particular scene that I love.
You blog is fantastic by the way...I'm following.
Alexis: Yes, the passion part is particularly hard to delete!
Renae: Thanks for visiting! I love meeting another Kansan! I feel like I had a swim meet in Dodge City once. :)
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