This week: Spring Cleaning and Writing Fantasy Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Fantasy Newsletter by Dawn
A newsletter that compares the home activity of spring cleaning with the writing task that is known as editing. Considering the opportunity to use spring as a time to clean up some stories while also writing new ones on the side. |
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In the Northern Hemisphere, we are getting into the time of Spring and that has a few traditions or events that one can consider. Since the end of the year, with November known for writing a novel in a month, is focused on the new, perhaps spring can have its own focus in our writing world too. One possibility: Spring Cleaning.
This is something common in our every day lives or, at least, it is for some people. Often done near the end of winter, spring cleaning involves a deep clean, some decluttering, switching of seasonal gear to match the change of weather when necessary and is used to create a fresh start for the warmer days ahead. I've never done it myself but would imagine things like mopping, dusting locations skipped during regular day cleaning and putting away snow gear for those that live in an area where such is worn during winter. While I'm not much of a cleaner as my heavy duty cleans are times when I'm moving or the panic of a parental visit, there are different ways one can use the mindset of spring cleaning that includes writing.
The Literal Type
One thing that I do need to do where I can't be the only one on WDC is to do a decluttering/cleaning of my portfolio here. I have 494 items currently. The breakdown includes: 21 folders, 23 images, 12 books and 7 forums. I've got a few groups and a couple of contests, all of which are inactive right now due to my health issues but I hope to get them active again in the future. 418 of the total are static items and I will admit, well over a dozen of them are items that I started, put barely any words into then got distracted and didn't make a deadline so I moved onto something else. I also can move some things into a book, like the poems. For me, the poem after the contest is over doesn't need to be its own static item. One of my books is for just that, which means I can "spring clean" my portfolio even though I still have plenty of space with my premium account. If you have a lower level account, then you have to take into consideration often what items are in your portfolio and the type involved. Spring cleaning might come in handy for anyone on the site. You might even find an item that you forgot about. Plus, it's fun to see what your writing was like years ago once you've been on the site more than a couple of account birthdays.
The Technical Type
Another way to approach spring cleaning with writing is often referred to as editing. This is quite true in particular for novels because the first draft is allowed to be "messy" when getting the words onto the blank computer screen. That means, sometime later on, we need to do work in order to make the finished product. Rewrites are one aspect and once those are done, it's time to do the heavy duty cleaning. It is time to edit. From my point of view, the editing is similar to spring cleaning even if it doesn't seem as deep or might involved less work after having written a few drafts of the item. The edit looks at the work on a technical level and works to make it into a fresh, easier to read product. It is also quite necessary at least occasionally and there are some people who still don't do it, lol. For those that worked on novels in November or just during winter, then spring can become Spring Editing time. I am hoping to edit a few novels, in fact.
That brings about the next point to discuss for this newsletter and that is the method for approaching spring cleaning when it is the editing version. One way to do this is take inspiration from the tradition of Spring Cleaning and why not check out one posted online by the Martha Stewart empire.
The Martha Steward Spring Cleaning Checklist
An editing checklist might come in handy when approaching any size of project but the novel might get more help due to the volume of words involved. There are certain things that I look for when I'm doing an edit, so this is just an example of things to consider based off one writers point of view. The editing checklist can include items like: adverbs, overused words, chapter endings or beginnings to make sure they are not repeated, easy typo mistakes (their/they're/there) and such. Here is a source that gives examples too but from Masterclass instead of Stewart:
Masterclass Edit List
In the end, it's an option whether you are coming into spring, fall, winter or summer. We write part of the time. Sometimes there are rewrites and in order to add polish, there is a time for editing. If you need a little boost in order to get going on that major project that needs tidying up, maybe consider taking on the approach of Spring Cleaning. If I can do it through my health issues, I'll try to do a couple of months in Spring Edit mode for a novel or two. How will you approach spring cleaning? Give it a try and let us know.
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| |  | Alpha1 (13+)
Honestly, how could a little rain hurt anyone?
#2336712 by Martin  |
| | The Bradbury (E)
If you write 52 short stories, one of them's bound to be great... right? Let's find out!
#2277001 by Jeff  |
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Have you tried to spring clean one of your stories or speculative fiction worlds?
There haven't been many comments at this point but it's hard to get it in every month, I understand. However, I did get this comment so I wanted to add it on the newsletter to also respond.
Comment by Ichabod Crane-writing-reading.  : Thank you for including Goodbye Otis in your Editor Picks. 
- You are welcome. I try to find items to promote when I can along with contests and things that spark inspiration.
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Fantasy: March 19, 2025 Issue [#13037]
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