I know lots of bloggers do the A-Z thing, and I thought it would be interesting to do an A-Z of writing. So for the next 26 weeks, and posting every Friday, that’s what I’ll be doing. I’ll be covering craft topics, but also more personal things about writing as it affects my life. I do have a list of what I’ll be covering but I don’t want to share it yet as it’s possible it could change depending on my mood.
As it’s well known that I don’t like rules, I want to make it clear that this will be my A-Z of writing. I’ll be sharing things that have helped me. But whether you do the same is entirely up to you. I do hope it will lead to some interesting discussion though. Oh and if you want to do this on your own blogs, then do feel free. I can hardly claim the idea as my own and I’m sure we’ll all have different things to say.
I’m going to start with:
A is for Additing
I can hear you all shouting ‘additing’ is not a real word. According to my spellchecker it isn’t either. I didn’t invent it. That was the lovely Teresa Morgan, and I shamelessly stole it from her as it perfectly described what I was trying to do at that time, which was extend a novella to the required length for the publisher.
Additing is the process of editing, whilst adding more words to make up a required word count (I’ll be dealing with editing on its own when I get to E). When I write 50k pocket novels, I invariably end up writing around 45-46k then have to go back and add more. The first time this happened to me, I automatically thought I’d done it wrong or that my story wasn’t rich enough to fill 50k words. That’s not the case. It’s more likely that I rushed over some aspects of the story.
It’s not a simple process of padding things out. The words you add need to complement what you’ve already written, so it’s not enough to add a few adverbs and adjectives. So how can you ‘addit’ to good effect? Here are some things I do:
Showing not Telling
It helps to look for instances where you might have told rather than shown. It takes more words to show that someone was angry than to say ‘Jane was angry’. Have Jane throw something across the room, or if she’s not that sort of person, show her anger in a way that gives insight into her character. One way of doing this is:
Dialogue
Dialogue is a good way of showing. For example, if you’ve had your main character remember an incident from their past, you can add a lot more words by having them telling another character what happened, rather than just having them think it. This can also be a good way of developing a character. How they interact with others is a better indication of the sort of person they are than the narrator just telling the reader.
Description
Too much description can be boring. Any description works best if it is seen through the eyes of a character. However, too little description can stop the reader from seeing a scene as you envisage it. One of my biggest faults, when writing, is that I can see scenes clearly in my head but I forget to tell the reader what I’m seeing (or more importantly what my characters are seeing). I tend to do this during long conversations. When additing I have to go back and let the reader know where my characters are when they’re having this conversation, and what they’re doing (though I’m always dismayed when I go back to do actual editing and find that all they seem to do is drink tea!). So make sure that you’ve given some idea of the setting for each scene and that your reader has a pretty good idea where your characters are.
Character development
Have you properly developed your main character(s) and made them fully rounded human beings? Maybe a secondary character could use a little more development. It’s easy to rush over these things when the story is fresh in your head and you just want to get it written down. You can add words simply by giving your characters some lines of dialogue (see above) as they interact with others, or show them as they cope with the fictional universe you’ve created for them.
Emotional scenes
Whether writing a sci-fi thriller or a rom-com, chances are there will be some emotional scenes, especially when dealing with character development. These scenes may or may not involve kissing or even a full sex scene. If you’re like me you will completely rush over these as they’re so awkward to write. The emotional scene may just involve someone losing their temper or talking about how lousy their childhood was. I tend to rush over these scenes too, usually because I’ve been waiting to get to them (having already decided on my character(s) backstory). Then I fail to convey the emotion properly when I finally come to write the scene. So when additing, go back and make sure you’ve conveyed all the emotion that you meant to convey.
Those are just a few methods I use. I don’t use all of them all the time. I just use what’s needed and in that way I can add about 200-300 words per chapter, which soon gets me up to my word count.
Additing is not a substitute for a final edit, which you will also have to do (again) when you’ve got the word count as you want it. It’s not exactly rewriting either, because rewriting means completely gutting a scene and rewriting it, whereas additing is about embellishing a scene but in such a way you’re not just padding it out. You’re enriching it.
Does anyone have their own tips for ‘additing’ that I haven’t covered here? If so, do share them in the comments.
Ooh – a very interesting article. Thank you, Sally.
I write like this quite a lot. When I first started writing I wrote a lot of short flash fiction pieces. They now serve me well as plot ideas. I often go back to them and seize the idea to flesh it out into a much longer short story – from 500 words up to anything from 1k – 3k story. I have done this many times and gone on to have them published. I have found that I work very well like this – ‘additing’ but have yet to try it with a much longer piece of writing.
Sometimes, when restricted to a word count, I have ‘addited’ so much that I then have to end it with a ‘telling’ couple of paragraphs which detracts from the work I have done with the ‘show’.
It’s a balance, but for me, I love to ‘addit’. Glad to know I’m not alone.
It’s a definite balancing act, Effie. I sometimes end up having to cut the work later, especially if I go over the word count. But it’s much easier to work with too many words than it is to work with too few, don’t you think?
Ah. I’ve never had a word for it before. For me it is the second draft. First draft is getting the thing down on paper and, where necessary, putting in notes or the bare bones of a scene so I can keep up the flow. Once I have a complete manuscript, the second draft is going back and filling out this bits and fixing issues that have arisen as the thing was written (plot holes, apparently out of character actions, and so on). My work always grows until the last couple of drafts where I get tough with the red pen.
You’re right, of course, Graeme that it is the second draft. But additing is such a cool word for the actual process of adding to a manuscript.
My recent editing project chopped my novel from 85kw down to less than 50kw. Now I’m well into an additing phase, having introduced a new plot thread which I think fits quite well, now that its earlier absence has been revealed by mutilating more than a few darlings.
So my tip then, perhaps, would be to do some initial deliting before the additing.
Good tip, Captain! Now I come to think about it, I have done that before. Not whole lots, but some scenes that I realised didn’t quite work as I wanted them to. Then I’ve been able to ‘addit’ a better scene.
Excellent tips and I look forward to the rest of the A-Z. I’m a bit the other way (excuse the expression!) – I tend to waffle and so I have to cut. But you’re right, I still need to look at the tell vs show, and check too much description (very guilty there). I also, at this time, try to look at the pacing – make sure there are not too many breath-taking action scenes and that they’re tempered by a few lulls. Thanks for the tips!
You’re welcome. Susan. You make a really good point about too many action scenes. I’ve heard it described as ‘too much meat and not enough potatoes’. Meaning that the reader doesn’t have time to get their breath back.
So useful, Sally, thank you. I know I’m guilty of lots of action in my stories as well, with too few breathing spaces – something I’ve got to deliberately focus on when I get to the editing stage.
Great blog! Looking forward to the next 51 (yikes!) weeks Sally! I term this part of my writing process “layering” which is the same as what you’ve described here today I think. Although you’ve described it a whole lot better than I ever could. Caroline x
51 weeks. How many letters are in your alphabet, Caroline.
((((blushes))))) Duh! I was thinking of weeks in the year! Opps! Anyhoo, additing to say…”can’t wait for the next 25 weeks Sally.” ;o) Caroline x
I know, you were just trying to make me work harder.
I love the concept – ‘additing’ is definitely something I’ve been doing of late
Btw, it’s thanks to you that i have something to ‘addit’ in the first place – I took part in last year’s May You Write Your Novel inspired by you, and now have a work in progress that I’m really proud of 
Thank you
Well done!
Great idea Sally, love it!
Will definitely be pointing my followers in your direction
Xx
You’ve pretty much summed up my whole writing process! Although, one of thing that I do is re-order/re-write paragraphs to make the edges look neater. This has two purposes – one it makes the edges look neater, I really hate having very long gaps, and two it forces me to really think about the words I’m using. If I can find no other alternative, the big space stays, but I know then that the paragraph is as perfect as I can make it.
That’s interesting, Annalisa. I’d never thought about the edges of my work. But the publisher will always do things according to their house rules, so you may well find that your edges are all long again when something goes into print.
Oh, I know the format will change beyond my control, but it’s just a habit I’ve formed for myself over the years, and as a form of editing it works pretty well. I agree it’s a bit OCD though
But if it works for you, then that’s great! We all have our different ways of doing things. Then again, you could just have your margin settings on justified
Hi, Sally I’ve just begun to follow your blog, what a time to begin! This one piece has taught me so much already. I look forward to the rest.
Thanks, Angie.
What a timely post – just when I need to do this. I summarised your points on the first page of my MS and will return to them often.
Only trouble is, I have to double the number of words.
Sometimes when I have got to add to my word count, I invent completely new scenes. Or remember to give some more background. (Once I had a story that was working just great, but way to short, and inserted a second story into it, in acompletely different time and setting, but with the same topic. Odd enough, that story was bought by the publisher in question. ^^ )
Thanks for this Sally. It’s very timely for me too! xx