Trim, Trim, Trim Challenge: Final Update (#13)

I’m done! I’m done!

It took a lot longer than I thought it would, but hey, whatever! There was no ‘I have a cold’ slowdown factored into the original ‘schedule’. Okay, okay, there was no schedule.

I started with about 252 single-spaced pages. I now have 239.

My original goal was to trim 5000 words by taking out the ‘it goes without saying’ stuff. I trimmed 10,741.

Word count was 103, 669 when I started. I now have 92, 928.

I think this puppy is more saleable now. Onwards and upwards!

Trim, Trim, Trim Challenge: Update 4086

Hi.

While I try not to burn supper (fabulous breakfast-supper), I bring you this update. Hang on, gotta stir the scrambled eggs…okay. I am down to 23 single-spaced words to edit through. I am also down to…stir the hashbrowns. Rescue toast…93,485 words. At this point, I’m thinking about 92,500 could be a nice resting place with the manuscript. Turn off eggs. Honey on toast. In a few days, we’ll see how close. Salt hashbrowns. Unwrap bacon. Head to watch ‘My Little Pony movie’.

‘Til then…yours in editing,

Jean

Trim, Trim, Trim Challenge: Update 11

Still plugging away. I’ve had a headful of snot crowding the language lobe in my brain. So, I’ve been a little slow. However, I am pleased to mention that I am now down to 94, 533 words. That’s over 10,000 words I will likely never miss cut and released into the great world of binaries.

Separate note: Crispy Minis are no longer my friend. My daughter is trying to eat through a stack of 4 or 5. Imagine the crumbs. Then imagine some more. See how wide spread they are? Yes, it is amazing. Please note that I have no aspirations of attaining Domestic Goddess status. Now, imagine those crumbs again. Imagine my pain. Now, imagine the cooling relief of owning a Dustbuster and teaching a youngster how to use it.

Trim, Trim, Trim Challenge: Update 10

I forgot to post an update last night. I’m at 95, 618 or so. It’s coming down and my critique partners can see the difference. Yay!

I’ve been twittering a bit about the process and word count as I go. I’m jeanoram and you can find me here if you would like to follow me or drop in from time to time.

Trim, Trim, Trim Challenge: Update 9

We’re getting there. Updated word count: 96, 292. And yes, I thought this version was ‘prefect’ before I started taking out the ‘it goes without saying’ aspects. Ah well. What makes it stronger, makes me cross-eyed.

Trim, Trim, Trim Challenge: Update 8

Okay, so someday I will be done this. Really. I’m just slow because I am analyzing each and every word. And today, I blasted 870 of them away. Gone.

I started at 103,669 and now find myself at 97,091. Not bad, eh? Who says you can’t trim that manuscript down with a chainsaw? I mean, uh, keyboard? And I am halfway through. It’s only taken me two weeks. (I only worked 9 of the 14 days though, does that make it seem better?) Yes, I might be slow, but it will pay off. It will. It will.

(And yes, I feel a bit ridiculous posting update 8. But a promise is a promise. I said I’d do daily updates (didn’t I?) and so here I am, keeping my word…even if it takes me 20 updates to get to the post where I say, “I’m DONE!”)

Trim, Trim, Trim Challenge: Update 7

My goodness, how many updates are there going to be?

Today, I beat the word count yo-yo and have snitched this baby down to 98, 070 words. I never thought it would be possible. And I’m not even half way through. What am I down? 5000 crazy words or something like that? Wow.

If you’ve been disbelieving about your word count, go take out everything ‘that goes without saying’ and see where you end up. Hopefully with a nice, tight story.

Trim, Trim, Trim Challenge: Update 6

Yesterday started out frustrating with the edits. I would dip down to 99, 730s, then shoot back up to 100,000. Back and forth, back and forth. Argh!

But, I’m pleased to say by the end of the day–moments before crashing for the night, I got to my goal–below 99,000.

Where is my word count? 98,999. And still trucking!