Stephen King averages 20%. By his calculation you've got 10,000 words yet to kill.
I'm curious, what does it feel like to cut away so much? Is it a relief? Is it difficult because you are attached to the content/writing? kleinbl00 -same question. I know that when we record albums, we often throw a lot at the songs and then allow someone else to final mix them. They often remove a lot of the layering and peel the song back to it's basics. It's something I couldn't do, because of attachment to the work we did, but once it is done I realize that they were right to cut so much. mk, Slaughterhouse Five is only 49k words. -Pretty damned good book.
It feels good. There are a lot of unnecessary words in there. Also, I wrote it almost 7 years ago, and my writing style has evolved since then. I'm more efficient now. There is a compelling seed to any good work, and IMO the goal is to present it effectively. Long works can get away with a thematic approach, but something short has to get the job done without much distraction. I just opened it and cut a handful of words. Yeah, it feels good.
One of my favorite artists, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, just released what may be my favorite album from them Push the Sky Away. I was listening to an interview with Cave on the recording of the album and they essentially recorded it in a bit over a week, then began (per usual) to do the various overdubs and layers. Part of the way through this process they reversed course and stripped all of that back out, and released the album as it was initially recorded that first week or so. There is a sense of space and poetry on the album that is really attractive to me, and underscores the crescendos where they occur. I couldn't imagine it being as good with the additional tracking. An amazing record that was well served by heavy editing.we often throw a lot at the songs and then allow someone else to final mix them. They often remove a lot of the layering and peel the song back to it's basics. It's something I couldn't do,
Funny you say that, I just walked downstairs to my studio and got a real pair of headphones and I'm about to listen. I have to do my "expense report" for work, which is mindless work and it will be nice to listen. I wish I could do nothing and listen but that's not in the cards. TPS reports... they're real.
$52.00 -gas, self-traveling $22.00 -lunch, self-traveling ".....I've got a fetus on a leash" $25.00 -printer paper, self-office supplies