Quantity Vs. Quality

ATP — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:41:06 +0000

Many writers think that chugging out ten thousand words a day is a great strategy for writing a novel (or any piece of literature). When their done, they begin revising. And upon revising, realize something dreadful. While they had written the plot down, it was loosely boundt and covered in rubbish. Writing quantity over quality is not wise. In fact, it should be considered morally wrong. Every writer will admit that they’ve written quantity over quality at least once-and will (most likely, unless they’re part machine like Stephen King) admit that the manuscript that they’ve developed is under proficient. To say the least. It’s like hosting a party and buying fifteen 99 cent pizzas for four people. Doesn’t sound reasonable, does it? Or perhaps, making twenty “friends”, without knowing their names, as opposed to five good friends who you know and trust. It doesn’t really make sense once you look at it like that.

Quantity is good if you are alright with revising. If you can revise, your set. But be prepared to revise a lot. Little Threats was written before I realized this…which is why I’ve had to revise. A lot. A painfully large amount of revision for something so simple. It’s kind of painful. Don’t make that mistake. If you are prepared to revise every paragraph in your novel, then go ahead and choose quantity over quality.

So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads. (quote from Doctor Seuss)

Quality is great (regardless of the cercumstances) but is really better than quantity because not only does it help you maintain a good story line and consistency in your writing, but you don’t have to painfully revise half as much. It saves time, and is more gratifying. Spewing out words does not guarantee that they’ll come out in complete sentences. It takes patience and a steady typing tempo to achieve a perfect novel. Rushing through a novel will not help it. So unless your a machine like Stephen King, I suggest choosing Quality over Quantity.

How I got a Freelance Job with a Poem

ATP — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:11:34 +0000

I was searching on Freelancer.com (aka HowtoGetaFreelancer) and found somebody who wanted a writer who was creative, unique, and capable. After a few moments of consideration, I decided that that was indeed me! The requirement was that I had to write about, in detail and four-eight sentences, why and What soda was my favorite. The result, was the poem I wrote, Pepsi, a spoof (though I do really enjoy the original) of Trees, by Joyce Kilmer.

At first I thought it was a bright idea. Then I realized, I was ignorantly immature. While ignorance is indeed bliss, that doesn’t stop it from being a big pain in the rear at the wrong times. I was just about to click delete on my bid and send the failure of the poem I had written to kingdom come, when I got a PM from the person who was looking for my work. He loved the poem (or so I gathered, though he didn’t say it), and wanted me to start working on the articles he had chosen for me to work on, immediately!

Which shows that if you want a freelancing project, don’t give your prospective employer any of that cut and paste junk. Invest time in making a quality, creative, well thought out (or just really creative) peice of work, and then submit it. It’s like blogging. Quality, over quantity.

Storyz.org » quantity

Quantity Vs. Quality

How I got a Freelance Job with a Poem