I'm actually a terrible self-editor. But I would argue that the reason for my success (at least from a friends standpoint) derives at least partially from my refusal to cut. "If you want to skip me," I say, "You must skip the entire me. I will not let you pass lightly."
And they read. Sometimes because there's no easy break. And they're usually happy. If not, they scroll past.
Now, as to the matter of parenthetical digressions, I used to be a huge fan of footnotes - mostly while I wrote at StarCityGames. But that wore thin after awhile, so I eventually abandoned it for a more inclusive format. I don't think there's a really good way to use LJ-Cuts, except for perhaps the method that you've used. But even then, as you mentioned, you click once and have no incentive to click back.
I forgot that a lot of your polished-looking stuff is dashed out during breaks or something. How much of a difference is there between self-editing and having internalized enough of the editing decisions that words just pour out that way the first time?
As for footnotes, I go through spells of using them and then back off for a while ... they can be amusing, and sometimes a thought really does cry out for one, but after a while I get tired of writing the HTML for them and I worry that folks will get tired of reading them, so I give them a rest. I do find myself wanting footnote-like tricks in HTML, but actual footnotes really work better on a printed page of dead-tree than they do on the web or in email. Flicking your eyes down for a moment is different from clicking or scrolling.
I don't think there's a really good way to use LJ-Cuts, except for perhaps the method that you've used."
Do you mean the grey boxes? Or just the lack of expectation of a return to the condensed view?
(no subject)
And they read. Sometimes because there's no easy break. And they're usually happy. If not, they scroll past.
Now, as to the matter of parenthetical digressions, I used to be a huge fan of footnotes - mostly while I wrote at StarCityGames. But that wore thin after awhile, so I eventually abandoned it for a more inclusive format. I don't think there's a really good way to use LJ-Cuts, except for perhaps the method that you've used. But even then, as you mentioned, you click once and have no incentive to click back.
Re:
I forgot that a lot of your polished-looking stuff is dashed out during breaks or something. How much of a difference is there between self-editing and having internalized enough of the editing decisions that words just pour out that way the first time?
As for footnotes, I go through spells of using them and then back off for a while ... they can be amusing, and sometimes a thought really does cry out for one, but after a while I get tired of writing the HTML for them and I worry that folks will get tired of reading them, so I give them a rest. I do find myself wanting footnote-like tricks in HTML, but actual footnotes really work better on a printed page of dead-tree than they do on the web or in email. Flicking your eyes down for a moment is different from clicking or scrolling.
I don't think there's a really good way to use LJ-Cuts, except for perhaps the method that you've used."
Do you mean the grey boxes? Or just the lack of expectation of a return to the condensed view?