Writing is Like a Game of Dodge Ball

I recently read a very interesting post from an author who was discussing the need to "cut the fat" as they called it.  This meant that if you felt that a certain section is not necessary to the premise of the story it should be removed.  In other words, you can't put every thought, event, connection and idea that your character may have in your head into the story that you are creating because it bogs down the theme of your narrative and the smoothness of the action.

I do agree with that general idea.  However, I look at it like a game of dodge ball.  Did you ever play dodge ball as a kid on the playground during recess?  It was usually brutal and fun at the same time.  There were two team leaders selected.  Everyone would then stand in front of those two god-like personages and just pray that you would not be the last person picked.  Then one by one the line is parsed down to the remaining few.  Those few are in a group all their own in a way.  They are usually not very athletic by nature or coordinated or even interested in sports.  They are just as interested as the others though in belonging.  The two team leaders would then fight over who gets the worst player and what they could do with to still win if they got any of those "last picked" players on their teams.

After the selection is done then the game was started.  Again, people are picked off one by one by the dodge ball.  The dodge ball itself is only the size of a soccer ball and much softer.  Our ball was always red and bouncy.  When that ball is coming straight toward you at great speed though it looks a lot big and it feels as if there are bricks inside of it.  Bam...Bam...Bam...and then you are down to only the best players and the game gets really interesting.

To me, that is exactly how writing can be sometimes, like a game of dodge ball.  First you write and write and write all the words and ideas for your character that pop into your head.  Then you edit and try to parse down the areas that do not seem to flow as well as others...BAM!  You try to take out any secondary characters, useless interactions and conversations or the author being a bit heavy handed because they really are not adding any worth to the storyline...BAM!  You finally question whether this person, conversation or idea is really necessary.  It sounds good, looks good or seems good.  It fits in relatively well but it is really, absolutely necessary...BAM!

And now you have the beginnings of a good piece of fiction because in that first, second and third round of edits you have eliminated the words and ideas that just don't work and now you have the beginnings of a good story.  I say beginnings because the game is not done yet.  There is still so much more to do and think about and edits to be made.  But for now, we have a great teamwork of words to continue to play ball with.  This is why writing is often like a game of dodge ball.