Should I simplify my story?

Question

I have an opportunity to make the story I'm writing simpler and more accesible, but for that I have to cut out a character, which implicates I have to cut out some interesting scenes...
any advice?

The original idea was very complex (even for me) and some of the characters (even the central ones) were a bit cardboeardish (empty), by simplifying I could make one characters thrice as interesting but alas I loose some nice scenes...

Answer 1

I'm going to differ from the masses here and say don't be afraid to make cuts in your story. Especially the parts you really love. We often get too attached to certain lines or even certain scenes and then don't dare touch them for fear that the reader will never read that cool thing you had to say. You need to decide whether it really adds anything to the story and is necessary.

Answer 2

First you have to decide if the character you would cut is an important part of your story. Interesting characters and scenes can be allowed to remain-if truly relative- by revising using simpler wording or by cutting other, less needed information.

If you do have to cut your character, yet you truly believe it makes the story better, you are doing yourself a disservice by sacrificing your artwork to please another person/persons.

Good luck with your story. Personally, I would not cut it, however, I do not know your circumstances.

Answer 3

Shorter because of ... what ?
Who says a good story is a short one ?
Just express yourself in so many characters, scenes and words as you need. If you start cutting, you might loose good points of interest for your readers. A story represents a small universe, and life is not possible if one element is missing. What would our universe be without plants, or animals, or without the variety of human kind ?

Answer 4

I'd say yes, simplify. In the first draft there is often a lot that you need to cut. When I was editing my story, I cut out a couple characters. They just weren't needed and made the story cluttered.
Of course I don't know about your story. But editing is always a must.

Answer 5

not enough infor. Story on what and why do you want to make in shorter. Are you trying to get it published. Some publishers do like short stories but sometimes when you edit it, you also wring your story dry. Just the facts make a boring story while the added on stuff give it life. So think before you do something like that. Are you on a word limit or something?

Answer 6

Why simplify? Instead of trying to simplify your story, why don't you work on adding depth to your characters without cutting any of them. That way you don't lose any characters or interesting scenes.
It may also be that you don't know your characters as well as you should. I personally try to imagine what or who my characters would be like as real people. If you haven't done so already, create bio pages that includes likes/ dislikes, favorites, personal appearance, what they were like growimg up. Just to name a few.

Answer 7

well, it's up to you. If you want the story to be more accesible, than simplify it, but if you won't be content with the new version, you should keep the old one. Like I said: it's up to you, we can't decide what to do for you

Answer 8

No don make it shorter,plus you shouldn't havr cut out thr character

Answer 9

Who are you writing the story for? Yourself, or the Masses? Go with your gut on this one.

Answer 10

Why make it shorter? Run out of paper or ink? I have extras LOL