In discussing the "Ozzie and Harriet" radio program, Chuck Schaden asked Ozzie Nelson, "You did a preview before a studio audience? Like a dress rehearsal?"
Ozzie answered, "Exactly. It was like a dress rehearsal, so we could overwrite the show and then bring it down to time by cutting, because the more you cut the better it is."
Overwriting and cutting is a useful technique no matter what type of material you are writing. I use it in preparing magazine articles, routines, shows, and lectures.
When I write an article for a variety arts magazine I often cut a third to a quarter of my rough draft in completing the finished version. Why do I overwrite?
First, I do not want to censure myself during the initial creative steps. In Creativity For Entertainers Volume One I discuss the four steps in the creative process. One is the Artist, which is when you generate new ideas. Next is the Judge, which is when you evaluate ideas. The two steps are mutually exclusive. Once you start to evaluate your ideas you shut off the flow of new ideas. Even a positive evaluation will stop new ideas. So I try to delay evaluating ideas as long as possible. I write everything down without worrying if it is a good or valuable idea.
Second, figuring out the structure of an article is a process of discovery. I begin with a mass of potential material. I have to get it down so I can see what it looks like. Then I can begin to see relationships. I figure out what goes together and how to make transitions. I just finished the second of a two-part article on clowns in opera for Clowning Around magazine. I intended to continue the format that I had used for the first part. However, as I worked with the material I discovered a different way of organizing it that made it easier for the reader to understand and use. That meant cutting a large section of material because it did not fit the new format. However, the end result is much stronger.
Third, what you write is always of varying quality. Nothing is consistently great. You need to cut to get the best possible result. If you cut the bad material, you will have a good article. If you cut the good material, you will have a great article. By overwriting and cutting you gain the confidence that what remains is the best possible product.
The concept is true with other material. For years I have performed a mismade American flag scarf routine, and knew that some magicians have performed a repeat torn and restored newspaper routine. This past winter I figured out a repeat torn and restored mismade newspaper routine. When I began practicing it, I realized that I tore the newspaper too many times. By cutting it I discovered better motivation for the moves. In the current version I actually tear the paper just once. I am still working on smoothing out the routine so I have not performed it in public yet.
I do the same when creating shows. I performed my Tramp Tradition show at the 2015 World Clown Association convention. I had some new material I wanted to add for this performance. I started by cutting some of the material in the existing script. I wrote the new material and then cut out part of that. Audience response showed me where I can further cut the new material to improve the next performance of the show.
I do this in preparing lectures. I write too much and then have to give it a few times to decide where to cut. I actually leave it a little overwritten. Then each time I present the lecture I make additional cuts on the spot depending on feedback I receive from that group of students. By overwriting I am able to customize the lecture to fit the needs of a specific audience.
How can you overwrite? How do you decide what to cut? How much are you willing to cut?
