Kingdom of Knuffel

Wow. So you edit by elimination. Wish I could do that. :}

the thing is even my first drafts end up much shorter than intended i have trouble sustaining a story.

I rarely have that issue. Only when I really do not like the story line does that happen, and then I simply end up rewriting the whole thing during editing and make it hella longer. :}

i think i need to figure out how to flesh my stories out a lot. the problem isn't with an outline, bc i've read stories with less of a plotline that are able to sustain without dragging

Look into setting descriptions. A lot of words are won if you write about wht is happening around your characters. I know I get loads in setting up the scenes in great detail. :}

that's good advice! i shall try that!

i finished two short fics (less than 3k words) and i'm feeling accomplished

That's good. Do you post them anywhere? :}

Yay for finishing the two short fics! :)

I cannot elimante either.

i post them on ao3 usually but these are fest fics so they're gonna be posted when the fest schedules, and will be anon until reveals

i think i have a problem with producing detail that's actually relevant. it ends up all being action almost

It's something that can be taught, so nothing to worry to much about. Just practice in putting it in and eventually it becomes something you'll do far more natural. :}