Thoughts on Revision
Well, at the end of this week, I believe I’ll be finished with my revisions to my current MS. For now, at least.
I expected that announcement to make me feel better but I have to admit that I’m just exhausted by it. I finished this book faster than my first book (on Sept 7) but it’s taken me almost two months of near constant revising to get it close to where I wanted it to be. I’m still not sure this is the end of it, figured I’d take a few weeks away and write the proposal for its sequel, then come back. Though I do expect I’ll start querying soon.
This is the first real stab at serious revising I’ve done. With my first MS, I could see a few fundamental problems with the story, so I didn’t go back and hack too hard at it. I’ll admit I almost sighed with relief that time that I wouldn’t have to get too involved in revisions last time. No avoiding it this time around.
I didn’t really know where to start, to be honest. I read it through at first, making grammatical changes, cutting some extraneous words. I let my first CP read it. She made a suggestions, I adjusted.
After a week or so of sitting on it, I adjusted a conflict.
I let another CP read it. She prefers beta heroes while my first CP prefers alpha heroes. CP 2 hated, I mean hated my hero. She admitted that this could have been because she prefers betas and well, my hero was severely alpha. I read through CP2’s comments very closely, trying to find where Nik fell on the alpha scale. I adjusted some of his motivations, some of his reactions. While I didn’t want him to be beta, I definitely didn’t want him to be a complete a**hole either.
I cut a couple scenes on my own, including my first scene and a “girltalk-y” scene in the middle that didn’t do much for my story. I added some things. Read through again.
Another CP weighs in. She’s my grammar queen-fact checking guru. Though she doesn’t particularly like the genre I write in and she prefers sweeter romance to the more sensual stuff I write, she read me through. She caught a few inconsistencies in my world building, a few missed facts with the FBI. I adjusted.
At each step along the way, each CP helped me out with word choice, with conciseness, and with general tightening up.
PS, have I mentioned that all three of my CPs rock it hard? No? Well, there you go then. They are AWESOME.
So now I’m ready for my beta readers to hit it, tell me what they think.
I’ve been trying to figure out what I could have done to make this easier.
Here’s the stuff I did do:
1) I wrote a list. I know, you’re all shocked. Marnee? With a list? What a surprise. I made a list of things that struck me funny. I added more and subtracted from as I went along making changes. Only a couple more things on it.
2) I read it out loud. My family thinks I’m crazy, my cat is now fully versed in my angelic/demonic world, but it worked to catch some issues.
3) Of course, I had my CPs read it for me.
4) I read through with an eye towards Margie Lawson’s EDITS system.
So, wenches…. Any other suggestions? Things that have made revising easier for you along the way? Any revision techniques you’d care to share? I could definitely use them.
Books by the Crew
66 comments:
Sorry I'm late this morning. I have a really rough cold and I fell asleep on the couch last night. In the middle of the Phillies/Yankees game and I live in Philly. That's how tired I was.
:)
Yay! You're almost done with revisions!
I don't think I know Maggie Lawson's EDITS system. Is it helpful?
I tend to make lists of things I can pull through. I have a bad habit of using a thought or symbol or image once, when it could be pulled all the way through the book. So I tend to make a list of all those things as I'm reading through.
I liked your system of having CP's read it one at a time. I think that was smart - I'm going to do that next time. Otherwise I just end up with a stack of contradictory suggestions I have to wade through *g*
Hal - The Margie Lawson system is a good one. I ordered the lecture notes online.
http://www.margielawson.com/
I find some of her techniques useful. But she does tend to stress the "writing it fresh" and well, that sounds good but what exactly is fresh? You know I get all tangled up when people give general advice like that. Fresh? That's like make it interesting. Or make it new. It's hard to get my mind around a general idea like that.
And of course you have to be fresh in your own voice.
But her way of breaking down what's on the page is interesting. Check her out...
Or the phrase "make your voice pop." How the hell do you do that??
I'll definitely check that out - sounds great!
Margie's stuff is awesome, and I look forward to the day I can use it. :)
Congrats on getting through revisions and sorry to hear you're under the weather. This major ick is really going around. Stupid ick.
I don't have much experience with revisions unless we're talking school papers. Which are an entirely different species. But one thing I've found works for me is to print off the pages and mark them up with ink. I know this is tough on ink supplies and not great for the trees, but I can see things on paper I don't always notice on the monitor.
Since I know you plot very thoroughly, do you ever find yourself trying too hard to stick with your preliminary ideas and then have trouble seeing other possibilities that might work better? I only ask because I'm plotting more and more and know that seeing outside the box is a weakness for me. I'm hoping plotting will help get me out of the box and not shut me in one tighter.
Does that make any sense? I haven't had coffee this morning.
No help on the revisions process but that picture of the cat is hilarious! Looks like he stuck his paw in a light socket.
Thanks for the link to the Margie Lawson info. Hopefully, it will come in handy someday:)
Hal - LOL! That's another one. Pop. What exactly is pop? How do I attain said 'pop'? Is that something I can get at Walmart and, if so, when does it go on sale?
Ter - As for how plotting affects my revisions.... I *think* that my problem with revising is that it lacks order. LOL! I'm incredibly incredibly Virgo. I need things to compartmentalize. When I stepped back to do revisions, it wasn't so much that I minded veering away from my original plot plan, it was that I would have to adjust things and I would have no idea where to start. So not that I felt more boxed in, just that I haven't got a real frame of reference for just changing stuff.
For example, I'd go through thinking I had to tweak my hero's motivation. I'd tweak here, tweak there, but it was very organic and well, I'm not organic. I'm synthesized. :)
Irish - glad the link could help! :) And I liked the pic too. Actually, that's what I look like this morning. I think I forgot to brush my hair when I woke up. Add some puffy eyes, a runny nose, and a hacky cough and that'd be me up there.
Attractive, huh? LOL!!
Congrats on getting to your revisions!
I don't have any experience with revisions yet either, but on other work I've done I'm a big fan of putting those sticky flags next to what I have questions about.
I think the steps you've taken so far sound very thorough and like they've been helpful.
Is there something you think you're missing in the revisions - soemthing about the writing or the book that isn't quite "there" yet. I ask becuase knowing what that might be, or what issues you have with it, might help us to come up with additional revision ideas for you.
I think the EDITS system ROCKS! But I also think reading it out loud is an awesome idea and one that's not utilized nearly enough. I don't use it; I hate the sound of my own voice (contrary to the point that I do hog conversations) in an empty room--I end up being critical of my voice rather than the crap I'm writing.
CPs do ROCK! We need to have a blog party to celebrate our CPs!!! Ode to the CP!
Sabrina - I'm not really sure if there's anything missing any more from the story. How's that for an answer? LOL! I don't think so. I figure I'll leave it for a couple more weeks and then come back and see.
One thing I think that made my revising more difficult is the way i write. My characters show up in my head, but they're kind of like my friends. And even though I know them, I don't REALLY know them until I've spent time with them. So about halfway through, I get this epiphany of their motivations. Then I have to go back and make sure that they make sense throughout. So, in revisions, I needed to make sure they made sense throughout. It was harder than I thought it would be. :)
Hells - We do need to do an Ode to the CP. Mine are fabulous. :) My entire support system is fabulous actually. :)
I did have to try to ignore my voice in the silence. I read to my cat. He didn't seem to mind. Or think I was any more insane than he already thinks.
I realize this might sound like adding a lot of extra work, but what if you read through making notes to create a new frame work to follow. Sort of create a plan for revising without actually changing a thing. Just making a plan of attack. Then you could look at the plan (assumedly much shorter than the book itself) and tweak that. Then attack the full work.
Just an idea.
I think I see what you're saying.... I think that's an interesting idea. I could see how mapping it out in a condensed way would help. I think that writing a synopsis (particularly the one page synopsis) really helps there.
Something to consider.... I always like anything that gives a plan of attack.
:)
I think what I might do is see if I can get some more readers and get their impressions. See how much revision I still need to do. I may be too close to my story right now. :)
Stepping back is always good. I once heard JR Ward compare writing a novel to trying to build a house with your nose pressed to the wall. You can't see the entire structure from so close so you have to be able to step back and see the bigger picture.
Have you written a new synopsis for this story after you typed THE END?
I think we should give awards at the end of the year and Marn would win for best blog accompanying pictures. LOL! This cat is cracking me up.
LOL! Awh, I'm glad you guys like my cat! :)
Well, it isn't my cat. My cats are gray tabbies. But this cat's face is just precious.
That's exactly what it feels like sometimes, huh! That JR Ward, what a master. :)
Synopsis writing, huh? I write an initial synopsis, before I even start writing my story. Then after I finished the book, I wrote the short synopsis (the single page, single spaced one) without the aid of the original. Then I went back and revised my longer one (it's 3.5 pages now). Personally, I think the shorter a synopsis is, the better. Maybe this is from my time teaching and having to read through book reports. It feels like, "and then this happened and then thing happened." Tiring to read.
First off, what IS that thing in the picture? LOL I think it's a cat but those ears...whoa!
Also, hope you feel better! If you weren't already taking some time away, I'd suggest maybe doing so until you feel better. It's hard to think when you're head's stuffed up. :) (And that's my obvious statement for the day!) Could it be so simple? My only tip is: Make no revisions with a head cold!
Bo'sun's idea of a plan of attack sounds great! I know what you mean about character's motivation coming to you at the midpoint and this causing adjustments for the beginning. I go in think I have these fully formed characters, but later realize the deep POV isn't there from the get go. Maybe you've already done this. It will be interesting to see what the beta readers come up with. Fresh eyes are a wonderful thing. :)
Melissa - I think "Make no revisions with a head cold" is sound revision advice! :)
And I completely can relate about the midpoint character crisis. I think it's better now, but that was the majority of my Sept/Oct, fixing that. LOL!
Hi Marnee - huge congrats on finishing your ms! The first draft is the easiest, it's the revisions that make you long for a double-shot of rum.
Great idea to set your ms aside, read a couple craft books, and tweak your characters’ backstories. One exercise from the RWR is to have the hero write a personal ad for the heroine, and have her do the same for him. That opens up some interesting ideas.
Glad ya made it aboard, Marnee... Sure sounds ta me like yer doin' the job the right way as ya go. I'm gonna try this outloud thing wit' this current MS. When I gets it done. Sigh.
And look fer the panels on the EDITS system next time I be at a conference.
I had a cat that used ta get that look on his face. Somethin' 'bout bein' a Persian goes ta outrageous hair dos.
I echo Melissa...don't edit wit' a head cold. Or a fever.
Feel better soon, Marn. The whole world looks rotten when you're feeling miserable, so you are probably not your best critic now. :)
My writing gear has been stuck in Revision for so long I'm beginning to think the R is for reverse rather than revision. One thing I do know is true for any kind of revision, be it for school papers or novels, fix the global issues first. It's wasted time to agonize over sentence structure and word choice for sections that may be substantially changed or cut completely.
For the local revisions, the two things I find most effective are reading the text aloud and reading it backwards--from last sentence to first. The ear really does pick up things the eye misses, particularly faulty pacing, awkward constructions, or ill-chosen words. Reading a text backwards forces me to look at each sentence individually, and I am much more likely to spot inconsistencies and GUM (grammar, usage, mechanics) errors that way.
You know, Janga, that's the first time the advice "reading backwards" to catch errors made sense to me. Light bulb moment! Oh! You read the WHOLE last sentence. Word by word backwards doesn't work. I've tried it. :)
And this also why I can't cook using my mom's written instructions. Handful of this? A smidgeon of that? Huh? What's a smidgeon anyway? It's all in the details.
What I think is interesting is that several commenters say they have "no experience" with revisions. I get that the big picture revision is different than the edit-as-you-go-along type, but most everybody does have revision experience. Give yourself some credit. :)
And, it seems to me that the Margie Lawson EDITS system does seem to be for these edit-as-you-go types of revision. I might be wrong, because I'm just seeing an overview, but I don't see anywhere that says the book must be finished before applying the pointers.
I personally don't think I feel like I'm actually IN revision, as in a final revision, until I'm going through and fact checking, adding some more description here and there or checking the grammar. (And next time I finally get to that stage, I'll try the backwards reading...by SENTENCE.)
When I think about revision, I always think of that analogy of an onion and the layers. I think there are as many layers of revision as there are layers to the story and plot itself.
For me, the Margie stuff would have to come when the first draft is done. You can't vomit it out if you're using Margie's tips. There are a million different ways to write and vomit it out is not the only way, of course. I suppose if you write a chapter, then revise, you could do it.
But there are too many specifics in the Margie process for me to let the words fly onto the page. The lecture packets for this stuff are HUGE. I have a binder full and that's only two of her courses.
I know this seems like it would be common sense, but I think the point Janga made is easily forgotten...
"..fix the global issues first. It’s wasted time to agonize over sentence structure and word choice for sections that may be substantially changed or cut completely."
Great advice to always keep in mind.
I LOVE EDITS! IT is so revealing to your story when you go through it with the hightlighters! She actually visited our chapter a year and some ago, then I took an online course with her. She's such a doll and so insightful.
There is nothing else you can do besides what you are doing. Glad to hear first round of revisions (always the toughest) are done, they are the hardest. I went from doing it over a period of four months, to around two weeks. So it get's better I think. It did for me at any rate.
Feel better, Marn!
Laura - a personal ad, huh? That does sound interesting. I might have to try that. And I should take a break to read some craft books. I also have all those free books from the conference this past weekend. That's an idea.... (It's all for research, right?) LOL!
Chance - Now that I look back on the revisions, it feels like I did ok. ???? Who knows? LOL!
The reading out loud thing is good. Though I do suggest doing it alone. Or with cat/dog audience only. Maybe a gerbil or a bird. Something that can't laugh.
Janga - I love the global issues versus local issues idea. I completely agree. After I cut the two scenes I did cut, I was annoyed I spent so much time stressing them (particularly the first scene). LOL! I'll remember that for next time.
And reading it backwards? That's brilliance. I might give that a go, after a few more readers hit it. :)
Melissa - I'm a pretty good edit as I go-er. I do check out each scene before I go on to hit any major wordage issues. But I can't do the EDITS stuff until the end. Tooo much to think about at once. I suspect that once a person is "trained" to think like that it wouldn't be so bad, but I'm not trained yet. (Actually, I don't train well as a usual). So, maybe it just takes more practice. :)
Layers is right. Though I like to think of it like the donkey in Shrek: a parfait. Everyone likes parfaits, not everyone likes onions.... LOL!!
Ter - I think that there is a lot in that EDITS class. I've got the stuff all printed out and it definitely is a daunting amount of paperwork.
Tiff! - I'm glad it gets easier. I'd like to have finished in 2 weeks.... LOL! At about the two week mark I was ready to put my head through the computer screen.
And thanks everyone for the well wishes. Today isn't quite as bad as yesterday. The first day is always the worst, ya know?
Marn - I think we all convince ourselves that we do bad stuff, when...in reality, we don't. We be our own worst critics! And I feel I do good wit' the first, second...about to the third edit.
Then I need help 'cause I've gone blind. I sense, with me other senses, that things need fixin', but I quit seein' them.
I also reach a place where I don't wanna hear any more 'helpful comments'... I need ta wait fer an editor or agent ta point things out. In the end, they be the ones ya have ta please ta get on the shelves.
Ya do the best ya can and then ya offer it up ta the universe and look fer sunshine. Or starshine.
Marnee,
congrats on reaching the revision stage.
My goal is to have something to revise by the end of NANO. (I'm putting it out there, so now I'll really have to do it.)
Hope you're feeling better, soon.
Di
Blog coma day. Sigh.
I'll jus' stand 'ere behind me bar and drink, by myself.
*sniff
A parfait sounds much better than on onion! LOL And less layers! I wish my revisions had less layers. But I guess it could be a very, very, big parfait. Like up to the clouds. I'm hungry! LOL
And thirsty! Chance, I'll have what you're having. :)
Chance - LOL! No sniffing. I completely agree about the being our worst critic. I suspect my stuff isn't as dire either. I think we'll always see it as worse than it really is. LOL!
Di - good luck with Nano! I'm sure you're going to do great!!
Mmmm... parfaits..... LOL!!
Oh, and PS, speaking of tasty things. It should be illegal to sell halloween candy until the day before Halloween. I need to restock. My family at all the candy I bought last week. *le sigh*
Do you think they know that it won't last when it's sold two months before Halloween? Geez. LOL
LOL! it's a conspiracy, Melissa...
Chance I need a drink over here...make it a stiff one!
Nano is approaching and I'm trying to make last minute decisions on my story...it's enough to make a grown woman cry.
Hate to ask a question on Marnee's blog post, but could anyone point me in the direction of help with creating a setting?
There is tons of info out there on characters building, but I'm having trouble identifying what kind of setting (contemporary) I want to use. Is there a setting builder sheet or question list somewhere?
Any help appreciated!
Marnee - I agree that you've done awesome with your revisions. I think a check-list of steps just so you can see how much you've done and make it a "real" process would make you feel better.
Here's a link for you.
http://www.romow.com/art-blog/how-to-create-a-perfect-setting-for-your-novel/
And another one that might be helpful.
http://edittorrent.blogspot.com/search/label/setting
Ah, I likes company... Drinks ta go wit' parfaits... I got this one I haven't named yet. It be layers a' Baileys, Kahlua and dark rum... I think it stripes up nicely inta layers...
Sabrina! I thought I heard a rumor ya were gonna do the Nano... Jane be doing it, and Willie. So yer not alone, ya got RT friends there! Now, don't overplan, sweet stuff!
Marn - lately, I be me own worst everythin'. Save dieter. I'm actually doin' well in that aspect. And wit' all that Halloween candy out there, grocery shoppin' be dangerous!
I'm shootin' fer 500 words today. A' anythin'!
Sabrina, glad you asked! I'll be using those links too for braiding the setting into story. :)
I haven't really had a question of WHERE to set my story, but I've been finding it helps to look at pictures. (Probably another obvious statement.) It does help. I'm not so observant and it's so easy to forget the details OR matching up the details with the visual. I need to know where things are in all directions, whether in an outdoor setting or for an interior setting. I actually have to have a magazine photo of a room to remember where the furniture or windows are and what the view is from one scene to later scenes. :)
Thanks for those links!
I'm trying not to overplan - all I've done in terms of plotting is a post-it brainstorming session where I write whatever *could* happen in the story. That's it. No big plan this time :) So unlike me!
Uh huh. Hand over the binder, color coordinated with tabs, the high lighter pens... Quit playin' with the organizers! And write!
NO! Don't write yet. Not until the 1st.
I actually plan to use post-its, which I've never done before. But it will depend on my cat. (Give me a sec, that will make sense.)
My desk is up against a large picture window in my living room. I plan to create post-its of the scenes and whatever tidbits I need for reminders and stick them across the two panes of glass. The problem is, my cat sits up there and I'm certain all those little pieces of paper will be too much for him to resist.
So, it's up to my cat whether this happens or not.
Melissa - I need to look at pictures too. All my action seems to take place in empty spaces, so I'm hoping to create more setting and include more details in this new one. Not too much, but enough to really make it come alive. To put the reader in the scene with us.
Oh, Bumblebee is gonna love this new game!
Heavy duty glue?
Maybe if I stick some blank ones somewhere else, they'll distract him. Ya think? Na, I don't think so either.
*sigh*
That's so funny!
I created a storyboard with 20 chapter boxes on my wall - i'll move the post-its around and add them as plot points come to me.
Here's a photo of my "writer's area." It's all mine - and even has scented candles and (not seen in the photo) a TV and CD player next to it for any needed inspiration.
http://www.twitpic.com/nf6pd
Sabrina, hon, there's something missing there. Tell my you have a computer and you're not doing this by hand. LOL!
Very nice board. I need to find a way to box out areas of the window. Hmmm...I'll think about this tonight.
Don't tell, but I just swiped three post-it pads from the supply closet. Ssssshhhhhh......
lol! My you do need the glue!
Maybe buy poster board and write directly on the poster instead of on post its? it should be harder for him to piull big poster board pieces off right?
Sabrina wants to be portable computer when she grows up...
Ha, it looks great! You writing a contemporary story?
Terrio - Distractin' the cat with somethin' unimportant!? Right! You know he's psychic and knows better. Keep a camera close and take pics... I want a record of this!
I have my laptop - LOL - It just wasn't set up in the photo.
Ummm...I won't tell if you don't tell on me for the same thing!
Oh I want to see photos of that too! I'm a dog parent, but there's something about kitties lately that has been calling my name. Love seeing the writers on twitter post their daily cat next to computer pics!
Sabrina - This is the cat who managed to get into the fridge and to the top of my walk in closet all in the same day. He spends time walking along the top of my bookshelves. My SIX FOOT bookshelves.
He's nefarious to say the least. He could tear apart anything. And he's only seven months old.
Yeah, I so dig tryin' to pick cat hair off my keyboard every mornin'! She's cute, but not sure she's worth the tweezin' hair outta the keys...
Thank goodness I can close my laptop. Though he sits on top of it when it's closed. Come to think of it, he likes to lay between me and the comp when I'm typing. Makes things damn complicated.
I'll take some pics!
I saw your pugs in your twitter pics. How cute. Love the costumes. LOL!
I close me laptop, Terrio. Cat hair knows no borders, it gets in anyway... I believe when we colonize the moon, we'll find cat hair there.
Umm...pirates or would you accept Star Wars characters?
Oh. Evil owners dress their dogs up. Unless it's as pirates...
they are space pirates...
Oh. Well, they are pugs and look silly to begin with... Where do I see these pics?
Here's the halloween pic
http://www.twitpic.com/la5lp
Oh! Some warnin'! Now I need ta break out me new Shamwow and wipe down me laptop!
Do those dogs hate you fer doin' this ta them? ;)
Darth dog looks like he has a light saber wit' yer name on it.
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