Photo from Pixabay
Over the past ten weeks, we’ve covered the basics from micro to macro techniques for writing a strong, compelling story in close POV. Think you’re done? Probably not. Let’s take a look at revision.
Maybe some people can knock out a completed, polished novel in one draft, but not any writers I know. My novels generally go through a first, middle, and final draft, and then usually a seemingly endless series of line edits. I don’t necessarily recommend that last step, but revision to some degree is going to be a given for most writers. Here’s my process:
First, take a good hard look at your chapter one. Does the story begin where it should? Often, you’ll find that in your first draft it doesn’t. Your first page can make or break your chances of capturing the interest of an agent, editor, or reader; make certain it’s the strongest it can be. Think about the inciting incident, the event that turned your character’s life on its head and sets the story in motion. This is where your story should begin. Now take a look at chapter two. Is that where you put your inciting incident? It’s a common thing for writers, newer writers especially, to begin with background info, scene-setting, and/or world-building, thinking it essential to help the reader understand the story to come. In truth, that’s seldom true and that info is better off feathered into the action of the story later. Got a prologue? Double the emphasis to take a hard look at whether it’s absolutely necessary or whether it’s a lazy way to work in a lot of background and world-building rather than showing it (as covered in Writing Tips 101.03). It might be hard to believe, looking at the words you worked so long and hard to perfect, that your book might be better off cutting the entire first chapter, but it’s often the case.
The beginning of the story is only the beginning of your revision. Go through the entire manuscript looking for ways to wordsmith your phrases, revise spots where you told what you can show, eliminate the weak words that snuck in, punch up your verbs, add more specific detail and cut descriptor words, insert more atmosphere, make the dialogue more engaging, make sure that every scene counts, and check for plot holes and logistics issues. Yes, I’m saying that everything you already did in your first draft, do it again. You’ll be amazed what you catch the second time through. Pay special attention to any places you can cut and tighten as you go. Most writers, especially first-time novelists, will have a lot of extraneous material that slows the pacing, and slow pacing will usually cause the reader to lose interest - in that section at the least, and perhaps in the novel as a whole.
Between my second and third draft is the time I look for beta readers - trusted writer friends who will honestly share advice and opinions on my books, chapter-by-chapter, to catch all the small things I’m blind to in my own writing and to help me make the book the best it can be. Utilizing their suggestions, I go through the entire manuscript yet again to get it in final draft. (More about beta readers and how to find them next week in the wrap-up.)
Revision is hard work and time-consuming, but personally I love the process of grinding the rough spots off my story to reveal a polished and shining core that I’m proud to send out into the world.
Maybe some people can knock out a completed, polished novel in one draft, but not any writers I know. My novels generally go through a first, middle, and final draft, and then usually a seemingly endless series of line edits. I don’t necessarily recommend that last step, but revision to some degree is going to be a given for most writers. Here’s my process:
First, take a good hard look at your chapter one. Does the story begin where it should? Often, you’ll find that in your first draft it doesn’t. Your first page can make or break your chances of capturing the interest of an agent, editor, or reader; make certain it’s the strongest it can be. Think about the inciting incident, the event that turned your character’s life on its head and sets the story in motion. This is where your story should begin. Now take a look at chapter two. Is that where you put your inciting incident? It’s a common thing for writers, newer writers especially, to begin with background info, scene-setting, and/or world-building, thinking it essential to help the reader understand the story to come. In truth, that’s seldom true and that info is better off feathered into the action of the story later. Got a prologue? Double the emphasis to take a hard look at whether it’s absolutely necessary or whether it’s a lazy way to work in a lot of background and world-building rather than showing it (as covered in Writing Tips 101.03). It might be hard to believe, looking at the words you worked so long and hard to perfect, that your book might be better off cutting the entire first chapter, but it’s often the case.
The beginning of the story is only the beginning of your revision. Go through the entire manuscript looking for ways to wordsmith your phrases, revise spots where you told what you can show, eliminate the weak words that snuck in, punch up your verbs, add more specific detail and cut descriptor words, insert more atmosphere, make the dialogue more engaging, make sure that every scene counts, and check for plot holes and logistics issues. Yes, I’m saying that everything you already did in your first draft, do it again. You’ll be amazed what you catch the second time through. Pay special attention to any places you can cut and tighten as you go. Most writers, especially first-time novelists, will have a lot of extraneous material that slows the pacing, and slow pacing will usually cause the reader to lose interest - in that section at the least, and perhaps in the novel as a whole.
Between my second and third draft is the time I look for beta readers - trusted writer friends who will honestly share advice and opinions on my books, chapter-by-chapter, to catch all the small things I’m blind to in my own writing and to help me make the book the best it can be. Utilizing their suggestions, I go through the entire manuscript yet again to get it in final draft. (More about beta readers and how to find them next week in the wrap-up.)
Revision is hard work and time-consuming, but personally I love the process of grinding the rough spots off my story to reveal a polished and shining core that I’m proud to send out into the world.
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