This current WIP took a while to find its story and its voice, and now I’m into a sizable rewrite and edit. One thing I’ve used is to have a spreadsheet breaking down the chapters and for each chapter, I analyze the character for motivation, North Star, anchor, needs being met or not met, I analyze the scene for its structure of cause and effect or conflict and disaster or revolution, and finally the curiosity factor. Am I keeping the reader engaged with unresolved questions? After this, I’ll go back through and analyze the dialogue. It’s painful at times but it’s so worth that extra analysis chapter by chapter.
This is such a great idea! I love how you’re looking at the tiny puzzle pieces on their own as well as the whole. And it does sound like a lot of work but also very worth it!
Thanks. Lots of advice distilled from so many craft workshops. Refocusing with every chapter helps me identify a possible weakness and helps me think through ways to improve.
Thank you for sharing this. Printing out and changing the font is the move for me. Even before all of that I have to walk away from a draft for several days before starting a re-write.
What exactly about plot are you blocked on? Specific points? An overall idea? Please feel free to send me a more specific question and I’ll answer it in a future newsletter.
I'm currently revising a manuscript and the best move I made was to put it away for a few months. I could not see how to make it any better after being "in" it for so long, and the only way for me to do this was to completely step back from it. I put my attention towards a different hobby during that time (training for a marathon) and I was pleasantly surprised by how much jumped out at me when I returned to it.
Another tip I've heard, but haven't tried, is to convert your manuscript to an e-book format and read it on a tablet/Kindle, as this is how many readers might read it once published. I might try to do this after this latest revision.
The read aloud function on Word is one of my favourite editing tools. Always pick up errors I can’t see myself.
Such a great tip! Thanks for sharing!
This current WIP took a while to find its story and its voice, and now I’m into a sizable rewrite and edit. One thing I’ve used is to have a spreadsheet breaking down the chapters and for each chapter, I analyze the character for motivation, North Star, anchor, needs being met or not met, I analyze the scene for its structure of cause and effect or conflict and disaster or revolution, and finally the curiosity factor. Am I keeping the reader engaged with unresolved questions? After this, I’ll go back through and analyze the dialogue. It’s painful at times but it’s so worth that extra analysis chapter by chapter.
This is such a great idea! I love how you’re looking at the tiny puzzle pieces on their own as well as the whole. And it does sound like a lot of work but also very worth it!
Thanks. Lots of advice distilled from so many craft workshops. Refocusing with every chapter helps me identify a possible weakness and helps me think through ways to improve.
Thank you for sharing this. Printing out and changing the font is the move for me. Even before all of that I have to walk away from a draft for several days before starting a re-write.
So glad you found what works for you!
Coming up with one.
Found the article useful thanks. Have you done one on devising plot, I'm blocked on that.
What exactly about plot are you blocked on? Specific points? An overall idea? Please feel free to send me a more specific question and I’ll answer it in a future newsletter.
Thank you for these tips. I always wonder how other people approach their editing/rewrite process and this sheds some light!
So happy to help!
Love this. Thanks for sharing. 🤩🫶🏻
I'm currently revising a manuscript and the best move I made was to put it away for a few months. I could not see how to make it any better after being "in" it for so long, and the only way for me to do this was to completely step back from it. I put my attention towards a different hobby during that time (training for a marathon) and I was pleasantly surprised by how much jumped out at me when I returned to it.
Another tip I've heard, but haven't tried, is to convert your manuscript to an e-book format and read it on a tablet/Kindle, as this is how many readers might read it once published. I might try to do this after this latest revision.