I belong to a small and very supportive online writing community, Write Hearted. Anyway, I passed your post on to them, and several of the Write Hearted folks spoke very highly of you. Your reputation precedes you!
Thank you for this! Similarly, I've benefited from making my first pass over any story a "noticing" draft. I avoid fixing and just notice what's going on with the characters, then ask why that's the case. Another way writing and editing are a form of self-interrogation.
This is brilliant! I know exactly what you mean about the "brain scratch" and I feel it too. I'll try this technique the next time I dive into my manuscript. Thanks, Kristen! Great article.
Incredible in it's simplicity yet so effective. Thank you for sharing this I will certainly put it to use in my own writing. I have just been diagnosed as Austistic and can 100% relate to what you are saying about patterns and reactions.
Your advice is so welcome! Definitely using the B/C/R/M/PG rubric from now on, but I'll listen to the draft out loud instead of printing it. My eyes like to glaze over weak writing but my ears will rebel. Have you tried reading chapters or scenes out of order?
I'm a poor editor, so I need every trick I can find. Breaking up the document into parts helps me focus on the words instead of the story. I made editors suffer through so many embarrassingly stupid errors before I learned I needed to sift through the WIP multiple times.
Fantastic advice. The B/C/R/M editing framework is the first editing advice I've actually written down. Reading my own work like a stranger would is hard, and sometimes cringy to be honest. But I'm going to do it.
How about you read it less like a stranger and more like a friend? We're usually nicer to our friends than ourselves! Ideally it will result in less cringing and more kindness :)
Good advice! Reminds me of George Saunders's approach to self-editing in A Swim in A Pond in the Rain. He just reads along and notices his reactions--positive or negative--and then tries to fix the places where the reaction is negative. So much of it is just intuition, formed by reading good books.
Not only am I going to print out my drafts, the following is *already* printed out and taped to my workstation, at eye level:
B for bored.
C for confused.
R for rushed.
M for more.
… and PG is for Pure Gold. Thank you!
PG is my new favorite addition!
Thank you.
I belong to a small and very supportive online writing community, Write Hearted. Anyway, I passed your post on to them, and several of the Write Hearted folks spoke very highly of you. Your reputation precedes you!
That makes me so happy! I’ve been around for a long time. And I’ve been lucky enough to work with so many wonderful authors.
Thank you for this! Similarly, I've benefited from making my first pass over any story a "noticing" draft. I avoid fixing and just notice what's going on with the characters, then ask why that's the case. Another way writing and editing are a form of self-interrogation.
This is brilliant! I know exactly what you mean about the "brain scratch" and I feel it too. I'll try this technique the next time I dive into my manuscript. Thanks, Kristen! Great article.
It’s almost like my brain stops working or skips. I’m glad you get it too!
nodding emphatically Absolutely, it’s not just you.
Thanks for sharing this - the record scratching noise is the perfect metaphor! Your articles are great!
So glad you enjoy!!
Incredible in it's simplicity yet so effective. Thank you for sharing this I will certainly put it to use in my own writing. I have just been diagnosed as Austistic and can 100% relate to what you are saying about patterns and reactions.
Right?! It’s like a song that only we can hear but it’s so obvious.
A really cool way to approach self-editing! Thank you!
This makes so much sense. Thank you.
You are welcome!
Useful. Thank you!
You are welcome!
Your advice is so welcome! Definitely using the B/C/R/M/PG rubric from now on, but I'll listen to the draft out loud instead of printing it. My eyes like to glaze over weak writing but my ears will rebel. Have you tried reading chapters or scenes out of order?
I am an editor, not a writer.I’m always reading clearly and my mind never plays tricks on me the way it could if I was the writer. So I read in order.
I'm a poor editor, so I need every trick I can find. Breaking up the document into parts helps me focus on the words instead of the story. I made editors suffer through so many embarrassingly stupid errors before I learned I needed to sift through the WIP multiple times.
Fantastic advice. The B/C/R/M editing framework is the first editing advice I've actually written down. Reading my own work like a stranger would is hard, and sometimes cringy to be honest. But I'm going to do it.
How about you read it less like a stranger and more like a friend? We're usually nicer to our friends than ourselves! Ideally it will result in less cringing and more kindness :)
This is great advice!
Thank you!!
Good advice! Reminds me of George Saunders's approach to self-editing in A Swim in A Pond in the Rain. He just reads along and notices his reactions--positive or negative--and then tries to fix the places where the reaction is negative. So much of it is just intuition, formed by reading good books.
Exactly! Intuition formed by good books!
I'm going to print out my manuscript AND this essay - thank you!!
You’re welcome!!
Kristen, this is really valuable advice. Thank you for putting it out freely.
Of course! I am so happy you found it helpful!!
🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
Love this. So helpful! I am reading through my nth memoir revision, printed. Your advice is well-taken and timely. Thank you.
P.S. I like the reader addition of PG! (Though I sing know that I can see that in my own work…)