Revision is a Part of Life

"Writing is rewriting...Nothing creative ever takes shape exactly the way it’s planned."
—  Deb Lund*

Black bird and apple book plate from Pinterest

*Via Meg Miller's ReviMo

The Tricky Part of Writing

"Well, editing taught me what not to do; that’s the easy part. Learning what to do is more tricky. But I think it boils down to this: to connect with readers, write from your heart."
—Jamie Michalak*

Art Nouveau quill bookplate
Courtesy University of Illinois Library Collection 

*Via Highlights Foundation

Crafting Your Draft

"But that’s where the power of writing comes in—not in accidentally hitting on a perfect sentence while writing a first draft, but in deliberately crafting sentence after sentence in the rewrite stage."
— Beth Hill*




Bookplate of E. Petrolini courtesy Penn Libraries Collection

*Via  on The Editor's Blog

ReviMo Prep: A Bit Drafty

We all know Anne Lamott's advice on getting your first draft written. Then comes the (sometimes) harder work of rewriting it.

If you are planning to participate in ReviMo, you'll need a stack of manuscripts, right?

I've put aside six stories needing revision, from changing reader level to new endings. The new year is a great time to pull out those ms that have stalled and give them a fresh go. There's just one problem. I can't think of an easier way to fail than to plan to revise one of those stalled ms each day for 7 days! My easily-bruised ego will never survive! What a way to kill the New Year adrenalin rush!

Courtesy 123RF

I need some fresh manuscripts. I fully intend to give that stack I've been procrastinating over a hardy try. However, my goal this week is to come up with at least two completely rough first drafts. That way, when I hit a wall, there will still be an escape hatch.

How about you? What challenges do you face during the revision process?
How do you plan to conquer them?
Have you made a game plan to get the most of ReviMo?
What tricks do you use when you hit a dead end?

If you participated in PiBoIdMo, there's no better time to turn one of your fabulous ideas into a first draft.
If you are looking forward to ReviMo, why not dredge up some moldy manuscripts?
If you want to further your writing goals, then sit down, and don't get up until the bones are on the page.

Happy Writing!

PBDummy Step 2.1

Not yet a participant?  Here's more info.

How are the picture book manuscripts coming?  Still having trouble?  Stuck in the middle?  Finished but unsure?

Since we in the unofficial PBDummy Challenge have a virtual critique group, I thought this would be a good time to offer some advice I routinely give or receive in my real-life crit group.

If you are struggling to get a first draft written:
Just get it down on paper!  Don't self-edit as you go.  More often than not, it's just your loud-mouthed inner critic shooting you down.  As Anne Lamott says, give yourself permission to write junk.  Worry about editing in a later draft.

If you are stuck in the middle:
See Above.  Also try some stream of consciousness writing.  Don't worry if it's in the wrong voice or even if it's really part of the story.  Maybe you have to write "I'm stuck and I can't think of anything!"  Just get something down on paper and eventually your story will resurface.  You can throw away all the in-between junk later.  As Gail Carson Levine says,  letting your thoughts wander (on paper) can "prime the pump" so your ideas begin to flow.

If you are finished, but unsure:
Try some or all of the following.
1. Do a word count.  If you are like most writers, it's way over the 500 word average.  One of my critique partners always says, cut your word count to 1/3, no matter what.  That way it is stripped to the barest essentials.  Then for the third (or is this the fourth) draft, you can add the really sparkly bits back in.

2. Break your text into spreads.  This helps you get a feel for the rhythm, for where the text is wordy or where it needs something more.

3. My stories always get too grown-up, so I use this exercise.  I rewrite my story for a younger audience.  Then I rewrite it again for an even younger one.  This is like cutting your word count without the bruising.  And my writing is always better for it.

4. I sometimes wait a few days, then rewrite the story completely without looking at the previous drafts.  I have had the most marvelous "happy accidents" with this method.  It often uncovers flaws and solves problems unconsciously.

5. Look at the space between.  This relates to the way the story flows.  Think about page turns and breaths.  Read your work out loud.  Slowly.  Imagine you are reading to a child.  Imagine a specific child.  Better yet, find some children.  You will know immediately where the story drags, the language drones, or the rhyme flops.

Courtesy Greg Matusic

If all else fails:
Maybe you just aren't passionate about this idea.  It's okay to change.  Read back through your list of ideas. Does one make you smile?  Laugh out loud?  Is there one that makes you want to run for pen and paper?  Then go with it.  Try a first and second draft.  You still have at least two weeks to develop a decent manuscript.  There'll be plenty of time for additional revisions during your storyboarding.  If you are considering this option, read Greg Matusic's success story from a previous challenge.


How are you faring?  What are you struggling with?