Comments on: Overwhelmed with Revisions? Use This Roadmap to Stay On Course.

By: BECCA PUGLISI

BECCA PUGLISI — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:43:23 +0000

In reply to Sue Coletta. I agree, Sue! Personally, I love editing and revising :).

By: BECCA PUGLISI

BECCA PUGLISI — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:42:23 +0000

In reply to Henry James Kaye. That drawer time is essential. Ange and I have skipped it in the past, when our publishing timeline got blown to bits, and I won't do it again. Even if it's just a few weeks—taking time away lets you catch things you just won't see without that space.

By: BECCA PUGLISI

BECCA PUGLISI — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 13:39:04 +0000

In reply to Frankie. I also like to re-read what I wrote last before writing something new; it helps me get back into my groove. And like you, it's almost impossible for me to not to fix stuff while I'm doing that :). I purposely don't spend a lot of time editing at this point, but I feel better doing some of it because it's less to do later. Everyone's process is different; it's just a matter of figuring out which one works for you.

By: MINDY ALYSE WEISS

MINDY ALYSE WEISS — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 23:41:42 +0000

In reply to Frankie.

It sounds like you haven’t found a way to revise that works best for you, Frankie. Play around with your process to see if you can find a way to make revisions more exciting.

I personally love writing a fast first draft during NaNoWriMo, which means huge changes when I revise. Once I figure out the major changes I need to make, I dive into the revision…but at the same time, I start sending 20 pages or so a month to my critique group (after revising them as much as possible). Then, the changes I know I need to make from their feedback help me strengthen those pages…and what I send to them in the future, too. Revision can be scary…but I find it an exciting challenge when I have an idea what needs to happen through feedback.

The critique group deadlines help keep me going forward. And I love having feedback during such a large revision.

Once all that is done, I find a few critique partners to swap fulls with.

Since you love the checklist suggestion, maybe having one you can check off as you revise will make the process more pleasant for you. Revisions can take a long time, so it’s awesome to be able to celebrate every milestone along the way.

I’m sending tons of good revision vibes your way! Let us know when you find a process that works great for you. Maybe it will help others, too!

By: MINDY ALYSE WEISS

MINDY ALYSE WEISS — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 23:23:00 +0000

This is such a helpful post, Becca! So many writers try to make their prose shine in early revisions, but it’s like icing a cake that isn’t fully baked and can make it even harder to kill those darlings.

The Revision Roadmap is such a brilliant tool.

By: Frankie

Frankie — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 14:38:03 +0000

In reply to Sue Coletta. Sue, my hat is off to you! I've heard a few (very few) other writers say they love editing but can never get my head around it. I sometimes hate it, often dislike it and occasionally find it satisfying... but that's the best I can do.

By: Frankie

Frankie — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 14:33:16 +0000

I always revise as I go – even though everyone advises against it. I reread my previous day’s work before I begin writing so it’s a good time to rewrite/edit. That doesn’t mean it’s fixed, though. At various points in the writing process, I’ll find it necessary to go back and reread earlier portions – and I’ll edit those when I do. By the time the draft is completed, it’s undergone several edits, but there are always more changes at that point, as well. I don’t like editing but I dislike sloppy sentence structure, excessive verbiage and grammatical errors even more, so the daily rewrites motivate me to keep going.

Using a checklist is a great suggestion! I have not done it before. I do make notes on my outline when a revision impacts multiple scenes or chapters, but I can see where a standard checklist that works for any manuscript would help avoid those little oopsies that often occur. Thanks for all the wonderful nudges and ideas you provide.

By: Henry James Kaye

Henry James Kaye — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 12:52:39 +0000

Thanks for the reminder to let the manuscript sit for a while before beginning the revision process. I often get impatient and want to GET IT DONE! But, that’s not the right approach. You can’t rush GREAT. When I take my time and make multiple passes on the manuscript, I generally produce a pretty good product. Thanks for the reminder.

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 12:52:18 +0000

I love the revision process. It’s where the magic happens!

Wishing you and Angela a happy 4th if you celebrate. 😀