The Best Way to Write is to Rewrite

[dragonsinger]

Tomorrow is the last day of NaNo. Did I win this year? No. But I did break 20K words on my story, and that's the best I've ever done during NaNo. So, I'm not too disappointed

Comments

[joyfulfeather]

Oooooo! I love your plan. <3 I've never thought about breaking it down like that! But it makes so much sense. You can do it!

[dragonsinger]

Thank you. I figured if I did it this way, I would be so overwhelmed.

[dragonsinger]

Now let's see if I can make it happen.:)

[mgsmurf]

Setting goals makes it look smaller. What I've done in the past with revisions is print it out to have a hard copy. Then while I read and line edit, I use colored tabs for what to do.

Like, pink tab means a part to add, where I've given a description of what the part needs to do. Blue tab means research or world building. Yellow tab means part to cut or trim. Anyway, makes it easier for me to do those things separate from the line edit, and quickly see where they are in the manuscript.

For the novel that needed lots of added parts, I used the pink tabs, and wrote out the added parts in a separate word doc. Then when I typed in the revision to the revision word doc (I kept the original rough draft as is), I cut and pasted added parts in.

The short version of that, is that having paper to see and play with helped me, at least, tackle the job of revision.

[joyfulfeather]

Color-coding is the best thing ever. I might have to steal that idea at some point.

[dragonsinger]

I do like the color-coded idea. I might have to borrow that.:)

[randombtchchick]

my biggest revision tip is to first take a break from it of about a week so that you can come at it with fresh eyes.

And then, go here...

http://www.writingexcuses.com and listen (or read the transcripts) of their podcasts on revisions!

[dragonsinger]

This story has been resting since 2008 so I think it's time.:)

Ooh...neat. Thank you.