This past weekend, I went to the 2010 Springmingle conference sponsored by the Southern Breeze SCBWI chapter.
On Wednesday, I shared some tips about developing your character. Today, I’m going to share some revision techniques.
For me, I love the revision process more than I do writing the draft. Revision allows me to make my characters deeper and uncover things about my novel that I couldn’t see in the draft.
These tips are that I gathered from Cheryl Klein, senior editor of Arthur A. Levine Books (a Scholastic imprint). In her workshop, she had a lot to say about revision. Here are some of the tips that were helpful for me:
- Take time off from the project before starting revisions.
- Compress your story into one sentence.
- Expand that one sentence into book flap copy.
- Reread the entire manuscript on the page (not on the computer screen) before making any revisions. Make notes on things to change.
- List the first ten things each significant character says or does.
- Identify the climax/point of each individual scene and how it changes what’s come before. If it doesn’t change anything, consider deleting the scene.
- Don’t try to do everything at once.
- Set a deadline for completing each stage of revision, and a reward for each one.
- Keep a copy of everything.
Cheryl Klein also pointed out two references that may be helpful as you start your revision:
- When tracking your manuscript for overused words, check out the Word Frequency Counter. You can cut and paste your manuscript or chapters for results.
- For more advice on revision, especially book mapping and outlining, check out Anita Nolan’s Step-by-Step Guide to Refining Your Manuscript.
Definitely take a look at Cheryl Klein’s Plot Checklist. It’s very helpful when you have completed a draft and are ready to start revision.
Remember, revision is a process. Something to be done in iterations and in stages. Don’t get overwhelmed. Take your time. In the end, your novel will be stronger.
Great advice! I particularly like: List the first ten things each significant character says or does. I hadn’t heard that technique before, but I could see it being really helpful.
Thanks for posting all you’ve learned. It’s nice to get a small peek of other conferences.
Anna and Laura: You’re welcome. This is going to be very helpful for me when I start my next revision phase this summer.
wow great recaps here Karen! YOu are a good note taker. Im cheating off you next time :)
Thanks to Cheryl for mentioning my article, and thanks to you for including the link here!
Wow, a really help post for those of us that didn’t make it to the mingle. Thanks
Shelli: Ha. I still have my nerd note-taking skills. It is like an art form for me. :)
Anita: You are welcome. :) I read part of your post this morning and bookmarked. I think it would be very helpful for me in my revision.
Patricia: I’m sorry that you weren’t able to make Springmingle. It was so good. Hope to see you there next year. :)
This is such a great list. I saved it and will put it to use.
What a great list! I’m going to bookmark it for future reference – thanks :)
Medeia and Jemi: Glad that you found this post useful. Cheryl Klein’s workshop was all parts of awesome. I learned so much that day. Can’t wait to apply some of these techniques in my next revision this summer.
Thanks for sharing this :) I’ve found having a hard copy of my MS to be invaluable in the revision process. Something about reading it in that format helps me see things I totally missed (time and time again) on the computer screen.
These are great tips. Thanks for sharing.
Ali: I’ve learned that I can’t read my manuscript on the computer screen because I will start editing. So that’s a great tip. Read it on paper.
Kristi: You’re welcome. I’m happy to share any tips I come across with my writer friends.