Revision: Tips for Diving into the Wreck
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This document provides tips for revising a first draft of a creative work. It outlines a 6-step revision process: 1) do a "checkout dive" to analyze your draft; 2) get feedback from other writers and readers without revising; 3) identify pain points and areas that need work; 4) ensure the plot, characters, setting, and theme are effectively communicated; 5) maintain consistent point of view, dialogue, research, and tight writing; 6) take breaks between intensive revision periods. The goal is to thoroughly revise the draft into a polished, publishable work.
Revision: Tips for Diving into the Wreck
- 1. SREVISION: Ti f Di i ITips for Diving Into the Wreckthe Wreck Melanie Rigney B O W C fBay to Ocean Writers Conference February 26, 2011
- 2. Finished? Congrats on finishing—your first draft. The good news: You got to the end which is a lotThe good news: You got to the end, which is a lot further than most writers ever will get with a novel/memoir/screenplay/poem/essay.p y p y The bad news: There is no such thing as a publishable first draft. So what’s next? Time to dig in and revise!Time to dig in and revise! 2 Please contact Melanie Rigney (editor@editorforyou.com) before redistributing this presentation.
- 3. 1. Do a checkoutcheckout dive Read like a writer in your genre Word length? How many chapters? How long? DiagramWord length? How many chapters? How long? Diagram the story arc, either on paper or in your mind. Where do the key plot shifts occur? What are their themes? Know what’s being published from people like you It’s marvelous to read the classics. But also read work published in the past three years from first-time authors with similar platforms. What did they do with characters and dialogue?characters and dialogue? 3 Please contact Melanie Rigney (editor@editorforyou.com) before redistributing this presentation.
- 4. 2. Don’t go alonealone Only certified divers go solo, andOnly certified divers go solo, and not even well-published authors do Connect with two or three other writers who work in the same genre and have comparable experience to yours (or a bit better) Ask a couple of non-writers you respect who read inAsk a couple of non-writers you respect who read in your genre to read your first draft Set ground rules What you’re looking for in terms of feedback What you’re looking for in terms of response time DON’T REVISE DURING THIS TIMEDON T REVISE DURING THIS TIME 4 Please contact Melanie Rigney (editor@editorforyou.com) before redistributing this presentation.
- 5. 3. Stretch to avoidto avoid injuries Take a day or a morning or an afternoon to compare the notes you took during your checkout dive with your manuscriptp Take a day or a morning or an afternoon to compare the comments your writer and non-writer readers provided Where are the pain points? How do you stack up againstWhere are the pain points? How do you stack up against what’s being published? Where are the recurring comments from readers? Is everyone saying they find a scene slow or a charactereveryone saying they find a scene slow or a character confusing? Where are the joy spots? What is resonating with readers, and what do you seem to be doing right when looking atand what do you seem to be doing right when looking at today’s publishing landscape? 5 Please contact Melanie Rigney (editor@editorforyou.com) before redistributing this presentation.
- 6. 4. Get the Right gearRight gear For a writer who wants to be read theme is the center- For a writer who wants to be read, theme is the center- point. Doesn’t matter whether we work in a plot- or character-driven genre. The four magic words of storytelling: Something happens, somebody l dchanges. Plot, characters, and setting are the gear that we use to communicate the theme. It’s important that we use the right gear. Plot/General: Where are we at the beginning of the story, and where are we at the end? Where are the crisis points climax and resolution? Watchwe at the end? Where are the crisis points, climax, and resolution? Watch the number of “action” scenes (above the line) vs. the number of “thinking scenes (below the line Plot/Scenes: Does every scene move the story toward its logical, satisf ing conclusion? If not ho can it or should the scene be cut?satisfying conclusion? If not, how can it—or should the scene be cut? Character: Does every character serve a purpose/have a voice? If not, how can he or she—or should the character be cut? Setting: What is the setting’s role in communicating the theme? Is theg g g setting a character itself, or simply a prop? 6 Please contact Melanie Rigney (editor@editorforyou.com) before redistributing this presentation.
- 7. 5. USE An5. USE An oxygen mask Some facets of effective writing are as important as breathing. Don’t forget them as you revise! P i f i N d b i h h h k Point of view: Needs to be consistent throughout the work. Consistency: Set up a timeline to make sure your story and characters are where they’re supposed to be throughout the book. Dialogue: Read exchanges out loud Is each character’s voice Dialogue: Read exchanges out loud. Is each character s voice consistent throughout the book? Research: Depending on the genre, you may need to be a slave to detail, including what people are wearing, the geography, the hweather? Tighten: Make sure every adverb and adjective is there for a reason. The Gold Standard: Where are you telling where you should be showing?showing? 7 Please contact Melanie Rigney (editor@editorforyou.com) before redistributing this presentation.
- 8. 6. Come up for air It took you more than a month to write your first draft; it’s going to take you more than a day; g g y y to complete the revision process if you’re going to do it effectively.y Don’t let this be the only thing you ever write; start concepting or writing your next projectstart concepting or writing your next project. This will add clarity and dispassion to the revision process.revision process. 8 Please contact Melanie Rigney (editor@editorforyou.com) before redistributing this presentation.
- 9. AND DON’T FORGETFORGET… TO GET IT OUT OF YOURTO GET IT OUT OF YOUR COMPUTER AND OUT TO THE WORLD! 9 Please contact Melanie Rigney (editor@editorforyou.com) before redistributing this presentation.
- 10. Thanks for coming!Thanks for coming! M l RMelanie Rigney editor@editorforyou.com www.editorforyou.com 4201 Wilson Blvd #1103284201 Wilson Blvd., #110328 Arlington, VA 22203 10 Please contact Melanie Rigney (editor@editorforyou.com) before redistributing this presentation.