Are You Ready To Revise? 10 Tips

It’s so exciting when you finish writing your first draft, but so many writers think they have finished, when really you need to think of the rewriting process as the beginning.  Please don’t send you first draft out to an editor or agent.  You only have one chance to make an impression.  Make it a good one.

Did you know that some authors actually throw away their first draft and then sit down to rewrite it from scratch?  I am not that brave, but they could be right, since most of what you have written in your first draft needs to be rewritten. 

Here are some tips.  Obviously there are other things you can do when you revise, but if you do the 10 things below, you will be well on your way.

1.  Read through the full manuscript. 

2.  Take your time and consider each scene.

3.  Does the scene hold your interest?  Do you feel emotionally connected to the characters and the scene?  Is the scene needed to advance the story?  Or is it in there just because it is a fun idea that isn’t needed?

4.  Make a list and give each an value number.  Example:  1 – 10. Ten meaning the scene is the best it can be.

5.  Then work on every scene that has a 5 or less.

6.  Ask yourself the following questions:

A.  Does this scene have a single point of view?

B.  Does it have a clear character objective?

C.  Does it present some conflict to the objective?

D.  Does the character have to struggle emotionally?

E.  Have you provided an outcome that forces the reader to turn the page?

7.  First read each sentence and look for places to tighten the text.  Is everything needed?  Picture writer know to look for any word that isn’t needed.  That is what you should do also.  Just because it is okay to write more words, doesn’t mean you need to use all of them.  You may be able to tighten.  This will give you the chance to add more interesting things into your scene.

8.  Look for places where you could move sentences around and doing so will make the scene stronger.

9.  Look for any spots where you can add the following:

A.   Weather:  What is happening weather wise?  Would adding some detail about the weather add anything to the  scene?

B.   Character details:  Would adding any details about each character in the scene make it richer?  Can you add a gesture, or an action that will show a deeper layer to the character or characters?

C.   Environmental:   Example: surroundings.  Could adding some small detail about the surrounding help your scene?

D.   Sounds:   Example: What can be heard in the scene?  traffic, birds, insects, water, clocks, footsteps crossing a wooden floor.

E.   Touch:   Example: Your character touches the railing walking up the steps.  What material is the railing made out of?  Is it metal?  Is it cold?  Is it wet? Is it made of wood?  Is it smooth?  Is it rough?  Is it carved? The touch of raindrops. Can any of those details foreshadow another scene?

F.   Taste:   This doesn’t just have to pertain to food.  Tears have taste.  Sweat has taste.  Saltwater has taste.  Fear has taste.  Some smells have taste.  The mucus in the mouth as taste.

10.  Cut out what is dull.  Heat up the scene where you can.  Find the heart of each scene.  Stretch the tension.  Build up to the funny.  Can you dig down deeper?  Find the emotion.

Hope this helps.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy