And goodbye to sleep. I think this stayin’ up is exactly what I need.
What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up. It was created by created by Jaime and Erin. Want to join the party? Go right ahead, and remember to leave a link to your What’s Up Wednesday post in the widget on Jaime´s blog.
What I’m Reading
If you liked the cover of Laura Lam’s SHADOWPLAY in last Wednesday’s blog, you might like my honest back cover copy for the first book in that series, PANTOMIME.
I’m getting back into my beta reading queue this week, and finally making progress with the backlog. It’s nice to be discovering such great stories, though the pressure to be useful and have feedback for every single chapter can weigh heavy sometimes.
Still, I’m lucky to have some great authors entrust me with their work.
What I’m Writing
Turns out revising is much easier if you just go ahead and do it. Who’d have thought?
I’m working on the BROKEN THINGS revision just now, using a fairly simple process:
- I’m reading the manuscript very quickly, skimming through it
- As I go through scenes, I write an outline of each scene on an index card
- I’m using the goal-motivation-conflict system for scenes, and reaction-dilemma-decision for sequels. Some info on that is here. Scenes that don’t fit this structure get rewritten or cut.
- I’m revising lightly as I go, filling in blank spots, adjusting things to match the outline and changing tense.
- Once this revision is done, I’ll read through the revision again with my full attention, looking for more changes and doing detailed tweaks such cutting the flab from sentences..
Writing advice is never a one-size-fits-all thing, but this method is geared towards one of my known weaknesses (pacing) so it’s working out well for me.
That said, it’s all experimental, so I might feel differently this time next week.
What Inspires Me
I’m living the zen life just now, spending most of my evenings reading books and drinking tea. It’s all good.
I’m fairly sure you can measure the quality of my life at any moment (and my stress levels) just by asking if I’ve had time to read recently.
What Else I’ve Been Up To
Anne Lyle had a good series post up about the ‘Getting Things Done’ method, which uses to-do lists to organize your goals. (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of her guides.) I’m already a big user of to-do lists so I’ve been trying to adopt this, to force my legions of to-do lists into a more ordered purpose. and I’ve had good results. I’m finally caught up on my inbox and have a clear idea of my goals for the rest of the week.
I like to summarise chapters as I edit because it’s a great way to see where you can cut out the unnecessary stuff that doesn’t move the plot along.
Enjoy your beta reading and your tea ^_^
Yeah, it’s so useful. :) The G-M-C and scene and sequel business is just another way of doing that, but by putting so much emphasis on conflict and motivation it keeps me focused. Left to describe scenes on my own I’d be all ‘Raaahhh yeah cool fight scene! Worldbuilding! Fun dialogue!’ without even noticing the missing plot momentum.
Emma, I love this: “I’m fairly sure you can measure the quality of my life at any moment (and my stress levels) just by asking if I’ve had time to read recently.” YES! I know this exact feeling.
Good luck on your revisions. It sounds like you have a solid plan (a much more thought out plan than I ever have) so hopefully the revision will progress smoothly. I also bookmarked that link to check out!
Thank you, Rebekah!
I love beta reading b/c it’s amazing getting to read the book before most everyone else :D
Haha, oh, no doubt. :) But it’s a big burden to be entrusted with!
That honest cover copy thing is pretty fun! Your zen evenings sounds pretty much perfect. Tea + books = my happy place. Thanks for sharing that link to the goal-motivation-conflict system. Bookmarked to be used later!
Glad to be of help. ^_^
I love this “Writing advice is never a one-size-fits-all thing” we all do things differently and what works for one person might not for another. Glad you’re living the zen life right now, I need to be more zen.
I never used to be a big believer in ‘zen’ or any of that new age well-being stuff, but the older I get the more I appreciate it all. Relaxation time, no matter what name it comes under, is so important. :)
Sounds like you have a good revision plan! Good luck with it! It helps to write summaries of scenes because it seems a less daunting task when it’s broken down into scenes/chapters. I’ll have to look at those links! I’m a crazy organisation-freak but my system’s a bit haphazard (notebooks/lists/pieces of paper with random WIP notes scattered around my desk). Have a great week!
You too, Emma! I’ve been zooming through Beneath the Waves lately, really loving it. :) Trying to get it too you ASAP!
It seems so easy to say “just do it”–but that really is the key to getting anything done. I can spend hours deliberating over doing things–do this, do that, do something else? Pros and cons… etc. And in the time it takes to think about it, I could have accomplished *something*! Best to just get on with something. Bite the bullet and go for it.
And I like to measure the quality of life by the amount of tea I get to drink. ;) Have a great week, Emma!
Yeah, that’s exactly it. Deliberation is an oddly alluring waste of time, and one to be avoided!
I love what you said about revising. I have two novels to revise and I’ve been avoiding them horribly. I guess I should just get on with it. Thanks for a great post!
Oh, man, I hear you — this novel I’m currently revising is one of two that I’ve just been ignoring for months because I hate revising *so much*. But they need to get done. Hope you get your revisions started soon!
Hiya
i love your revision process. I’m going to have to try it. I have a heap of novels to revise, but I’ve been avoiding them.
Great post.
Angel
Oh, I had the same problem — two novels just waiting around because I was too scared to revise them. I hope my methods work for you and your revisions go well. :)
I adore To Do lists, I’m going to have to go read all those posts now. I’m pretty envious of your ability to read every night. These last two weeks have been weirdly busy for me, so it’s unfortunate but I haven’t read as many books as I would have liked so far this year :(
I hope you get more reading time soon, Kim!
Yay for the zen life of good books and tea! Sounds good to me. I hope you have a wonderful week.
I’m intrigued by the goal-motivation-conflict system and reaction-dilemma-decision. I’m going to check out that link.
I hear ya on just doing revisions. I have to add a week into a thoroughly written 3-week time frame and I balked for a few hours on how that will be. Finally I was just like, “Just do it already!” Much better to jump in. :)
Definitely. :D