Why is it so hard to do the things you love? For me it’s trying to follow all the rules. The writing usually comes easy for me as long as I just go with the flow. But the revising is another story. I read an article this weekend in Writer’s Digest about revision and self-editing. It was perfect timing since this is where I find myself struggling the most. I have always written my stories straight through to the end without looking back. But I’m thinking it might work better for me if I change that to-write a chapter then edit that chapter. Maybe it won’t seem like such an overwhelming task.
I’m always looking for ways to make my writing stronger and my story the best it can be. My shelves are loaded with writing books, workbooks and binders full of information I have collected on the Internet. But reading this article really hit home for me.
Here are five suggestions that I found very helpful.
1. Never let the truth get in the way of your story. I don’t know how many times worrying about the facts has stopped me cold in my tracks. But I write fiction. So according to this article, I should be able to invent things in my story that make it work. Oh I like this one!
2. Never use two words when one will do. Guilty! Man can I stretch out a sentence. LOL But finding just the right word make the writing so powerful. Definitely going to use this one.
3. Use active voice instead of the passive. This one I’ve been working on for as long as I’ve been writing. Those crazy “be” verbs are my downfall.
4. Beware of “it”. Don’t leave it dangling in a sentence when a clearer reference to what or who will make all the difference. Guilty again. It’s just so much easier to use the word it. A lazy habit I intend to work on as well.
5. Avoid word repetition. Okay this is my worst problem. In my latest manuscript, one of my critique partners informed me I have overused the word “heart” or a form of it. I had no idea and I’ve read over this story more time than I care to count. Unless you mean to emphasis a point, try to come up with another word. It really makes the sentence stronger.
These were quick exercises and tips for working on aspects of your writing from “The Art & Craft of Storytelling” by Nancy Lamb. A book I plan to pick up on my next trip to the bookstore and add to my collection.
How about you? Any tips on how to revise? What works best for you?
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I revise as I go. Sometimes if I am stuck at a particular point during my writing, I go back to the very beginning. I have never typed straight through without stopping to revise as I go. Going back over my earlier chapters helps me to grasp tone, quirks of my characters, attitudes etc. It adds consistency, I’d like to think. But as to my bad habits, I do the two words where one will do thing. Heck, sometimes I use three. Biggest thing I have to look for during revising.
Yep, I revise as I go. For the same reasons that Amy mentioned. When I reach THE END, I have a fairly clean draft. I don’t mind revisions so much. To me that’s the downhill slope!
I’m bad guilty of use more words instead of less. But I also believe that for some characters to stand out, they need those few extra words in a sentence. And I’m an ‘it’ girl. Best way to fix this is to let your manuscript sit for a few weeks. When you come back, all those it’s will stand out! And probably leave you confused on what the heck you were trying to say.
Thanks, ladies! It’s settled. I’m going to try revising as I go on my next manuscript. Now to buckle down and get through the revisions on my current WIP.
Keri, I agree with you about using extra words to develop a character. That’s a must in my book.
Oh, boy, Melissa, do I identify! I do it both ways — as I go, and going back. As I go is my preferred method, unless I discover that nitpicking is slowing down forward progress, and that’s something I just sense. I find at some point I usually catch fire and start going forward as fast as I can, and then I spend less time revising what I’ve done — maybe just a quick whip through what I wrote the day before, as much to get in the rhythm again as to edit/revise.
When I do NaNoWriMo in November, which I’ve done three times now, I’m just pushing ahead w. goal of 50,000 words in that month, and so all revising goes out the window until January, when I can pick it up again. I always mean to work on it in December but so far Christmas and all the stuff I’ve postponed during the November push get in the way.
Everything you mentioned is the stuff I have to revise out, too. I’m too wordy. I spread adverbs with a heavy hand, even when I think I’m watching out for them. I repeat certain words — “that” and “just” are just two examples of that. My sentences are too long. I use too many dashes (observe sentence above) and paratheses (observe this sentence).
Groan. What makes me think I can write?
Great post, though!
Oh — Melissa, I forgot one, which I should know from teaching recalcitrant students English. Using two prepositions in a row, like “up into” or “off in” or any of numerous other combinations. You can almost always delete one and clean the sentence up.
Hey, I love NaNoWriMo! I’ve only done it twice. Made it the first time, but only got around 30,000 words this past November. But it was still fun.
I’ll be looking for you on the NaNO site this year, Beppie! Having friends to cheer on always helps!
In edits I find where I’ve said something and then several paragraphs later, I’m saying it again. A little different, but still the same thing.
But, after having to cut 20,000 words for an editor, I’m learning to not to that, or at least I think I am.
Oh, forgot to say this is really a great post. A print out and keep by the desk kind.