Saturday, December 11, 2010

So Much To Do, So Little Time.

This week has been super busy. My daughter's basketball games have increased to three times a week and I'm happy to report they've been winners all week. Sorry for my absence on the blog. We're traveling to some of the games, so time (I don't even know what that means anymore) is nonexistent. On a good note, I've finished reading Blue Moon by Alyson Noel, and have now moved onto HUSH HUSH, by Becca Fitzpatrick. At least my reading hasn't been neglected as much as my writing. I have, however, come up with a system to help me feel more focused and not as overwhelmed by my WIP. I've started to look at my manuscript as though each chapter were like it's own little book. It makes revisions much easier and they seem to flow along faster this way. I don't know why I never did this before. I always tried to look at the whole thing. All 82,000 words of it. A little much to say the least. It usually left me feeling like progress was impossible, but by concentrating on a chapter at a time, it seems like I'm getting somewhere. Maybe I'm not, but at least I'm pacified by allowing myself a start and a finish. I even open up a new doc, paste a chapter, fix it, and paste it back. It's cool to look down at the bottom of the doc and see 10 pages as opposed to 300. I guess I'm psyching myself out, but hey, whatever works right? What's your method for revising?
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8 comments:

  1. UnknownDecember 11, 2010 at 2:37 PM

    I tend to do a chapter or two at a time (depending on whether they connect with each other or not). When I'm satisfied with that, I'll read start to finish (or to where I feel a need to start making changes). Then I have at it again.

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  2. AnonymousDecember 11, 2010 at 3:51 PM

    I attended a workshop some time ago with author Margaret Atwood once and she said that each chapter of a book should be it's own story. Treat them as mini-stories (I guess it would be flash fiction nowadays!)and make sure they have a beginning - introduce the setting, characters and plot, a middle - what is the conflict? and an end - sum it all up with a nice red bow or leave it hanging like clothes on a line. It works for me when revising.

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  3. UnknownDecember 12, 2010 at 1:20 AM

    What a great way to put it Nathalie! I guess that's what I've started doing. I've noticed that each chapter is ending so much better. More cliffhangers and less blah.

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  4. Amie KaufmanDecember 12, 2010 at 5:34 AM

    Oh, hey, what a great way to look at it! I'm starting revision now, so this'll be incredibly useful!

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  5. Raleigh RoxStarDecember 12, 2010 at 11:21 AM

    Editing and revising can be very intimidating. What a clever idea to treat each chapter as an individual book. I will try this when I begin revising my WIP in January.

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  6. UnknownDecember 14, 2010 at 9:21 AM

    Thanks for the comment and the follow Raleigh. Welcome. So glad to have you!!

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  7. AnonymousDecember 14, 2010 at 11:48 AM

    Hi Tc =) I know what you mean about busy. I have 5 children. Besides all the house work, cooking/baking and now making a ton of homemade gifts for our family and friends for Christmas. It's fun, though. I see you read Hush Hush, what did you think of it? I still need to read book two: Cresendo. I hope you have a blessed Christmas and wonderful new year!

    ~Jannette~

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  8. UnknownDecember 14, 2010 at 11:23 PM

    Thanks Jannette. 5 Kids? Wow! I wouldn't know whose underwear I had on. I'm almost done with Hush Hush and so far, I really like it. It's definitely a page turner. I'll let you know more when I'm all done. You have a blessed Christmas as well:D

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