10 Things I Have Learned About Revising (aka, how not to die)

[meaganspooner]

In no particular order:

1.  If you're writing along, plowing ahead in order to finish a draft, and you think of stuff you want to change later but don't right at that moment because you want to finish, MAKE A NOTE OF IT SOMEWHERE.  You aren't actually going to remember later, no matter how sure you are at the time that you will.

2.  Outline outline

Comments

[lnbw]

I cannot agree with #1 enough (and this is true for me both for ideas for revision and ideas for new stories). I once read an interview with an author who said that she never wrote down ideas, because if they were good enough, she'd remember them. This is NOT true for me!

I also have to frequently remind myself of #10. My mantra while writing is, "If it sucks, you never have to show it to anyone."

[meaganspooner]

Yeah, while most of them are in no particular order, #1 is the thing that prompted me to WRITE the post, because it's the one thing I soooo didn't do and wish I had done. I'm always telling myself "Oh, yeah, that's an awesome idea! Of course you're going to remember that!" and the next day I'm sitting there going "...well, crap."

Oh, so many things I could say to your mantra. I will settle for eyeing you meaningfully and raising an eyebrow.

[jlewenda]

This was REALLY hepful, thanks for posting it.
I too am currently editing my first novel-length story, and am really struggling, but this just makes things a million times easier.

So once agin, thankyou.

[meaganspooner]

I am SO glad you find it helpful! Seriously, if there's one goal I have when I post stuff like this, it's so people might get something out of it and not make my same mistakes. Revision is HARD, and though I think it really gets easier with time, nothing can really prepare you for that first go around.

Good luck with yours, and let me know if you stumble across any other advice for the future while you're figuring it out!

[angelwingsbaka]

#2 is the one that really rings true with me. Not just for editing, but for writing the book in general. If I know that B follows A, at least I have a direction to take the story in. Plus, if I think up something great in between, I can edit!

[meaganspooner]

Yeah, I wish I was able to outline during the writing process the way you do--I think it would mean that my initial revisions would be a bit easier! Still, I think as long as at some point in the process you outline the story, it's a good thing. If nothing else it's much easier to see visually where things are going, how quickly, etc.

[journeynorth]

Omg, Meagan, I haven't been on the computer in forever or commented but congrats on finishing the second draft. :DDD I'll definitely take these tips into account once I finish a story... someday. XD

Also, that Wordle reminds me so much of one of my WIPs, haha. Although it's less of a Beauty and the Beast retelling (I'm guessing) than a Little Red Riding Hood one. :)

[meaganspooner]

Aww, thanks for catching up! I'm glad to hear from you! And thanks for the congrats. I'm going a bit nuts not having it to work on, I must admit!

WHOO for fairy tale retellings! I <3 them. That was how I first bonded with sjmaas back in college. It's completely bizarre that the project I'm about to query with ISN'T related to a fairy tale in some way, actually. But I'm totally psyched to get back into it.

Little Red Riding Hood is such a weird story that it just BEGS to be retold. Love it. :)

[calbraith1]

Phew! You are one busy lady. Congrats on finishing the draft. Can't wait to see it on the shelf.

Buck

[meaganspooner]

Thanks! I've hit that point where I've started thinking "Wait, why did I ever think this was publishable?" But I'm determined to ignore that thought and push forward. So hopefully it's just the crazy brain talking, and that'll go away! :)

Great to hear from you, Buck.