Monday Madness: Revising with a Purpose

Writing a novel is the easy part. It's also the fun part.

Revising? Not so fun.

I'm one of those freaks who actually enjoys editing and revising, however. I like taking something good and making it great. Sometimes, however, I go too far. I fix things that don't need to be fixed. Add things that don't need to be added. And in my zeal to produce the perfect manuscript, I make it a garbled mess.

So I now make myself take revising/editing in baby steps. I edit with a purpose.

First Revision: Plot

I make sure it's strong and cohesive. I add a bit of foreshadowing (since I tend to be a pantser and things "just happen" as I write, this is very important). This is usually the most involved revision and takes the longest.

Second Revision: Focus on characters.

I make sure their personalities stay true and realistic, their voices are distinct, and their physical appearance stays the same (unless it's supposed to change). I make sure that their dreams and values remain consistent.

Third Revision: Realize weaknesses and correct them.

Every writer's weakness will be different. Mine is that I tend to be more focused on my characters than the setting at times and it can leave a reader adrift. I also tend to not trust my reader and so I state things that don't really need to be stated. So, I try to weed out as many of these as possible.

Third Revision Part II: Strengthen weak scenes, sentences, dialogue, etc. 

This is the stage that I'm currently at with Dragon Queen. This is just one small step beyond the third revision, so I didn't really think it warranted its own step.

Fourth Revision: The final polish.

After you're done with the Third Revision, let your MS sit for a while. A week is good. A month is even better. (I have a really hard time doing this.) Then I suggest printing out a hard copy, grabbing a pen in a bright color (I like pink) and reading through. Mark any place that bugs you, but DON'T STOP READING until you've read the entire thing. Then go back and reevaluate those places. Sometimes these things are just items that you've overlooked from a previous revision. Other times they are complications that have risen from changes you've made. Correct them. Spit shine them and then...

Let it sit for another few days (or weeks). Pick it up again (or if you're lucky and have a beta, send it to them and ask for their opinion). If you (or your beta) can give a thumbs up after re-reading it, then you're ready to start your synopsis and write your query (if you haven't done it already).

Happy revising!