Hey friends! So glad it's Friday. We have Spring Break next week! Which means I will be taking a break from blogging to spend some extra time with the family. However, I'll be around here and there to take a peek at your fabulous blogs.
If you want a little boost of encouragement about your writing, I'm blogging today at The Writer's Alley. Just a few points to remind you that every genre is important, and so is what you write!
As always, I'd love to hear your news for the week and pray for anyone with prayer requests. And if you're in the middle of Spring Break or it's coming up, I'd love to hear your plans. Have a superb weekend!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
When Is Your Manuscript REALLY Done?
I hear a lot about writers lingering over their manuscripts, tweaking them here and there or editing, editing, editing and having a hard time moving on. And they wonder, when is enough enough?
And then there's the other end, writers who are so excited to move onto the next story, they spend very little time editing or tweaking and simply move on. I haven't met a lot of writers in this category, but I'm definitely one of them. I tend to get revved up about a new story and want to give my old manuscript one quick edit before I call it done.
So where's that balance? I'd say it's probably different for each manuscript but I'm trying to get myself in the habit of doing a few important things before moving on.
Take a Vacation From the Manuscript
This is a hard one for me. Typically, I write my first draft fairly quickly and without going back to edit any of it. So, when I type that final page, I'm ready to start editing right away and see what I've got. But I've discovered people give this advice for a reason. Taking a break from your manuscript before you begin editing truly does help you see it in a new light. It gives you the space you need to return to it as impartial as possible, able to keep your eyes open and actually see those large and small flaws you might have not seen before.
The Big Edit
This is typically the first edit of the story. The macro edit, the content edit, whatever you want to call it. In this step, I check for flow, for consistency, for conflict. Basically, it's to make sure your plot is sound and you have all the elements you want for your story.
The Small Edit(s)
After the big edit, I take it in stages - sometimes this is called a micro edit. I'll go through and check for sentence structure, grammar, spelling, all those small things that help polish the manuscript. Often, this takes more than one go-through.
Critiques, Betas, Editors, Etc.
For me, this stage entails sending chapters or the entire manuscript off to my critique partners. For some of you , this would be an editor if you're contracted or choose to pay a freelance editor to look over your work. Some do beta readers or have someone else they trust read through the manuscript. I believe this step is important and extremely beneficial. Here is another great place to get an impartial party to look over your work, and if it's someone who has some experience, they can provide useful feedback.
The Final Polish
This comes after you get your work back from a critique partner, beta reader, etc. Hopefully, at this stage, you are able to fix the holes and make the small changes to prepare your work for other eyes - agents, contest judges, etc.
So when is your manuscript really done? I try to make myself follow these steps after each manuscript (although sometimes I'll send chapters to a CP a little early to make sure the opening is working). Are there certain steps you follow once your manuscript finished? Is it easy or hard for you to move onto the next manuscript?
And then there's the other end, writers who are so excited to move onto the next story, they spend very little time editing or tweaking and simply move on. I haven't met a lot of writers in this category, but I'm definitely one of them. I tend to get revved up about a new story and want to give my old manuscript one quick edit before I call it done.
So where's that balance? I'd say it's probably different for each manuscript but I'm trying to get myself in the habit of doing a few important things before moving on.
Take a Vacation From the Manuscript
This is a hard one for me. Typically, I write my first draft fairly quickly and without going back to edit any of it. So, when I type that final page, I'm ready to start editing right away and see what I've got. But I've discovered people give this advice for a reason. Taking a break from your manuscript before you begin editing truly does help you see it in a new light. It gives you the space you need to return to it as impartial as possible, able to keep your eyes open and actually see those large and small flaws you might have not seen before.
The Big Edit
This is typically the first edit of the story. The macro edit, the content edit, whatever you want to call it. In this step, I check for flow, for consistency, for conflict. Basically, it's to make sure your plot is sound and you have all the elements you want for your story.
The Small Edit(s)
After the big edit, I take it in stages - sometimes this is called a micro edit. I'll go through and check for sentence structure, grammar, spelling, all those small things that help polish the manuscript. Often, this takes more than one go-through.
Critiques, Betas, Editors, Etc.
For me, this stage entails sending chapters or the entire manuscript off to my critique partners. For some of you , this would be an editor if you're contracted or choose to pay a freelance editor to look over your work. Some do beta readers or have someone else they trust read through the manuscript. I believe this step is important and extremely beneficial. Here is another great place to get an impartial party to look over your work, and if it's someone who has some experience, they can provide useful feedback.
The Final Polish
This comes after you get your work back from a critique partner, beta reader, etc. Hopefully, at this stage, you are able to fix the holes and make the small changes to prepare your work for other eyes - agents, contest judges, etc.
So when is your manuscript really done? I try to make myself follow these steps after each manuscript (although sometimes I'll send chapters to a CP a little early to make sure the opening is working). Are there certain steps you follow once your manuscript finished? Is it easy or hard for you to move onto the next manuscript?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Brainstorming - Alone or With Company?
I used to be a big fan of solitary plotting. I'd get an idea, perhaps jot down some details, and then spend hours in my head getting to know my characters and plotting out scenes and histories. Perhaps this was just because I was shy about sharing my stories with other people, or because I thought the process worked better for me.
But once I got more open about my writing, and wanted to make sure my writing actually made sense and appealed to readers, I started brainstorming (mostly with my hubby) to start the plotting process for each new novel.
So, what are the benefits to brainstorming with company?
A Sounding Board
Plain and simple, you have someone to bounce ideas off of. And plenty of times, even if they don't say much, a lot of figuring out your story is just working through all of the bits and pieces you have and arranging them into a manageable order that actually sounds like a plot.
Better Visual/Memory
For those of us who can see things clearer, or remember them more clearly when we discuss them out loud, brainstorming with company is a great tool. I tend to forget things more easily when I write them down, but if I discuss them, I recall bits of the conversation and the images that came to my mind during those bits I may end up using in my story as scenes.
New Ideas
Not only do you get a sounding board, you have someone who can inspire more ideas. Or perhaps they have a better scenario, setting, or conflict that would make the story that much more appealing to readers.
Better Flow
This is biggest reason I enjoy brainstorming out loud, with someone to bounce ideas off of. Sometimes I think the story will flow the way I lined it up in my head, but when I say it out loud, the scenes don't quite line up. Or the plot isn't as interesting or full of conflict as I thought. And this other person can tell you this, let you know if it doesn't make sense, or simply listen as you sort through.
Of course, these reasons are just my opinion and what works best for me. Brainstorming with someone else about your story gives you the chance to see it in a new light before you begin writing.
How about you? Do you brainstorm alone or with company? If you do have a sounding board, is it a spouse, friend, or writing partner?
But once I got more open about my writing, and wanted to make sure my writing actually made sense and appealed to readers, I started brainstorming (mostly with my hubby) to start the plotting process for each new novel.
So, what are the benefits to brainstorming with company?
A Sounding Board
Plain and simple, you have someone to bounce ideas off of. And plenty of times, even if they don't say much, a lot of figuring out your story is just working through all of the bits and pieces you have and arranging them into a manageable order that actually sounds like a plot.
Better Visual/Memory
For those of us who can see things clearer, or remember them more clearly when we discuss them out loud, brainstorming with company is a great tool. I tend to forget things more easily when I write them down, but if I discuss them, I recall bits of the conversation and the images that came to my mind during those bits I may end up using in my story as scenes.
New Ideas
Not only do you get a sounding board, you have someone who can inspire more ideas. Or perhaps they have a better scenario, setting, or conflict that would make the story that much more appealing to readers.
Better Flow
This is biggest reason I enjoy brainstorming out loud, with someone to bounce ideas off of. Sometimes I think the story will flow the way I lined it up in my head, but when I say it out loud, the scenes don't quite line up. Or the plot isn't as interesting or full of conflict as I thought. And this other person can tell you this, let you know if it doesn't make sense, or simply listen as you sort through.
Of course, these reasons are just my opinion and what works best for me. Brainstorming with someone else about your story gives you the chance to see it in a new light before you begin writing.
How about you? Do you brainstorm alone or with company? If you do have a sounding board, is it a spouse, friend, or writing partner?
Friday, March 11, 2011
Fellowship Friday
Hi, friends! Welcome to another Friday.
We had a long and productive week here, with house painting and organizing. It's either early spring cleaning or I'm already trying to get the house ready for the baby. Either way, it's nice to see things in their place. Are any of you big fans of spring cleaning - and have you already started?
If you're interested in a loose guideline to help plot your new WIP, I'm posting about Six Steps to a Successful Plot over at The Writer's Alley today.
As always, I'd love to hear any new or good news in the comments, and if there's anything I can pray for, e-mail me or leave it in the comments and I'll be happy to pray. Have a wonderful weekend!
We had a long and productive week here, with house painting and organizing. It's either early spring cleaning or I'm already trying to get the house ready for the baby. Either way, it's nice to see things in their place. Are any of you big fans of spring cleaning - and have you already started?
If you're interested in a loose guideline to help plot your new WIP, I'm posting about Six Steps to a Successful Plot over at The Writer's Alley today.
As always, I'd love to hear any new or good news in the comments, and if there's anything I can pray for, e-mail me or leave it in the comments and I'll be happy to pray. Have a wonderful weekend!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Editing - For Word Count
I've had the pleasure, and frustration, of editing many stories. There are all kinds of edits. The content edit, editing for grammar and punctuation, editing for flow - it goes on and on. Right now I'm editing my story specifically to get the word count down, which is a first for me, and it's been an interesting and illuminating new challenge.
So how does one edit when their main goal is to cut words? I suppose there are many ways, but I approached the challenge with one thought. Weed out the unnecessaries. Here are some categories of unnecessaries I found useful in getting my word count down.
Unnecessary Characters
I'm a big fan of secondary characters. I enjoy infusing life into my story with their quirky comments and behaviors. But when word count is at stake, sometimes secondary characters need to go. If they aren't progressing the plot, then they don't need to be there. And often times their conversations with the main character only serve to take up space when my main goal should be the main character and propelling them forward in the plot. Not only that, those quirky comments and behaviors might as well belong to my MC - they are first and foremost the people we want readers to fall in love with.
Unnecessary Subplots
This goes right along with secondary characters. Sometimes secondary characters are what make up these sub-plots and sometimes not. When they're not, it's often an additional conflict characters are going through. While we are sometimes taught there can never be enough conflict, I don't think that's always true. In the story I'm editing, there's a spiritual conflict, a familial conflict, the romance conflict, an occupational conflict, as well as an internal conflict centered around lack of self-confidence. And that's just for the heroine. Whoa! I found my words were better spent centering around a few conflicts and making the most of those. And, since the story is a romance, then that had better be the biggest conflict.
Unnecessary Scenes
Of course I got rid of scenes or partial scenes with secondary characters and those above mentioned subplots, but there were plenty of times I'd start a scene in a poor place. Say in a previous scene, the hero and heroine are planning on going ice fishing - interesting hobby, I know. Anyway, they make the plans and the chapter or scene ends. Instead of starting the next chapter or scene with a build up to that setting (i.e. characters thinking about how much they're going to enjoy ice fishing, etc.), I found much of the time it's better to simply drop the characters right in the middle of their plans. Kind of the same idea as beginning your story in the middle of the action. There doesn't always need to be a lot of backstory and build up, that's the purpose the scene before serves.
Unnecessary Words
This sounds general but I mean it in a specific way. A surprising amount of words can be cut by condensing descriptions or repetitive sentences or paragraphs. A good deal can be cut by leaving out adverbs that aren't necessary. And finally, a fair amount can be cut out by getting rid of passive words. One I found common and see a lot is a sentence like, "The car was passing on the right." It can easily and more effectively be replaced with, "The car passed on the right." Cuts one word and gets rid of the passive. Two birds with one stone. The best part about unnecessary words is that it's not just for cutting the overall word count of a story. It can help benefit and polish any story and present a more appealing manuscript to agents and editors.
I've found approaching editing this way a great plan to getting a story into shape and cutting words if that's the goal. What tips and tricks do you use to get word count down or create a more effective manuscript?
So how does one edit when their main goal is to cut words? I suppose there are many ways, but I approached the challenge with one thought. Weed out the unnecessaries. Here are some categories of unnecessaries I found useful in getting my word count down.
Unnecessary Characters
I'm a big fan of secondary characters. I enjoy infusing life into my story with their quirky comments and behaviors. But when word count is at stake, sometimes secondary characters need to go. If they aren't progressing the plot, then they don't need to be there. And often times their conversations with the main character only serve to take up space when my main goal should be the main character and propelling them forward in the plot. Not only that, those quirky comments and behaviors might as well belong to my MC - they are first and foremost the people we want readers to fall in love with.
Unnecessary Subplots
This goes right along with secondary characters. Sometimes secondary characters are what make up these sub-plots and sometimes not. When they're not, it's often an additional conflict characters are going through. While we are sometimes taught there can never be enough conflict, I don't think that's always true. In the story I'm editing, there's a spiritual conflict, a familial conflict, the romance conflict, an occupational conflict, as well as an internal conflict centered around lack of self-confidence. And that's just for the heroine. Whoa! I found my words were better spent centering around a few conflicts and making the most of those. And, since the story is a romance, then that had better be the biggest conflict.
Unnecessary Scenes
Of course I got rid of scenes or partial scenes with secondary characters and those above mentioned subplots, but there were plenty of times I'd start a scene in a poor place. Say in a previous scene, the hero and heroine are planning on going ice fishing - interesting hobby, I know. Anyway, they make the plans and the chapter or scene ends. Instead of starting the next chapter or scene with a build up to that setting (i.e. characters thinking about how much they're going to enjoy ice fishing, etc.), I found much of the time it's better to simply drop the characters right in the middle of their plans. Kind of the same idea as beginning your story in the middle of the action. There doesn't always need to be a lot of backstory and build up, that's the purpose the scene before serves.
Unnecessary Words
This sounds general but I mean it in a specific way. A surprising amount of words can be cut by condensing descriptions or repetitive sentences or paragraphs. A good deal can be cut by leaving out adverbs that aren't necessary. And finally, a fair amount can be cut out by getting rid of passive words. One I found common and see a lot is a sentence like, "The car was passing on the right." It can easily and more effectively be replaced with, "The car passed on the right." Cuts one word and gets rid of the passive. Two birds with one stone. The best part about unnecessary words is that it's not just for cutting the overall word count of a story. It can help benefit and polish any story and present a more appealing manuscript to agents and editors.
I've found approaching editing this way a great plan to getting a story into shape and cutting words if that's the goal. What tips and tricks do you use to get word count down or create a more effective manuscript?
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