During stressful rewrites, candy helps, but there’s so much other real help out there for writers going into or through the revision process.
FUN AND REVISION? ABSOLUTELY.
I stumbled on Shannon O’Donnell’s post about how to make the job of revision fun. Some of you have read her post, but for those who haven’t, take a look when you’re ready to throw that manuscript across the room. Have a laugh, maybe do something joyous like turn a somersault, and then go back to work.
CHECKLIST HELP
Nathan Bransford has posted a wonderful Revision Checklist. I love checklists, especially if I don’t have to create them. Thank you, Nathan.
ABOUT THOSE “DARLINGS
One of the best guidelines for helping you cut your “darlings” is from Cheryl Klein. I enjoy reading this every time I’m in that situation which is a lot! Here’s what she writes.
CHERYL SAYS, “It is perfectly okay to be upset about cutting things. If you receive an edit and think, ‘No! Mr. Fluffy has to stay!’ sit down and think why you feel this way. Is it because you really Mr. Fluffy as a character? Because you see him as serving an important function in the novel? Or because you spent five hours writing that scene with him? If it’s important to you for a writing reason, look at why your editor suggests dropping him. Is there a way to solve the problem and yet keep him in the book? But if it’s only important to you for personal reasons–like the five hours you spent on that scene–then you sigh and cut it with no kicking or screaming.
Here’s my favorite part and I’ve found it helps when I do take the knife to Mr. Fluffy.
CHERYL SAYS, “And really, if you hate cutting that one line or plot development because it’s so perfect and you spent so much time on it, remember: It’s just disappearing from this work. It’s not disappearing from the world. YOU CAN USE IT AGAIN SOMEWHERE ELSE.”
Yes!!!!
I'm glad these posts are helping. At the same time I'm doing what I said at the beginning of the year. I'm showing what I'm going through as a writer. Love sharing the joy and pain with writers who understand exactly what I'm experiencing.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving comments.
Great advice, Lee. And I so need it! I'm loving your revision posts. They're very helpful.
Great post! Thanks for the link. I love links. 😀
Wonderful advice! Thanks for the links too.
Wow! I was shocked to see my name here. Thanks so much for including me in your shout-out. I'm honored. 🙂
Excellent advice all around! I just printed the revision checklist!
Great advice – I hate cutting my darlings, but I'm learning to do it without complaining. Much.
I saw an interesting suggestion on Verla's–making your revision into a powerpoint presentation. I started that with my currently resting revision and am anxious to get back to it to see what I think about that method.
As one who's in a perpetual state of revisions, I agree with all you said. And that Cheryl said. 🙂
I've been cutting some lines, killing some darlings today. Who knows where they might turn up down the road?
I also love Cheryl Klein's advice. It's good to be reminded that the fantastic lines that don't fit in one manuscript, might be perfect in something else down the line. It's not like it's hard to open a new document and save it, but sometimes it's easy to forget!