Revisions are important
Revisions aren't just important -- they're critical. Nobody gets it right the first time; and heck, sometimes not even the second or third time. Just writing and spellchecking isn't enough. To write something worth catching an agent's eye (or in my case, making my editor happy), you've got to revise and rewrite.
When I'm under a tight deadline (which is always), my goal with writing a first draft is to leave myself at least two months for revisions. More time would be author shangra-la, but I have to work with the time I've agreed to in my contract.
Revisions are what makes me happy with my books. For me, first drafts are for getting the story down. Details such as new character names, place names, fleshing out romantic scenes and action sequences, dialogue tags (be they speech or character actions), all come with the second draft. (BTW -- I tend to go pretty basic with dialog tags -- or better yet, use none at all. But character actions and expressions are great to add spice and believability to a scene.) Unfortunately, two drafts is usually all I have time for; so I while I can't get it right the first time, I have to get it right the second go round.
As I said the first draft is for getting my story down; the second draft is for bringing it to life. The details, the nuances, digging deep for the sub-plots and motivations that didn't (and couldn't) make themselves known to me until I had the entire story down. Which will take me to tomorrow's topic: Write something, because you can't fix a blank page.
Some of what's coming in the next week or so:
Lisa
When I'm under a tight deadline (which is always), my goal with writing a first draft is to leave myself at least two months for revisions. More time would be author shangra-la, but I have to work with the time I've agreed to in my contract.
Revisions are what makes me happy with my books. For me, first drafts are for getting the story down. Details such as new character names, place names, fleshing out romantic scenes and action sequences, dialogue tags (be they speech or character actions), all come with the second draft. (BTW -- I tend to go pretty basic with dialog tags -- or better yet, use none at all. But character actions and expressions are great to add spice and believability to a scene.) Unfortunately, two drafts is usually all I have time for; so I while I can't get it right the first time, I have to get it right the second go round.
As I said the first draft is for getting my story down; the second draft is for bringing it to life. The details, the nuances, digging deep for the sub-plots and motivations that didn't (and couldn't) make themselves known to me until I had the entire story down. Which will take me to tomorrow's topic: Write something, because you can't fix a blank page.
Some of what's coming in the next week or so:
- How to keep a story believable
- Authors are business people, too
- Writing yourself out of a plot hole
- Need inspiration? Look into your characters' pasts and air that dirty laundry. ; )
- Listen to your readers
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
11:51 AM
1 Comments:
Hmm i like planning the book, my muse sometimes gets overexcited and wakes me up real early for three or four chapters, made me late for work once *wince*
Im not so sure i like revisions, i prefer writing and sitting down with my muse and creating names and plot sequences.
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