  Horror/Scary
This week: Devil's Advocate Edited by: LJPC - the tortoise  
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This newsletter is about how to revise.
Sage Quotes:
âI don't write a quick draft and then revise; instead, I work slowly page by page, revising and polishing.â
~ Dean Koontz, horror author
âThere's no reason you shouldn't, as a writer, not be aware of the necessity to revise yourself constantly.â
~ John Irving, novelist and screenwriter
âIt's never too late - in fiction or in life - to revise.â
~ Nancy Thayer, author
âYes, in my books I do edit myself to keep from becoming the Village Explainer.â
~ Thomas Perry, mystery/thriller author
âTruth is, every writer has to be a good editor, and you have to edit yourself. It's a skill every writer has to acquire.â
~ Lisa Scottoline, thriller author
âI think I'm able to do so much because writing is what I love to do. So, often when I have free time, I choose to write and edit.â
~ Lauren Oliver, YA dystopian author
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Devilâs Advocate
Why You Need to Revise Your Work
When I first started writing, I was thrilled to see my ideas and characters come to life on the page. I couldnât wait to put my story up on WDC -- a bright, shiny nugget of perfection for all to read and enjoy!  But I was shocked when people viewed it but didn't leave comments. Or worse, when people commented it wasn't very good.  A few people left helpful comments over the weeks, but I didnât know what they were talking about. What was âtellingâ or "POV?"
But can't you just think up a story and write it down? Isn't that being a writer?
No.
It turns out -- the real writing is in the re-writing.
Confused but determined, I burrowed my way into WDC until I found groups willing to help me learn and improve. Over the years, I did improve! I started selling short stories to ezines and anthologies, then succeeded in getting a literary agent, and now have a YA Horror novel publishing in December. 
You can do it, too, and it all starts with learning how to revise.
To do this, you need to play devilâs advocate. Forget that you love the story -- in fact, forget it's yours at all. Look at your writing as if it belongs to someone else, ask hard questions and give honest answers. Be critical. Be mean. 
What to Revise
Here are the five most important things you must ask yourself when deciding what needs revision.
 The Plot Premise
The premise is your storyâs main idea. Is it unique and unusual or have you read it other places and seen it on TV? If it's been used before or is very similar to other works, you need to think of some way to make your premise different.
 The Plot Conflict
Every short story or novel must have a conflict. If the character is meandering around with random scary things happening to him, thatâs only a vignette (or scene), it isnât a story. A conflict is usually between the hero and the villain -- one wants one thing, the other wants something else. Make sure you can name your story's conflict and that it can be reasonably and believably resolved at the story's end. (And donât take the easy way out and let the mc get killed just because you canât be bothered to figure out a good solution to the conflict.)
 The Characterâs Personal Goal
In addition to making sure your plot has a conflict, your main character needs another motivation besides getting out alive from the obstacles you give him. He needs a personal reason, something heâll gain besides his life. Maybe heâs saving a friend or lover. Maybe heâs searching for a cure to an illness that runs in his family. Maybe heâs a weakling or nerd who wants to prove heâs a man. Other than getting out of trouble, what will your character gain at the end of the story? If you canât answer that, you have a problem.
 The Characterâs Arc
During the story, the main character (and all the characters if itâs a novel) must learn, change, and grow. All people have faults. Your character should have one thatâs preventing him from succeeding. He must recognize it and change it by the end. Thatâs a character arc. You must be able to say your heroâs personality or opinions changed by the end.
*NOTE: if you're writing  flash fiction -- 1000 words or less -- you can get away with no character goal and no arc.*
 Keep POV and Tense Consistent
The two most typical and grievous errors in stories are accidentally changing the POV (point of view) or the tense. If you start in first-person, present tense (I see the killer and run), stay in it. If you start in third-person, past tense (He saw the killer and ran), then stay in that. Consistency is key. This and other mistakes in grammar or punctuation can be fixed by proofreading. One way to proofread and not miss anything is to read it out loud. Another way is to read it from the end and go backward one paragraph at a time. Sometimes it helps to change the format of the document, for instance: magnify it or change the font or print it out.
Get Help
If itâs hard to find problems in your own writing -- Get help!
 Donât ask your mom, sister, or best friend to read it and expect them to find the faults. Unless theyâre professional authors, they donât know enough to see the flaws. Plus, they love you and aren't mean enough to play devil's advocate.
Find peer review groups and forums where you can get feedback from other writers. (Iâve listed some of the great review groups on WDC below in the Editorâs Picks section.)
Another great way to improve your revising skills is reviewing! When you find things you donât like in othersâ stories, youâll be sure to look for them and take them out of your stories.
 I Want Your input!
Are there any questions about writing youâd like answered? Horror topics youâd like explored? Craft technique youâd like explained?
Reply to the Newsletter with your questions and suggestions. If I pick your request to do a newsletter on, Iâll mention you at the beginning of the newsletter and send you a Merit Badge.
Thanks for your help! 
Until next time: Let the horror bleed onto the pages with every word!
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Here are some Reviewing Groups or pages to help you revise.
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Become a member of WDC Power and post on the âReview Meâ list
Purchase reviews from Showering Acts of Joy
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#1499415 by Not Available. |
Novel reviews
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Looking for novel reviews? You've come to the right place!
#1916109 by Gaby  |
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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To my delight, some writers took the time to comment on my last newsletter: "Make It Scarier" Thank you!
Comments listed in the order they were received.
Vampyr14  writes: It's always so much more satisfying if the hero doesn't only conquer the monster/obstacle, but also grows as a person by overcoming his own weakness in the process.
Exactly! Thanks so much for replying to the newsletter.
WriterGirl88 writes: I've been feeling creative lately, and I'm planning to start writing a long story soon. The tips you included here on creating conflicts between the main character and the situation he or she is in are really helpful!
Iâm glad youâre feeling inspired and are working on something challenging. Wishing you good luck on all your writing! 
Quick-Quill  writes: Another great NL that can apply to any genre. This and your answer to my previous response has been very helpful! Thanks again!
Youâre so welcome! I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to the newsletter.
Joy  writes: Very useful tips on how to burden characters. Great NL. Thanks.
Youâre very welcome, Joy. I always appreciate your opinion.
BIG BAD WOLF is Merry  submits "Anthros Versus Zombies" and writes: Try being a young man, new to army life, who has to face a war that just can't be won, only endured.
That sounds dark and gloomy -- perfect for a horror story! 
shaara submits "Invalid Item" writes: What a skillfully written newsletter. You really hit the nail -- in fact, you pounded it perfectly. I don't know what CGI means. I'll be looking it up in a minute.
As to Pride and Prejudice and the Zombies???? Tell me you made that name up. Is there really a movie with that title. I almost fell off my chair reading it.
Great newsletter. Thanks!
CGI = Computer-generated Imagery, and -- donât fall out of your chair, Shaara! -- not only is âPride and Prejudice and Zombiesâ being made into a movie, but itâs based on the best-selling book of the same name, written in 2009. Thanks for replying to the newsletter!
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Horror/Scary: September 11, 2013 Issue [#5874]
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