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This week: The Value of Rewriting Edited by: Jay's debut novel is out now!  
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This issue:
"The Value of Rewriting"
Most of us are not merely writers but rewriters. Embrace the second draft! |
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Very few of us, in my opinion, are really going to produce golden work right out of the gate. For the majority, the process really begins once the first draft is out-- however polished or rusty that might be.
Every writer has their own methods for how they tackle this aspect of their writing, and if you've already got a method that works for you-- great! I would love to hear any tips you might have. Here are some suggestions I've collected along the way.
Put it away-- for a little bit. Most writers need some cooldown time if they're going to have any hope of objectivity with their own writing. Set that draft aside once you're ready to type the words "THE END" at the bottom of your manuscript. For most writers, that's probably going to be a couple of weeks; certainly at least 48 hours to shake off any of the spare frabjous glee of completion. Giving yourself some space from the document is something that takes some practice.
Make yourself a spare copy (or two). This seems really obvious, but if you work better on paper, print yourself a copy to read from, and a copy to write on-- and keep them distinct. If you mark up your working copy, you'll still have a reference copy. If you work better in digital, make yourself a scrap file of some kind where you can drop off cut pieces (that snip of dialogue you love but doesn't advance the plot-- never know, you might find a better place for it later...) and even make notes about plot line changes; if you're moving a section of the piece around to get a better effect, make a note of it in your unofficial change-log.
Evaluate your starting point and ending point before getting to the middle. Does this piece start and end where it should? This is pretty rare. Often, the true beginning of the part which actually makes the piece tick is further in than the initial point where you began writing. Equally often, there's additional setup required which isn't quite there yet. Skipping forward to the ending-- does the piece end in a satisfying and logical place, especially in respect of the opening you've just gone over? Once you've started to tuck in the loose ends here, drift back into the middle and begin threading together the rest.
Communicate! Does the protagonist of your story or the voice of your poem have weight? Is the reader compelled to continue by the engagement of your words? If the piece is dragging or sagging somewhere, make notes and follow up to see what can be cut or stitched together to tighten up the piece and get it into shape. Is the voice right for the work? Is the tense and point of view working well to create tension and emotion for the reader?
Beta readers, ahoy. This is where your writing buddies come into play, whether it is a fellow writer here on WdC -- a friend, a review group, a workshop... someone whose opinion you trust. While it's great to get random reviews from community members, try to foster friendships with other writers who have similar interests-- and a willingness to be really honest with you about what works and what doesn't.
Check your language. Bust out Strunk and White's Elements of Style and check for all of those pesky elements that weaken and add bulk to your writing; adverbs and filler words like "suddenly" and "then" when they don't provide additional support.
Keep at it! -- Sometimes a piece doesn't come together right away. Sometimes it takes a long time in cold storage for a story or poem to really come together. That's totally normal! The important thing is to keep trying until you need a break, and to move onto something else if you get frustrated. The bottom line is, this is a process that's never really "done."
Until Next Time-- Take care and Write on!
~j
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Since this is just a guest issue, I don't have any questions to answer, but please feel free to submit any feedback or questions you might have! While I'm not a regular at For Authors, I can answer in next week's Short Stories newsletter.  |
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For Authors: April 22, 2015 Issue [#6941]
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