tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post8421268496898729065..comments2024-03-15T09:26:02.796-05:00Comments on PROJECT MAYHEM: Revision strategies – A Chapter WorksheetProject Mayhemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05154342399869089664noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-49473913632377620122012-01-03T11:01:09.993-06:002012-01-03T11:01:09.993-06:00Awesome! Thanks for sharing, Dee! :-)Awesome! Thanks for sharing, Dee! :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-59400228316126474832012-01-01T23:41:57.518-06:002012-01-01T23:41:57.518-06:00THIS IS EXCELLENT! Thanks so much for this!! You h...THIS IS EXCELLENT! Thanks so much for this!! You have no idea how much I needed this breakdown!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-81696634829947576182011-12-31T12:00:25.176-06:002011-12-31T12:00:25.176-06:00Thanks for the tips, Dee! I'm with Marissa--I...Thanks for the tips, Dee! I'm with Marissa--I LOVE revising, much more so than cranking out that first draft. Revising is a much more rewarding process for me, as I can FINALLY see the manuscript pulling together in a way that's just not there in the drafting process.<br /><br />I especially like tip #9. With young readers, those cliffhanger chapter endings--or something intriguing that makes them want to read on--is so important, especially for the readers with short attention spans :)<br /><br />Great post!Dawn Lairamorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01615827571568264386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-65472507190585284052011-12-31T11:24:14.849-06:002011-12-31T11:24:14.849-06:00It is fun to see how differently writers approach ...It is fun to see how differently writers approach revision. Happy New Year, all!Dee Garretsonhttp://deegarretson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-65155539581793281162011-12-31T10:12:36.853-06:002011-12-31T10:12:36.853-06:00This is great, Dee. I think this is so helpful to ...This is great, Dee. I think this is so helpful to so many writers (including me)!! Thanks so much for posting this. :)Hilary Wagnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18199287020561210673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-49898321046674244862011-12-31T09:56:29.403-06:002011-12-31T09:56:29.403-06:00Awesome! This is something I really need! Thanks, ...Awesome! This is something I really need! Thanks, Dee<br /><br />KarlyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-75239655658989218892011-12-31T04:23:16.781-06:002011-12-31T04:23:16.781-06:00I love your analytical, checklist, approach to rev...I love your analytical, checklist, approach to revisions especially that you check your world building through the medium of the senses.<br />Happy New Year to you all.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15459671422564355990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-49495527341635976302011-12-30T15:21:19.495-06:002011-12-30T15:21:19.495-06:00This is so timely for me. Consider it officially b...This is so timely for me. Consider it officially bookmarked.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-65570560483806792942011-12-30T12:44:35.927-06:002011-12-30T12:44:35.927-06:00Oh my GOSH...LOVE THIS. er, sorry bout the shoutin...Oh my GOSH...LOVE THIS. er, sorry bout the shouting. Needless to say I don't have much of a chap by chap revision method. Thanks for this, Dee!<br /><br />Happy New Year to all you Project Mayhem-ers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-72183116601185499472011-12-30T12:02:59.283-06:002011-12-30T12:02:59.283-06:00Oh, wow! What a great idea! Revising to me alway...Oh, wow! What a great idea! Revising to me always feels like taking an old broken tape recorder apart or something. Then I'm sitting there with all the pieces scattered around and have to figure out how to get it back together again. I usually:<br /><br />1. Tackle line edits first - easy changes like word repetition or cuts for each chapter.<br />2. Figure out the big picture stuff and jot notes to myself, then start at the beginning and just read/revise the way through. I keep a separate word document open, so when I cut large amounts of text it's right there if I need it again.<br />3. While I"m revising, I jot a short list of thing that come to mind that I can do at the end.<br />4. Then, once I'm done, I read through again to make sure everything flows. <br /><br />I actually love revising - much more than drafting, actually - so it's a fun process for me!Marissa Burthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079821721448782710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-87095464492538163572011-12-30T10:42:18.255-06:002011-12-30T10:42:18.255-06:00Like others, I admire you for being able to do thi...Like others, I admire you for being able to do this type of revision, but it is too detailed for my methodology. Revision for me is more wholistic and I go about it in a less structured way. I *tried* a more focused approach like this once, but it took me out of the flow I need to be in and slowed things downs immensely. However, I will say that some of your questions I ask myself throughout revision. Good post, Dee.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-82901233724037837322011-12-30T09:52:39.150-06:002011-12-30T09:52:39.150-06:00Dawn, I'm the same way about the senses which ...Dawn, I'm the same way about the senses which is why I need to remind myself about them. I finally realized why I love certain books and it's because of how much all the senses are used in the worldbuilding.<br /><br />Michael, I know one of the main comments from editors and agents is that they don't particularly like the main character, and I think it's because writers see their characters so clearly in their heads, they don't realize they aren't getting a complete image out there.Dee Garretsonhttp://deegarretson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-80938560359020454202011-12-30T09:51:41.327-06:002011-12-30T09:51:41.327-06:00This is a very analytical approach! I admire anybo...This is a very analytical approach! I admire anybody who can tackle the writing process this way. My first drafts are all pantstered -- and while I try to be a little more organized during the revision process, I can't claim to anything as precise as this.<br /><br />One thing that I *have* found helpful: Making an outline of the existing draft and highlighting the main plot and all subplots in different colors so I can see how they blend together and balance each other. <br /><br />For example: If the main plot is yellow and the romance is pink -- and my outline is awash in solid pink for a big section with no hint of yellow -- then I know I need to re-arrange events.Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-33001623643617698672011-12-30T09:15:36.117-06:002011-12-30T09:15:36.117-06:00This is definitely going into my "how to revi...This is definitely going into my "how to revise" file. I particularly like the questions in #4. I write my first drafts pretty cluelessly, so it's a surprise when my critique group say things like "I'm not liking your MC," when I like the MC a lot. #4 will really get me to thinking about the needed "effects" that go into making a likeable, unlikeable,or a character you're just not sure about.<br /><br />Thanks for the insight into your process, Dee, and a Happy new Year to you.Michael G-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-58867805862473100072011-12-30T09:06:44.667-06:002011-12-30T09:06:44.667-06:00That's a great summary checklist for chapters!...That's a great summary checklist for chapters! I'm definitely going to use this. I especially like the question about using the senses. It's something I often overlook when revising; I'll focus on only one of the senses, and not fully flesh out the scene. Thanks!D.E. Malonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10256696009575732721noreply@blogger.com