Revision is hands down my favorite part of the writing process, but it’s also the HARDEST. I’ve provided some strategies I’ve used in my revision process that I hope will help you with the developmentally improve your book.
Collect Data
You should have at least two beta readers and two critique partners at the ready for two unique purposes in your revision process. I’m of the belief that new AND trusted readers are necessary in both categories. I also believe the more readers you have, the better, but you don’t need to go overboard – cap the betas at 4 + CPs at 4 people, so 8 different readers max. You don’t need too many cooks in the kitchen.
Beta readers should read for the quality of the experience. No nitpicking or tracking changes. Get them to summarize their read in a short email. The purpose of this feedback is to understand whether your intention for the book was met with the same enthusiasm. General impressions go a long way in identifying developmental areas for improvement. Give the beta reader about two weeks to digest and send back thoughts.
Before you send the manuscript to critique partners, identify 1-2 aspects of the manuscript that you’d like each partner to attend to. Have them focus on different things to cover different aspects of the story. This critique will likely take between 2-4 weeks, and should involve track changes or at least a few notes in the margin.
Distance makes the heart frow fonder
Rest while the jury’s still out. I mean, let’s face it: this manuscript is already a product of your blood, sweat, and tears. You likely already sacrificed a great deal of time and energy to have written a book in the first place! For your sake, take a break – at least a few days, ideally a week or more. Remember this is a marathon, not a race, so take as much time you need to get the story right. I frequently see writers toss their work in the query trench too soon, not doing the necessary deep development necessary to make a book shine. The worst thing that can happen is that you burn out and growing so tired of your book that call it done before it’s fully cooked. Set it aside and, when you’re ready to dive back in, return to it with fresh eyes.
Reverse outline
Now that you have data and are well-rested, go back through the whole manuscript and outline it with revision in mind. I like to use a spreadsheet (Excel or Sheets). Rows are chronological chapters and scenes, while columns include plot, character arcs, setting, and anything else you want to fix. I like to shade different boxes so I know where I need to go in and revise. Be as detailed as possible in this reverse outline spreadsheet. It will become your revision plan. You may need to delete whole chapters or write others from scratch. This reverse outline will be a roadmap that can help you see the whole lay of the land before you embark on this important journey of revision.
Transfer from Google Doc/Word to Scrivener
If you’re like most people, you sent your readers your manuscript as a Google Doc or Word file. Fix any tracked changes in that file and then transfer your manuscript to a NEW Scrivener file. I know this takes extra time, especially if you already have a draft of the ms in Scrivener, but it helps psychologically to separate the draft file from the revision file. The draft is the house but the revision makes it a fully-furnished home. Scrivener has really handy tools for revision, and it’s easier than Doc/Word to navigate between parts of your long-ass manuscript.
Follow your revision plan chronologically
It’s time to get dirty! Work through the whole manuscript from beginning to end, chapter by chapter to get the pieces right. Here are the pieces worth attending to as you revise:
Setting: Otherwise known as world building, the setting – or time and place – is one of the most important pieces in the manuscript that you want to establish well and develop throughout. Try your best not to frontload the details. Instead, sprinkle in bits of the atmosphere evenly, like a topping on a cake.
Characters: Similar to the setting, readers need to meet the main players within the first 20% of the book. Try to ease us in and not throw in too many characters at the same time. The protagonist(s) need to be nuanced and worth rooting for, while the antagonist(s) must not be straight-up evil. Side characters should serves as foils to the main characters.
Beats: Make sure you follow some kind of beat sheet. I like to use Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody, which maps out 15 clear beats in the story. As you revise, you should attend to the function of the beat in your story. In other words, unlike the drafting stage where you were simply putting words and actions down on the page, revision will give you a chance to deliberately emphasis important plot points. People often talk about the sagging middle, so here is where you can really tighten the parts of the story that drag on for too long.
Scenes & Chapters: Most chapters are made up of many smaller scenes (one scene = action that takes place in one setting). As you revise, attend to transitions between scenes, smoothing them out so that the reader follows the action as seamlessly as possible. Every chapter should show a progression or growth for at least one character, including an arc in action that offers a clear beginning, middle and end. If you have a flashback, make sure it’s framed.
Voice: In revision, you must nail down the authentic voice in the manuscript. Regardless of the narrative point of view (1st, 2nd, or 3rd), the voice will need to stand out to readers. Think of revision as your chance to produce a solid musical album, each track being a song that adds a new flavor to the larger piece. This should be a time to really attend to wording.
There you have it! As you can see, revision is a painstaking process that will get you from a rudimentary draft to a fully developed book. I will take some more time in future posts to linger on each bullet point above, but remember that revision is where your story begins to really sing, turning what was a black and white photo into something colorful and appealing. Take your time to avoid burnout. Celebrate the small victories and when you get to the end of your revision, celebrate! It’s all downhill after this.
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