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Revision 02:20

Revision 02:20. It is the art of turning what you wrote i nto w hat you meant to write. Get Organized! 04:10. Have a plan Synopsize & Summarize Make an Outline Know your manuscript Get Help. A Novel is … 04:55. ... a story about someone who wants something badly and takes

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Revision 02:20

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  1. Revision 02:20 It is the art of turning what you wrote into what you meant to write.

  2. Get Organized! 04:10 • Have a plan • Synopsize & Summarize • Make an Outline • Know your manuscript • Get Help

  3. A Novel is … 04:55 ... a story about someone who wants something badly and takes positive forward action to get it.

  4. Synopsis 07:40 • Abrief, clear statement ofyournovel’s story line • The whole novel at a glance • Distills story into its most important elements • Litmus test for your revision: Does this advance the story as presented in the synopsis? • Helps identify problems: plot, pacing, logic, characterization, etc.

  5. The Brief Synopsis 12:15 • AKA “The Elevator Pitch” • Your WHOLE novel, in one sentence • Story form from Linda Arms-White & Linda Backus: This is a story about your main character, who wants story goal more than anything else in the world, but is prevented from achieving it by antagonist/obstacle, until s/he (takes positive forward action and) does what?

  6. The Detailed Synopsis 21:00 • Chronological summary of the plot and conflicts • All the major characters and their arcs • Add the resolution (the ending) • Easier to glance at 5 pages than keep 400 in your head • Just for your revision: nobody else has to see it (right now) • However long you need it to be (within reason)

  7. Your Outline 34:20 In which you figure out how to get there … • Your map for your revision: • Chronological list of every scene in the novel • Plus notes to guide you (annotations)

  8. Whatever Format Works For You 39:16 • Formal Outline/ Lists • Storyboard • Detailed Synopsis • Copious Notes/ Revision Letter • Software (Scrivener) • Snowflake Method – pre-writing/ planning your novel

  9. Read Your Manuscript, Part I 48:05 In which You read your manuscript for every scene in the book and ask yourself: • What is its function? • Is it relevant? Does it support your synopsis? • Is it in the right place? • Is it well written? • Is it repetitive? • Is it too long/ short/ boring/ confusing? • Is it working?

  10. Read Your Manuscript, Part II 56:05 In which someone else reads your manuscript • Critique Partners/ Groups • Freelance Editors • A good reader who will be honest about what doesn’t work … and what does • You have to let go eventually • Gauge the audience’s reaction: Did you read what I think I wrote? • Helpful to bounce ideas off another person

  11. Plot01:16:45 Plot is a series of escalating conflicts that: • Build on each other • “Escalating” = the stakes are raised • “Build on each other” = the solution to one conflict begets the next conflict • Not just “one damn thing after another” • Plot is caused by the actions of your main character • Not things that happen to her/ him.

  12. Story Structure 01:25:20 • Intuitive understanding, but worth studying anyway • Invisible skeleton that supports and organizes the plot • What scenes go where • Find one that works for you: • 3 Act (beginning/ middle/ end) OR (set-up/ conflicts/ resolution) OR (set-up/ complication/ resolution • Pyramid (rising action – climax – falling action) • Nine Block Plot Matrix (Internet) • Hero’s Journey • Etc… And embrace it

  13. References 01:32:30 • Book in a Month (3 act structure) by Victoria Lynn Schmidt • The Key by James N. Frey • Snowflake Method/ Advanced Fiction Writing.com • Save the Cat by Blake Snyder • Screenwriting Tricks for Authors by Alexander Sokoloff • Scene Sequel by Jack Bickham

  14. Character 01:37:05 • Emotional Plot (vs. Action Plot) = Character Arc • What your character wants • What she overcomes to get it (internal & external) • And how she changes as a result of that journey All major characters need an arc • Especially, the villain • Because everyone is the protagonist in his own story. • Villains should parallel/ oppose the hero’s

  15. Character, cont’d 01:57:10 • Worthy Goal • What she wants • Strong Motivation • Why she wants it • High Stakes • What s/he risks if s/he doesn’t get it. • Flaws • How she keeps getting in her own way. • Arc • How she changes as a result • Consistency • Takes (+) forward action • Sympathetic • Someone we want to spend time with

  16. The Small Stuff 02:13:00 In which, revision is in the details • Keep Track of Your Revision • Don’t delete anything! Maintain a CUT file. • Make notes as you go: a “cleanup” file • World building details (Did Jim’s name change to John in Chapter 3? • Notes on upcoming chapters/ scenes • Changes to make for next time • Etc.

  17. The Small Stuff, cont’d 02:18:55 • Keeping Track of Your Prose • Watch for “weasel words” • Repetition: Have I already made this point? • Voice & Dialogue: Do my characters sound like themselves and no one else? • Point of View: Is the right person narrating this scene? • Scene & Sequel (Narration vs. Summary) • Is my writing as clean as it can be? • … Is it too clean?

  18. References 02:31:10 • Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne & Dave King • Steering the Craft by Ursula K. LeGuin

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