There is so much satisfaction in typing the words “The End.” And yet, “The End” is actually a beginning. Great works of literature don’t happen by magic. They are created by revision.
Revision is a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be a chaotic process. Mastering a method to the madness of revision will help you streamline your process and get great results.
Step One: Let it Rest
The first thing you should do is nothing at all. You’ve been close to this manuscript for such a long time. Step away from it for a while so that you can approach it with fresh eyes.
During the break, take yourself on an artist date, start a new project, research agents, work on your social media, or outline your next manuscript. When you return, the distance will have made you much more objective.
Step Two: Revisit the Log Line
Prior to diving back into the manuscript, revisit that log line you wrote at an earlier stage of your process. (Or if you haven’t written one, write one now!)
The log line is a one-sentence summary that establishes the premise and reveals the heart of the narrative. The secret to a cohesive story is making sure you stay on track, and for that, the log line is your touchstone.
Step Three: Read it Out Loud
It’s important to listen to your work. I like to print out a hard copy so I can make notes, scratch through items, and jot down ideas and questions. Another great way to get the most out of your revision read-through is to create a checklist like the one that follows.
Work on words
One hallmark of a great writer is precise word choice. Eliminate unnecessary words, get rid of redundancy, and if you find you tend to repeat the same words or phrases, be sure to add variety.
Listen carefully to the rhythm of your words and the cadence of your sentences. If sentences are clunky or some words seem to break the rhythmic flow, change them.
Filter out the filter words
Filter words like seemed, felt, noticed, and thought create narrative distance. “I noticed the dark clouds forming in the sky” doesn’t pack the same punchy as “Dark clouds formed in the sky.”
Deliver the action in such a way that your reader forgets the story is being told to them and instead feels like they are experiencing it.
Purge the Purple Prose
When writing a first draft, it’s easy to get carried away with highly detailed, ornate descriptions. If you find a concentration of long sentences and flowery language, you have found a spot where you just might lose your reader.
You want sensory details, and you want your reader to visualize your characters and settings, but remember that moving the plot forward is always paramount. Stalling out on exaggerated descriptions can cause you to drop the plot.
Pay Attention to Pacing
Make sure you keep the action moving and the narrative tension building over the course of the story. If you need to slow the pacing, lengthier sentences can usually do the trick. If you need to speed it up, the inverse is true.
The speed at which the action moves is related to your genre. However, no matter what genre you’re writing in, the action cannot be continually fast or slow. There’s a balance that’s necessary.
Watch for Passive Voice and Diminished Action
When using passive voice, you allow the subject to receive the action. “This manuscript was written by me” is considered passive; an active voice says, “I wrote this manuscript.” In most cases, you want to maintain an active voice.
Also, look for any way you may have diminished action through wordiness, and try to tighten up the language. For example, “She was watching him as he arrived” is much more direct and active when stated “She watched him arrive.”
Step Four: Seek Feedback
Writers need reliable beta readers and critique groups. Find readers you respect, and listen to their feedback. You might weigh some suggestions and decide to disregard them, but others will provide valuable insight.
If your readers are confused by some parts of your story, don’t assume the problem lies with them. Readers who express confusion offer you a gift by letting you know where clarification is needed.
Step Five: Rinse and Repeat
You’ve cleared away the dust. You’ve received suggestions. Now it’s time to revise on a microscopic level. You’re undoubtedly really tired of this manuscript and ready to move on, but now is not the time to give up. This is the point when you return to Step One and take your manuscript from good to great.
In the words of Ernest Hemingway, “All writing is rewriting.” No writer, no matter how skilled or talented, produces perfect first drafts. Revision is where the magic happens.
Jeff
Good post, but much of it is about wordsmithing that is last stage stuff. Higher level elements of craft should be looked at first (second, third… etc.) For example, in the case of a novel, plot, structure, character development, effectiveness of scenes, etc.