Have you ever received an edit letter or notes from a beta reader, and you’re not sure where to begin? Everyone’s revising tactics will be different, but sometimes it helps to see how someone else digests information and figures out what to do. This is how I tackle an edit letter: I read it once,… Continue reading How to Tackle an Edit Letter
Tag: revision
Trusting the Writing Process When You Must Kill Your Darlings
Right now, I am in the process of killing my darlings. A common phrase used in the writing world, and yet many writers have different definitions for it. Recently, it seems many writers take "kill your darlings" literally and they kill characters. While that technically counts, "kill your darlings" is a reference to eliminating any… Continue reading Trusting the Writing Process When You Must Kill Your Darlings
Revise and Revive: How Taking a Break Can Boost Your Revision Energy
Give yourself permission to revive while you revise. Your work will thank you for it.
When Revision Feedback Makes You Think “But I Did Do That!”
Imagine this: You’ve written an entire novel and found critique partners. Then you get the feedback, and some of the notes confuse the hell out of you because they’re asking you to do things you’ve already done. For example, someone highlights a paragraph of world building and asks you to clarify the different types of… Continue reading When Revision Feedback Makes You Think “But I Did Do That!”
A Line-By-Line Revision Tip No One Talks About
Polishing a book line-by-line is truly when a book would start to shine. Researching the details helps it shine bright.
Revising Tips for Beginners
I recently started writing my seventeenth novel. A bit mind-blowing, I know, but I’ve learned a lot over the years. Especially how to set myself up for success. To be honest, it mostly comes down to staying organized from Chapter One to The End…and throughout my various revisions. The more organized you are, the easier… Continue reading Revising Tips for Beginners
Writing Method: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
With the New Year upon us—HALLELUJAH—I know many of you are gearing up to tackle your 2021 goals. Whether that’s to finally finish that WIP you’ve been working on or to start writing a novel for the first time, I thought I’d share a new writing method I’ve been using to crank out more words than I… Continue reading Writing Method: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Balancing Writing During the Holidays
Most writers aren't able to write full time. That means we tend to work full time and write full time. Between writing, querying, editing, and marketing, our schedules can quickly feel crushing, especially if you’re working toward a very specific goal, such as a revision deadline. Taking breaks can often make writers feel guilty. But… Continue reading Balancing Writing During the Holidays
Writing Tips: Keeping Track of Time
How many times have you been following a television show, and there is a full moon every episode? Or their clothes don't change? Or the weather stays the same all year long, unless snow, rain, or sunshine is used for symbolic enhancement? It's unrealistic, and it drives me crazy. It may be a personal pet… Continue reading Writing Tips: Keeping Track of Time
