 |
| Image: http://brc-adidas.blogspot.com/ |
Yup, revision time! Finally I feel that I have enough time to dive into revisions again. I have a list of things to do before Christmas, but if I don't start revisions NOW, it will continue to nag me until I do, and I hate that internal nagging voice of mine.
So, I've decided to start with my Icelandic project before I rewrite the first chapter of my English one. I have let the Icelandic MG sit undisturbed for two months now, so I should have very fresh eyes when I look at it today.
I have thought about how I'm going to do this. I wondered if I should print it out and read it like that, or if I should just dive straight in and read off my screen, editing as I go. The latter is what I did with my English YA, but I'm going to use the first approach this time (I just re-read Stephen King's On Writing
part about revisions). So, I'm just going to read and write comments in a notebook.
part about revisions). So, I'm just going to read and write comments in a notebook. What approach do you use when you do your first revision after you've completed a manuscript? Do you let it rest? Do you print it out? Do you have some formula you always follow?
I usually put mine aside for a week or so. No formula, just whatever works for the manuscript being revised.
ReplyDeleteI print mine out as I finish each chapter and put it into a binder so it has that book feel. When I'm finished, I let it sit for at least a month. Then I'll go back and read it -- NO editing. I just read it to see how it reads, checking it for things like flow and bigger issues like that. After that, then I go through and do line edits.
ReplyDeleteI would never be able to do it on the screen.
I haven't gotten there yet, but I imagine I'll give it a bit of a rest before I go into revisions.
ReplyDeleteI still have to finish writing my first draft, but I'd definitely wait a while before attempting revisions--good for you for waiting a whole two months. I would have looked at it before then. :P
ReplyDeleteYeah, Quinn, I saw on Rach's page that you put each chapter into a folder and then let it simmer for a while before looking at it again. That's SO organized.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually print, because I feel guilty about killing trees, but I have a hard time reading through on screen without making changes. So I think I'll have to give in and start printing.
ReplyDeleteThese days I have to print - I pick up so much more that way. Good luck with revisions :)
ReplyDeleteRach
I don't have a set formula. It depends on how I feel and how long ago I worked on the project. Sometimes I like to print, but sometimes I waste too much paper doing that so other times I dive in to it and make corrections on the computer. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteI like to let it sit for awhile, but then I print it out and edit that way. I catch SOOO much more when I have a hard copy. I've also taken author Holly Lisle's FAN-FRICKING-TASTIC 'How to Revise Your Novel' course, so I now use that to go through and fix up things!
ReplyDeleteSheesh, Faith. That course of hers looks so, so tempting.
ReplyDelete