Re-Writing is HELL

Another year has gone by and finally I may have some time to blog!
I started my novel May 2009 and finished the first draft by November and since then I have been battling with what most writers seem to think is the hardest part of writing: the Rewrite.

I found some amazingly helpful books on the topic:

I recommend they're read in this order, only because the latter books make way more sense if read after the first few on the list and this order goes with how one should approach book editing to make it a less daunting task.

1) How Not to Write a Novel by Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman

2) The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman

3) Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maas

4) Revision and self editing by James Scott Bell

5) The Weekend Novelist Re-writes the Novel by Robert J. Ray

6) The Elements of Style by Strunk and White

To be quite honest when I first started reading what I had written, I wanted to cry. Some parts were so bad that they were not worth saving, but then I realized quickly that there were more chapter that were written well than the horrid ones.

The style and grammar however were only the tip of the iceberg. the biggest problems were the runaway ideas that had infiltrated the story as I was writing without restriction. Sure, I'd planned ahead, plotted the entire story, written several outlines for all characters and subplots, but the mind does what it wants to do when you let it run free.

My biggest mistake was to turn the editing process up on its head by trying to tackle style and grammar issues first. When I realized this, I stopped, went back to basics and started with a different approach.


First, if you haven't yet, purchase a copy of Scrivener (the simplest and best novel writing software out there) if you use a Mac. you will be thanking me and the software creators in no time for making the entire writing process so much easier on the technical level.

Then:
1) From memory, write a two page outline of your novel
2) then write a full synopsis.
3) if there are things in the story that you wish to change, mark them down
4) Create a plot chart for your main protagonist
5) Then a scene list for her/him
6) Write about what happens to the protagonist until the book starts
7) Consider making your Subplot 1 Character (Second lead) the Antagonist.
8) Write the backstories, plot summaries and scene lists for your subplot characters
9) While you make these lists, structural problems will stick out, take notes of what needs to be fixed in the novel.

Now take a break, you deserved it.

Peace