Revision Strategies

Today, I wanted to talk a little bit about one step in the writing process. Revision.  This is the step where we polish our words so they can shine in the world.  Or at least, we hope this will be the case.

For me, revision is the most difficult part of the writing process.  The fevered excitement of creating that first draft has faded.  You know that first draft isn't perfect, and if you're going to turn it into something you can truly be proud of, you need to dive back in with a critical eye.  You need to understand which parts of your story work.  You need to understand were the weaknesses are.  You need to see how each scene contributes to the story as a whole.  Without those crucial pieces of knowledge, you cannot tell your story in the most effective way possible.

I can honestly say that I've always struggled a bit with revision.  It can be difficult to motivate myself to revise, because I want to tell new stories.  I also don't know where to start.  If you jump in without a plan, it can all be a bit overwhelming.  I'll share my current revision strategy with all of you.  It seems to be the best method for me thus far.

1. Have someone you trust read your work.  They will be more able to point out the flaws you've missed, because you're too close to the project.
2. After having stepped away from the project for a few days, go back and give it a thorough read through.  Have a notebook available and make notes as you go.  Ask yourself what the goal of each scene is and how it relates to the overall story, how well you think you accomplished the goal of the scene, and what changes you think you might like to make.  If you find the scene doesn't actually contribute to the overall plot or character development, consider getting rid of it altogether.  You may like a scene, but that doesn't make it essential.
3. Begin your rewrite with those notes in hand.  You may come up with new ideas as you go (and that certainly isn't a bad thing), but it will help to have a reminder of the issues you need to address.
4. Once the rewrite is complete, have someone else take a look at it.  It's important to know whether the changes you've made are successful ones.
5. If all has gone well, your next look at the story will be a quick polish where you look for grammatical and spelling issues.  Make sure you've made the most effective word choices you can.

Keep in mind, steps 1-4 may need to be repeated more than once before you proceed to the final polish.  This is not a pleasant fact to face, but if you're passionate about writing and truly want to do this, you may need to confront that reality head on.

Image courtesy of Idea go
 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Anyway, I know there's no single correct method, but this seems to be the one that works for me.  It gives me an organized plan of attack, and I need that.

Do you enjoy the revision process, or do you dread it?  What method do you use?  Do you have any handy revision tips?

A Wednesday Wordle Party

There's been an illness hopping around my family, so I'm having to plan my blog posts according to an erratic schedule filled with crying children.  No easy task, I can assure you.

I know a lot of bloggers like to play around with the wonder known as Wordle.  Until this past weekend, I'd never actually tried it.  And now that I have, I must admit that I'm hooked.  I'd like to show you some of the word clouds I created using Wordle, and also to explain why I find these useful.  Maybe I'm only saying they're useful because I need to justify all the time I spent playing around with them.  Judge for yourself whether the benefits I claim to have gained from these sound legitimate or not.

This first wordle was created using my essay "Universe."  I posted this essay for the "My Teenage Life Bloghop," and I was pleasantly surprised by the positive responses I received.  To read the post containing the original essay, go HERE.  

I now present to you a visual representation of that essay.

This second wordle was made using my short story "Blood and Tears."  I particularly like the font used for this one.  It feels old and grand, and it goes well with the name Henry (which appears prominently here).  The story may be science fiction and it may take place in the future, but the struggles highlighted in this story have been around since the beginning of human existence: death, subjugation, loss, etc.  I feel that it works, even if only because it looks cool.

This wordle was composed using the revised version of "Blood and Tears," but if you're interested in looking at the story as originally posted on this blog, look HERE.

This next one was done using my flash fiction piece "Nuance."  Though I plan to revise it soon, this has been made with the original version.  To read the story, click HERE.

Some of you may ask why I made all these, and this is where I must justify my activities.  Well, aside from procrastination (which is a reason why I do a lot of things), I did it to help me visualize my stories.  Part of what I struggle with in the world of editing is that a work as a whole seems too large to tackle a lot of the time.

In making these Wordles, I dissected each story and came to see what stood out most prominently in the narrative.  When you see certain words in bold letters, you are seeing the words you used most often, and you can compare them to the rest of the words in the field in a non-linear way.  Doing these word clouds gave me a different perspective on my stories.  If a theme I hadn't really meant to use appears in these, I can consider whether to use that theme to its fullest potential, or I can elect to downplay it and focus on the intended theme in my revisions.

As a writer, I feel I need to use every tool I have at my disposal to make my stories the best they can be.

This last one, on the other hand, doesn't give me that advantage.  This is just my name, the name of my WIP Prices Paid, and the name of each story I have planned for it.  This was done mainly for fun, and in part because I wanted to see some representation of my goal.

Hey, that's still visualization!  So this last one had a purpose too!  I knew I could justify my procrastination if I put my mind to it.

Holiday Laziness

Holiday weekends can be great for gathering with family and friends and having a relaxing good time.  That also means certain things start to fall by the wayside. Due to this fabulous three day weekend, I have struggled to find time for my writing.  At night my husband, wonderful though he is, keeps enticing me away from my writing to watch TV shows and play Trivial Pursuit.  All I can say is "Dang it!"  He found my weakness.  I cannot resist a game of Trivial Pursuit, and he knows it!

Pleiades:  You're letting him distract you.

Me:  I know, but it's Trivial Pursuit!  That game is my writing kryptonite!  I can't say no to it!

Pleiades:  That's a pathetic excuse.

Me:  It's not wrong to spend time with my husband, though.  It's important to do that too!

Pleiades:  You have also set yourself a tight schedule to get this book done. That means you really don't have an allotted time for slacking!

I guess we all have times like these.  I did make good progress on my writing Friday night, but definitely not Saturday night or last night.  I did some, but I'd be lying if I said I did anything significant.  Still, I'm confident I can get back on track as long as I don't let the holiday laziness linger past today.  I want to finish the revision for my story "The Absurdity" this week.  I'd also like to get the revision done for one of my shorter pieces if I can pull that off.  If I do this, I should be pretty much back on track.  

That being said, I shouldn't linger here any longer.  I have a sink full of dishes and some writing to do before I go to another family get together tonight.  Which should I do first: writing or dishes?  Or maybe I can just ignore the dishes . . .

Does anyone know a good trick for making dirty dishes disappear that doesn't require washing them?

Musing About My Long Term Plans

My muse is probably going to be twiddling her thumbs in boredom this week as I embark on the revision process for some of my stories.  I still have a couple more stories for Prices Paid that are in the writing stage, but everything else is ready for revision.  Don't ask me why, but I'm itching to get started on the revisions for a couple of them.  It's probably best to go where the inspiration is. If I hit a dead end on the revisions, then I can return to writing drafts for the stories that still don't have a completed 1st draft.

Pleiades:  Who wants to do revisions?  You're crazy!  New ideas are the only exciting ones.  Revisions are something you have to do, not something you should want to do.

Me:  Normally the process of revising a story isn't something that I look forward to, but I have some ideas that have gotten me excited about it.  Just because I'm editing and expanding something that's already been written doesn't mean it can't involve fresh new ideas.  If all I was doing was correcting punctuation and grammar, I don't think I would be nearly as anxious to start.

Pleiades:  I just want something really new!  There are so many stories to write! I get impatient waiting around for you to rewrite a story for what seems like the 80th time!

Me:  You're exaggerating.

Pleiades:  I said it seems like that, not that you actually rewrite things that many times.  Geez, it seems like you never listen to me!

Me:  Hmmm.  (Words laced with sarcasm.)  I wonder why that is.

Anyway, Pleiades does have a point.  It seems like I have too many ideas in my head at any given time.  It can make it difficult to focus on my current projects, but I sat down and wrote out a timeline for what I want to write and when.  I also wrote out a road map of my current WIP and came up with a reasonable timeline.  I should be able to complete and finish most of the edits for Prices Paid in about six weeks.  Then I'll work on everything else I need to do to self-publish this book.  Given everything I have done and have yet to do, I feel confident I should be able to self-publish it sometime in November.  I'll let you all know when I have a specific date picked out.

The rest of my writing plan, which includes finishing and editing another book I have in progress and revising three others I have already written, covers the next 5 years.  I've heard goal oriented people say you need to have a 5 year plan.  Well, I have one.  I can't promise that I'll adhere to it to the letter, but writing it out on paper has given me direction and a renewed sense of optimism. Right now, I feel like I can do anything.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Pleiades:  Only if you listen to me!

These next few years are certainly going to be interesting.

Bullies and the Beaten Down

I just want to say this much.  I HATE it when people bully others who are different from them.  Whether it's due to race, economic background, sexual orientation, personal interests, or a child's inability to relate easily with others, tormenting people needlessly is a despicable act.  Young children and even adults can become overwhelmed with the negativity thrust upon them, and some of these people resort to suicide.  It's a serious problem.


On the one hand, I think legislation aimed at this problem may be a good thing, but when it comes to 1st Amendment rights, things get a little bit tricky.  The last thing in the world I want is for us as a nation to lose our ability to express ourselves freely.  That is part of what defines us as a people.  If we overly restrict our speech in the realm of electronic media, as many say AZ House Bill 2549 would, we all ultimately lose.  The bill would make it unlawful to  use language intended to "terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend."  Now, to be fair, the law does attempt to make it clear that the person issuing such speech must have intent to harass the target, and the target should have a reasonable fear for the safety of themselves or those close to them.  If you want to determine for yourself whether this is the case, here is one article that briefly addresses the concerns that have been raised.


Even so, is that enough?  Who judges?  We all know judgments can be flawed.  We're all human, and there are always those who will twist any situation to their benefit.  The democratic process is made possible by our freedom of speech.. We lose that, and we could lose everything else.


Legislation aimed at disarming bullies treads a thin line, and any line crossed to benefit one group can ultimately be turned against them as well.  If the 1st Amendment is violated, that impacts us all.  Such bills need to be very specific in their language and should undergo rigorous review before they are passed.  The public should have every opportunity to see such bills through their various stages of revision.  We are, after all, the ones who ultimately hold our legislators accountable for the work they do.


I believe schools have the right to regulate bullying through policies that address the unique situations of their district.  Students have a right to free speech, but the school should also remain free of tormenting behavior that adversely impacts the learning environment.  These policies are left to the school board and parents to decide.  We need to make it clear that harassment is not acceptable.  If people actively and consistently stand up for the bullied, we wouldn't need policy to begin with.  In our schools and in our towns, we can see the difference between off-handed comments or one time statements of opinion and bullying.  With laws, we leave the decision to someone who may not have seen all the facts.  In our lives, we will see the facts if we choose to look out for them.  When local policies cross a line or are clearly not doing enough to address a serious issue, then the government may step in, but in a limited capacity.


I know I've said this before, but what bullies need to understand is that hurtful words have a power they may not fully understand.  I have to believe that those who bullied people to the point of suicide didn't intend for things to go that far.  And for those bullies that genuinely hope to inflict real pain on others and enjoy it for their own sick benefit, the fruits of your actions will catch up to you.  And this is not a threat.  It is a statement of fact.  People will only tolerate the brutally hurtful for so long.  You have the right to say mean things to someone, of course, and that should remain the case.  However, that doesn't make what you're saying right.  You should know when you're crossing the line, you should understand there are consequences for that, and you should know what they are.  Before you say something, you should be willing to accept those consequences.  Words have staying power, especially in a world with the internet.  Don't claim ignorance when something you said is used against you.  This is a risk you take when you utilize your 1st Amendment rights.


Now, to briefly address another concern I've heard.  Some have said that bullying aimed at homosexual students in particular should not be regulated because it would infringe upon the religious liberties of those who believe homosexuality is wrong.  I must say this: there is a difference between expressing a deeply held belief in a civilized manner and being openly hateful to someone.  When you're harassing someone for something like sexual orientation, even when it does correspond with a deeply held belief, you can't convince me it isn't hateful to do so.  We need to learn to love people and be kind to one another, even when someone lives in a way that violates your own conscience.  Bullying them won't save them.  If anything, it will only make them feel more isolated and alone.  And in those instances, they may not even be able to turn to their own family.  Love and kindness should be the default position anyone takes.


So what do you do if you're bullied and feel like there's no way out?  First of all, you need to find someone you can talk to.  Even when there is no policy in place that can protect you, the best protection you can offer yourself is the support of others.  This can be family, friends, anyone who will listen.  And for those of you who can't find anyone you know to listen to you, you can turn to the online community.  Yes, cyber bullying is an epidemic problem with social media, but that same social media can be your ally is you know how to use it.  The story of a girl who used Reddit to stop cyber bullying shows how people can band together to stop this kind of behavior before someone gets hurt.  We can take our own power back. 


While I doubt anyone would want to talk to me, I want to make it clear that I am also willing to listen.  I've been bullied, so I understand the pain all too well.  It can wreak havoc on your self-esteem, but you don't need to be alone.  I'm putting this out there because I want to reach people with my point of view, and if I weren't willing to accept the consequences of that, I'd be a hypocrite.  Plus, I really do care.

Making Sense of Chaos

Organization is difficult to achieve when you have several different creative projects demanding your attention all at the same time, and I don’t know that the way I organize my writing would be considered organized by any normal person’s standards.  Whew!  Talk about using the word “organize” too many times in one sentence.

Anyway, I have one large notebook that’s divided into five different sections, each section devoted to a single writing project.  I also have a smaller notebook that is now dedicated to the designs I’m developing for my online store.  At least the notebook in question was purchased from my store.  It's a good way of promoting myself and reminding me of what I can do.  The image below is designed by me and is on the cover of the notebook in question, although the joke may be lost on people who aren't English nerds like me.

Unfortunately, the notes for these projects, while located the appropriate sections, are not in chronological or, for that matter, any other decipherable order within those sections.  The rough drafts of most of my novels are printed out and stored in a binder, and the revisions that I’m working on for them are stuffed in there next to the original scenes.  Even then, it can be difficult to make sense of it all, because I can’t seem to get myself to revise in order.  Inspiration hits me for different scenes at random times, and I have a hard time keeping track of my progress that way.

I guess my approach is more like organized chaos.  Oh well.  Maybe I can achieve more focus and discipline with effort, but I don’t honestly know how much I can improve the state of my notebooks.  Creativity can be messy.