Jill Kemerer

Friday, November 13, 2009

Preparing to Rewrite (and My Revision Checklist!)

Have you ever rewritten one of your books? I'm not talking about revising, but rewriting one of your manuscripts. Is there a difference?

In my opinion, revising is when you keep the basic concept of the book but tweak and polish it to be the best it can be. Rewriting, on the other hand, is performed when your book has a fatal flaw and needs a major overhaul. When you're finished with it, it is not the same book as you originally wrote.

How do you know if your book needs to be revised or rewritten?
This is where feedback comes in. Maybe you've entered your book in a contest and the judges point out a big issue. Your critique group/partner might highlight a monumental problem. A round of rejections from agents and editors could also give insight.

I recently rewrote a book of mine. The catalyst came from an editor I submitted to. If you have a dream editor/publishing house, and the editor rejects your book and gives you a reason why, pay attention. Do you have to rewrite any of your projects? Of course not! But if you want to get published with a certain publisher and they give you a reason why they are rejecting your book, it's important for you to take this advice for either your future or current project.

Jill's Preparations for Rewriting

1. Gauge my commitment level to the manuscript. I love some of the books I write more than others, and if I'm not excited about the book, I'd be better off setting it aside and writing a new one.

2. Brainstorm possible changes to make the book marketable based on the comments I've been given.

3. Go back to the pre-writing phase and create a scene list based on the new direction of the book.

In my case, the book I rewrote is vastly different from my original version. It turned into a better, more marketable book. I love it, but I also love the old version. In many ways, they are two separate books, and in the end, that's why I found the experience to be rewarding.

Have you ever rewritten a book? If yes, would you do it again? Was the experience positive and informative or was it painful and annoying?

Have you ever gotten feedback you instantly understood to be true, but you weren't certain how to apply it to your current manuscript?

Revision Checklist Alert!

On a side note, many of you expressed interest in seeing my revision checklist. I've included it in a .pdf file, which you can open here: Revision Checklist. It will also be linked at the side for future reference. Feel free to print it out.

A brief explanation of the checklist:

It's broken down into five main parts.
1. I read the draft from beginning to end without making changes. While I'm reading, I jot notes in the file using the comment feature in Microsoft Word.
2. I evaluate each chapter. Many times, I only have problems in one or two areas in each chapter, so although there's a lot in this section, it doesn't take me long to get through.
3. Next is technical issues--mainly word choices, sentence structure, and grammar.
4. The book is very polished at this point, so I feel comfortable having my critique group read through it. As they return chapters, I evaluate their comments and make necessary changes.
5. I read the entire manuscript out loud.

That's it. My revision method. It's time-consuming and a lot of work, but it meets my needs. I love my final drafts!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Preparing to Revise

You've completed your first draft. You type "The End" and let out a content sigh. The hard part is over, right?

For some of you, yes. For me? No.

Unless you revise and polish your work as you're writing your first draft, you are now faced with the next portion of the writing process. Revising.

I know we talk about "plotters" and "pantsters" but does the same concept apply to revising? Do pantsters wing revisions? Do plotters have detailed methods for revisions? Do you wonder about this too?

My revising method has evolved and continues to with each book I write. Unlike my pre-writing preparations, which work beautifully for me, my revising preparations leave doubt. Will they be effective? Will I miss something important? Will the book be the best it can be when I'm finished?

I don't have the answer to that yet. I am a plotter by nature, and I rely on checklists for revising.

Jill's Preparations for Revising

1. Set the first draft aside for at least two weeks, preferably longer. Do not think about the book. Work on something new.

2. When it is time to revise, make a new copy, saving the file as a second draft. (I will have three or four drafts total when the book is complete.)

3. Print a copy of my revisions checklist. It's basically a how-to guide I've compiled so I don't miss anything.

4. Remind myself that revising takes time. By systematically attacking each item on my list, I will eventually finish.

If you're new to revising, I recommend keeping a copy of each draft you revise. If you delete a scene in your second draft and then realize it was terrific and needs to be in the book, you can easily copy and paste it back in. In this day and age of practically unlimited computer file storage, it simply doesn't make sense to delete files until the project is as done as done can be.

Do you write the first draft then revise when it's complete? Or do you revise as you go? And for all of you plotters and pantsters out there, do you wing it or do you have a plan of action?

Join me on Friday when we'll discuss preparations for rewriting a book.

We Interrupt This Blog Schedule...

It's Tuesday, and I'm posting? Yes!

I've recently recieved two blog awards and I want to share them. One of the things I love about blogging is that when I get new followers, I find new blogs. If you're a follower and I haven't stopped by your blog, please leave your blog's URL in the comments and I will remedy that!

Steph, at Steph in the City, bestowed the Best Blog Award to my blog. Thank you Steph! If you haven't checked out her site, go over for an eclectic mix of thought provoking posts. And let's all give a round of applause for Steph; she recently landed an agent! Congratulations!

(If you are a recipient, please do not feel obligated to pass on any award I share. My sincere hope in presenting these awards is to spotlight terrific blogs, not to put added pressure on anyone.)

I'm giving the Best Blog Award to:

Romance Writers on the Journey Keli Gwyn interviews unpublished and published authors on this blog, and she is such a giving, talented woman. Her interviews are always unique.

All in a Day's Thought Wendy's blog asks tough questions, gives thoughtful insight, and has the most beautiful pictures.

Cindy R. Wilson Cindy's posts on Wednesdays, "Excerpt or Action," always whet my appetite for more.

Terri Tiffany Inspirational Writer Terri's posts are honest yet hopeful. Her optimism truly inspires.

Author, Jody Hedlund Jody's blog was the first I ever followed. This year has been a whirlwind for her. She landed an agent and a three book deal with Bethany House. Her posts over the past months offer an insider's look at a new author's publishing process. Fascinating!

Moving on... Maria, at Life Lessons, gave me the Inspirational Blog Award. Thank you Maria! Maria writes comforting, devotional posts that always leave me feeling rested and hopeful. If you haven't been to her site, hop on over.

I'm passing this award on to the following:

In Truer Ink Niki Turner writes with candor about issues many of us struggle with, and she manages to refresh my spirits with each post.

Regina Rhythm Regina offers savvy advice on writing and Internet-related promotion. I enjoy her smart posts.

Whole Latte Life Stopping by Joanne's blog is like wrapping up in a soft throw and curling up on the couch. It's restful. Try it.

Something She Wrote Janna's blog is another gem. She has a melodious, smart, mellow way of writing that I'm drawn to. Her blog never lets me down.

Through My Eyes I never know what I'm going to get when I stop by Tabitha Bird's blog. A poem, a terrific picture, or a fascinating snippet of her life--all leave me with a warm heart.

Thanks again for the awards, and if any of these blogs are new to you, go on--try them out!

Mottos Update

Last week, I told you my motto: Dream Big. (Still haven't come up with a theme song...) You responded with amazing words to live by. They were so great, I had to share them!

Beth from This Mommy's Life: "Finish the drill!"
Wendy from All in a Day's Thought: "I break for nothing."
Tess from Tess Hilmo: "You are good. You can be great. I think you will be."
Erica from On the Write Path: "One bite at a time--but make it a big bite."
Em from Em-Musing: "I want it all!"
Brittany from A Penny for My Thoughts: "Prepare for the impossible because those are the dreams God brings to fruition."
Danyelle from Myth-Takes: "Keep breathing. Laugh at the mountains I'm facing and get those feet moving."
Regina from Regina Rythym: "Do what you love. Do it in excellence."

I love those mottos. Strong, inspiring, and words I can live by. Thanks for sharing them!

You also shared your goals, and I was blown away by the commitment and excitement you all poured into the comments. I've compiled the highlights from your comments. These are the goals you will complete before December 31, 2009.

- finish rewriting and editing current manuscript
- finish writing first draft
- put together Christmas card before the holiday :) (Love this one!)
- finish work in progress by end of November
- complete NaNo
- polish current manuscript and send to agent
- begin new children's book, write three poems, and take on three new clients (Go! You can do it!)
- write 85K by end of year (Woo-hoo!!)
- get through edits without dissolving into tears (I know THAT feeling!)
And my favorite:
- Enjoy each and every day!

Your excitement is contagious. If your energy flags as the holidays snowball in, don't despair and don't give up. Anytime you need a "go get 'em tiger" boost or if you want to share an awesome achievement, feel free to e-mail me at jrkemer@charter.net. We don't have to reach our goals alone!

Join me on Wednesday when we'll discuss ways to prepare for the revision stage.

Mental Preparation for Writing a First Draft

When do you know you're ready to type the first words of a new book? How much preparation do you need?

We're all different, but the idea for my next book is usually circling my brain while I'm writing. My brain stirs and cooks the idea for me so when I finish the current book, I'm anxious to start piecing together the next. Then, I might spend a week plotting and filling in character charts and such.

When all of my pre-writing charts are filled, I take a day to write my synopsis. Yes, it takes a day, sometimes longer. It won't be the polished version, but I like to compare my original synopsis with the final copy, and I've found that writing one in the pre-writing phase keeps me on track. I also write a quick query letter. Nothing earth-shattering, just a solid back cover blurb within the query.

I still am not ready to write, however. The next step in my process is to get out a calendar and estimate how long the book will take me to write. It's important for me to check the calendar, because every time I write a book, a vacation pops up, or I've forgotten about the week of volunteer duties I signed up for, or some other major excitement occurs. It's important to plan around these things.

Once I have a target finish date, I'm ready. And then, joy of joys, I'm in first-draft-land, my favorite writing phase!

How do you prepare to write a first draft?

Have a terrific weekend!

Pre-Writing Preparation

Don't you love hearing other writer's pre-writing preparations? I'm in awe of anyone who says, "Oh, I just open a file and start typing. The story comes to me as I write."

That's so not me! I can actually picture myself banging my forehead against the keyboard or bursting open a leftover bag of Halloween candy like a pinata over my open mouth. To say I'm a plotter is putting it mildly.

I'm not going to bore you with all of the details of my pre-writing process, but I am going to share my favorite pre-writing method, and I hope you'll share yours too.

What's the number one tool I rely on to get ready to write a first draft?

The scene list.

Sounds scary, doesn't it? A bit intimidating, no?

At first, it is, but by the time I begin my scene list, I already know the main parts of the plot. I'm just connecting them with scenes. My scene list evolves as I find better ways to utilize it.

I type all of the scenes into an Excel spreadsheet. There are seven columns:
1. Scene Number
2. Point of View (POV)
3. Setting
4. What do they want?
5. Why can't they have it?
6. Plot points
7. Chapter

1. Scene Number--Since I usually write more than one scene per chapter, I number my scenes.

2. POV--I ask myself which character has the most to lose in this scene? This also helps me keep a good ratio of hero/heroine POV scenes. I can tell at a glance if one is overtaking the book. And yeah, I'll admit that I color code the names. The heroine is pink, and the hero is blue. Go figure!

3. Setting--I keep it simple. The place, day, time, and who is in it. Example: Pat's apt. (Fri. night, L, P) This tells me Lindsey and Patrick are at his apartment Friday night.

4. What do they want?--Since each scene should have a goal and disaster, it's important to decide ahead of time what the scene goal is. It's easier for me to think in terms of character's desires, so I reworded it from "scene goal" to "what do they want?" It could be as simple as the hero wants to get the heroine out of his apartment. (This scene would be told from the hero's POV, since he's the one with the goal.)

5. Why can't they have it?--This is the disaster portion of the scene goal/disaster. If the hero wants the heroine out of his apartment, this is why he can't get her out. It could be that she refuses to leave, or starts crying about her dead grandmother, or whatever reason works for your plot.

6. Plot Points--This is where you jot in where the scene fits into the book. I fill in the major plot points first: Hook, Catalyst (to leave ordinary world), Doorway #1 (they decide to leave ordinary world), Mid-point (false high or false low), All is Lost (Black Moment), Doorway #2 (solution to all is lost), and Finale. Then I go in and label the between scenes with what needs to be achieved in each.

7. Chapter--I type the chapter and scene number for that chapter. 14:2 signifies chapter fourteen, scene 2. I keep the amount of scenes in each chapter, three and under. So if it's a major plot point scene, the chapter may only have one.

That's it. My absolute most useful pre-writing tool.

Okay, time to pony up. What's your favorite pre-writing tool?

Join me on Friday, when we discuss mental preparation for writing a first draft.

November: A Month of Preparation

I love November's energy. The air is brisk, the leaves are almost all blown away, and as the month winds down, the first Christmas light displays twinkle. Magical. For me, November screams preparation. Of course there are the upcoming holidays, but I also prepare to meet my final writing goals of the year.

Some years are better than others. This summer, I realized I would have to drop one book I planned to write due to time constraints. Other than that, I'm on track to meet all of my 2009 writing goals. What a great feeling!

Last month, I started getting cagey. My goals were slipping away. I didn't know how I'd meet them by the end of the year. I decided I needed a motto. Maybe even a theme song. Hey, it worked for Rocky, right? What is my motto, you ask?

Dream Big.

I believe if I'm going to dream big, I have to do big things. To kick off my new motto, I wrote triple and quadruple my daily word count every day last week to finish my first draft. I'm not going to do this all the time--my head still hurts thinking about it!--but I needed a jump start, a break from my routine.

For all of you participating in NaNo this month--I salute and applaud you! You can do it! Just think how terrific you're going to feel when December first rolls around and you have 50,000 words written? Imagine!

What goals would you love to accomplish by December 31? Do you need a motto to help you achieve them? I want to hear about it!

Join me all month as we discuss preparation: to write a first draft, to revise, to submit our work, and preparation for our writing career. We have two months left of 2009--let's make them count!