No Bad Novels, Merely Bad Writers
Oct. 21st, 2007 09:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pbrayHow to revise your novel, following the patented Bray method. Note that this method works best when performed by an experienced professional. There is no guarantee of success and the user assumes all inherent risks.
In order to complete this process, you will need the following supplies:
The process begins when my editor emails me the revision letter, which is followed a day or so later by the marked-up hardcopy manuscript.
Step one: thank the editor for the revision letter. She's read the damn book at least twice now, and such sacrifice needs to be acknowledged.
Step two: print the revision letter.
Step three: ignore the print out. Now is a good time to catch up with friends, go out for a nice dinner, or begin shopping for rare DVDs or extra dark chocolate.
Step four: read the revision letter through once. Try not to wince at the number of times your editor is forced to point out what should have been obvious. After you've read the letter, set it aside.
Step five: now is the time to take another day off, while your subconscious thinks about revisions.
Step six: start with a new copy of the story file, turn the "track changes" setting on, and begin making the small changes. The small changes are things like adding/deleting commas, changing names that aren't working and fixing minor continuity problems. As you go through the manuscript take careful note of how many smiley faces have been drawn, showing where you got it right.
Step six-b: despite the overwhelming preponderance of smiley faces, decide that you completely suck as a writer and need to turn in your license to operate a wordprocessor. This is generally a good time to begin the application of alcohol and/or chocolate.
Step seven: While making the small changes, use tape flags and sticky notes to indicate sections you want to come back to, where you'll be making the more significant changes.
Step eight: Having completed the first pass through fixing the small stuff, you've forced yourself to read the entire manuscript, so it's once again fresh in your mind. Now it's time to pick up the revision letter and look at the major points. For each issue raised, determine a plan of attack. This could be as simple as seeding a mention of an object in earlier chapters to hint at its ultimate importance, to something a bit more nuanced, for example looking at every interaction between two characters to see where you can strengthen the romantic tension between them. Or it could involve adding entirely new scenes, for example to turn implicit subplots into explicit ones.
Step nine: A second complete pass through the manuscript, following the revision plan to implement the required changes. Make sure each spot that has been tape-flagged is addressed.
Step ten: Print out the entire manuscript. If you've turned on the "track changes" function then Microsoft will show you exactly what's changed. It will also burn through a color inkjet cartridge, but hey, who's counting?
Step eleven: Read the manuscript just printed out. Realize that in fixing some problems you've just introduced others. Bang your head against desk until dizzy, fix new problems, and print out manuscript again.
Step twelve: Go back to the revision letter. Read it carefully, and for each point raised document how you handled it. (Yes, I know I'm OCD on this stuff.) This is your last chance to decide if you've missed anything.
Step thirteen: Turn off the "track changes" setting and print a clean copy of manuscript. Begin to read printout and realize that it no longer makes sense to you, since you have too many different versions of this story in your head. Instead throw yourself on the mercy of a friend, and bribe her to read the manuscript. See previously acquired supplies of alcohol and chocolate for suitable bribe material.
Step fourteen: Implement final changes and declare yourself done. Print off and mail to editor, along with letter describing changes made.
Step fifteen: Celebrate by consuming any leftover alcohol or chocolate, and watching those DVDs that you bought while in revision-avoidance mode.
In order to complete this process, you will need the following supplies:
- Reams of paper (enough for printing the entire novel at least five times)
- Printer cartridges sufficient for above
- Post-it tape flags and post-it notes
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Friend
The process begins when my editor emails me the revision letter, which is followed a day or so later by the marked-up hardcopy manuscript.
Step one: thank the editor for the revision letter. She's read the damn book at least twice now, and such sacrifice needs to be acknowledged.
Step two: print the revision letter.
Step three: ignore the print out. Now is a good time to catch up with friends, go out for a nice dinner, or begin shopping for rare DVDs or extra dark chocolate.
Step four: read the revision letter through once. Try not to wince at the number of times your editor is forced to point out what should have been obvious. After you've read the letter, set it aside.
Step five: now is the time to take another day off, while your subconscious thinks about revisions.
Step six: start with a new copy of the story file, turn the "track changes" setting on, and begin making the small changes. The small changes are things like adding/deleting commas, changing names that aren't working and fixing minor continuity problems. As you go through the manuscript take careful note of how many smiley faces have been drawn, showing where you got it right.
Step six-b: despite the overwhelming preponderance of smiley faces, decide that you completely suck as a writer and need to turn in your license to operate a wordprocessor. This is generally a good time to begin the application of alcohol and/or chocolate.
Step seven: While making the small changes, use tape flags and sticky notes to indicate sections you want to come back to, where you'll be making the more significant changes.
Step eight: Having completed the first pass through fixing the small stuff, you've forced yourself to read the entire manuscript, so it's once again fresh in your mind. Now it's time to pick up the revision letter and look at the major points. For each issue raised, determine a plan of attack. This could be as simple as seeding a mention of an object in earlier chapters to hint at its ultimate importance, to something a bit more nuanced, for example looking at every interaction between two characters to see where you can strengthen the romantic tension between them. Or it could involve adding entirely new scenes, for example to turn implicit subplots into explicit ones.
Step nine: A second complete pass through the manuscript, following the revision plan to implement the required changes. Make sure each spot that has been tape-flagged is addressed.
Step ten: Print out the entire manuscript. If you've turned on the "track changes" function then Microsoft will show you exactly what's changed. It will also burn through a color inkjet cartridge, but hey, who's counting?
Step eleven: Read the manuscript just printed out. Realize that in fixing some problems you've just introduced others. Bang your head against desk until dizzy, fix new problems, and print out manuscript again.
Step twelve: Go back to the revision letter. Read it carefully, and for each point raised document how you handled it. (Yes, I know I'm OCD on this stuff.) This is your last chance to decide if you've missed anything.
Step thirteen: Turn off the "track changes" setting and print a clean copy of manuscript. Begin to read printout and realize that it no longer makes sense to you, since you have too many different versions of this story in your head. Instead throw yourself on the mercy of a friend, and bribe her to read the manuscript. See previously acquired supplies of alcohol and chocolate for suitable bribe material.
Step fourteen: Implement final changes and declare yourself done. Print off and mail to editor, along with letter describing changes made.
Step fifteen: Celebrate by consuming any leftover alcohol or chocolate, and watching those DVDs that you bought while in revision-avoidance mode.