Day 21 – 30 Days of Writing Advice – Revising Your First Draft

DAY 21

This month of daily writing advice will include tidbits, tips, and sometimes tricks. This isn’t a replacement for editing or book coaching, it’s meant as a jumping off point for exploration and thought! I hope it helps! ~Amy

Amy xo

REVISING YOUR FIRST DRAFT

I write light. That means my very first drafts are scant, and I have to go back and fill them in. I think of it like a deflated balloon that I fill with its air — more words.

I wrote about that on Writer Unboxed, a long time ago. I don’t think I’d yet signed with my first agent!

https://writerunboxed.com/2010/10/24/what-color-is-your-balloon/

I sometimes think that REVISION is the wrong word to use when working on a first draft. For me, it’s REWRITING more so than revising. My finished novels change so much from start to finish, I’m rarely “simply” revising until I’ve rewritten the novel twice. Maybe three times. But that’s me!

Whenever you’re tackling you first draft revisions I’d recommend keeping a BIG PICTURE LIST nearby and going through the manuscript to layer in your changes one or two at a time, then go back to the beginning and starting again.  For example, if you want your protagonist to be more emotional, work on that throughout. Need more conflict? Do the same. Fresher dialogue? Yep. Stronger plot points? That too.

This method allows you to keep moving and make progress with fewer chances for stalling.

When it comes to revisions think DOMINOES.

With revisions, the more things change, the more they change.

SEE YOU TOMORROW!

Amy xo

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