![]() Whatever you choose, come back to these notes for ideas and inspiration. Maybe you decide to see how your novel stands up to a Save The Cat Beat Sheet. Or you want to finalize the bones of the plot, or develop your lead character using WHW Character Tools. Maybe like me, you want to fix all the typos before you dig in. Think about bigger problems you noticed, and mull over how you might fix them.įinally, sit back and reread what you’ve written, because these notes are your pathway to revision. You now have a place to start, the big issues lined out. ![]() Do you still believe X is a plot hole? That Character Y needs to be cut from the manuscript? Does Z subplot still make sense? Add To Your Notesĭelete what you no longer agree with, and add new ideas to what you want to develop. Go through them and challenge your initial thoughts and beliefs. There are pearls, rubies, diamonds, even! Then, pull out those notes you made. □Īfter you’ve read your manuscript, bask in ALL THE GOOD THINGS. If he starts to rant at you, shove him in a room full of virtual clowns. Appreciate the journey that your creative brain sent you on and don’t let your Internal Editor interfere. Read your novel for the story and characters. I will read this as a reader, not as a writer.ĭo not make corrections. You want to be able to view the book as a whole, not as parts.īut before you start, tell yourself two things:įirst drafts are never as bad as writers think they will be. Set aside time to read your novel and try to do it within a short period. It’s time to find the Beauty in your Supposed Beast. Wait two weeks to a month, whichever feels right to you. Resist the urge to read your Nano right after writing it. For some, hearing that they should shelve this book for awhile is music, while others want to rip into it right away to see how bloody the waters will get. There’s even a FREE TRIAL to get you started.Īll writers know the power of time. It will help you unearth their most intimate secrets, motivations, fears, and desires. Try the Character Builder at One Stop for Writers. PSST! Want to create a character strong enough to power your novel and leave readers breathless for more? Who still needs fleshing out? Who needs motivation for things they do (or don’t) do? Who developed a quirk partway in which needs to be added right from the start? Make notes on each–things you really like and things you need to develop. If you’re anything like me, you get to know your characters as you write. ![]() Finally, answer one more question:Ĥ) What worked and what didn’t with each character? Are there plot holes? Events that need foreshadowing? Make copious notes-everything that comes to mind. Or perhaps over the course of the book, you realized the logic didn’t work somewhere and it would require retooling. Maybe you had a brainwave for an earlier scene but didn’t want to lose the flow, so you promised yourself you’d add it during revisions. If you don’t get this down, you may forget the good ideas that writing the story generated. While the story is fresh, you’ll want to capture these answers. Take this opportunity to make some notes to yourself and ask these three questions:ġ) What plot twists/ideas/story elements did I love best?Ģ) What parts of the book am I pretty sure need to change?ģ) What ideas have sprung to mind since finishing that I might want to go back and incorporate? One great thing about Nano is that we’ve written it so fast, the character’s journey is fresh in our mind from first page to last. Here’s some food for thought! Take Advantage Of The Process ![]() Life After Nano: Moving Forwardīecause Nanowrimo focuses on the creative process rather than the slow and steady technique, I think writers need to approach rewrites differently than with something written over the course of a few months or half a year. For others, like the authors of Forest Of Hands And Teeth Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen, Water For Elephants and Wool, the journey does not end, and the hardest part begins. We play online Scrabble and wish people Happy Birthday on Facebook rather than edge the mouse toward the ‘open file’ button.įor some, writing the novel is enough. We feel like we’ve just woken up to a strange noise in the dead of night, sure a Stephen King-esque monster is under the bed. Huzzah! We are MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE.Īnd then comes that not-so-delightful…December…crash. Then there’s the ultimate high: achieving the 50K! Writing The End. The Muse is fired up, leading us down the Yellow Brick Road and we follow at full throttle, writing whatever craziness comes to mind. The month of November is a bit of a sugar high, isn’t it? There’s Nanowrimo, and the stream of words fueled by coffee, old Halloween candy, Kraft Dinner and not enough sleep.
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