Those spaces are what I’m working on. Sometimes it helps to see the story structure visually.
How do you revise?
28 Comments
Donna Weaver
on April 6, 2011 at 6:02 am
My hubby put up a 4×8 piece of whiteboard for me. I use those sticky 3×5 (and sometimes color coded 3×3) post it notes. That way I can shift where a scene if if I need to.
Love it! I have a huge cork board with little cards that I move around when I need to change things. I love being able to see the story (and notes about the characters) all laid out.
I tried cards once and found them too distracting. I simply start at the beginning and go back through. If chapters need to move, I'll cut them out and paste them in a separate file and then put them back in when/if they're needed.
When I actually get to the revision process (the first novel needs hardcore redirection rather than mere revision) I'll be throwing up the index cards like you, trying to make sure Act 1, Act 2, part one, Act 2, part two, and Act 3 are all action packed and awesome. – Sophia.
Yeah, I think I work more like Joseph. I tried cards and it was more work than I wanted. I keep everything in notebooks and somehow manage to make sense of it all.
I just go through it, beginning to end, and work in all my changes. I'm also not one who charts everything out before I write. I tried doing that… The best I can do is chart it out halfway through, when I'm stuck and need to know where to go next!
Very cool! I'm a spreadsheet kinda gal at this stage and it's working really well for me. I color code like no one's business and keep my character sheets, overall story notes, etc. in separate tabs.
You're so much neater than I am! I do like index cards and use the brightly colored ones all the time in revision. Each color represents a subplot, so I can be sure everythihng woven together instead of lumped. Great visual!
I love it! When I am working on stock stuff I use a leather planner with hand notes, very not high tech. At work I don't use the automated primer design function, I do it by eye like in the old days. I like the way you work 🙂
I'm not normally this old school when I'm revising, but it was the only thing that seemed to work this time around! I'll have to break out the colored index for next time. 🙂
That is awesome! What do you stick it with? I have a board that I stick the post-its on. I do a short summary on the post-it of each chapter. If it doesn't move the story forward, it's gone. It helps me see where I can add, what I can take away and what I forgot to tie up at the end! But I like your wall better. There's more room on your paper!!
My hubby put up a 4×8 piece of whiteboard for me. I use those sticky 3×5 (and sometimes color coded 3×3) post it notes. That way I can shift where a scene if if I need to.
Love it! I have a huge cork board with little cards that I move around when I need to change things. I love being able to see the story (and notes about the characters) all laid out.
Haha, this being the serial killer files and all I visualized a book stuck to a wall by a knife or something…
This looks like an excellent way of organizing your thoughts, though. I may have to try it some time 🙂
Great idea! You're sooooo organized! *dies of envy*
I tried cards once and found them too distracting. I simply start at the beginning and go back through. If chapters need to move, I'll cut them out and paste them in a separate file and then put them back in when/if they're needed.
When I actually get to the revision process (the first novel needs hardcore redirection rather than mere revision) I'll be throwing up the index cards like you, trying to make sure Act 1, Act 2, part one, Act 2, part two, and Act 3 are all action packed and awesome.
– Sophia.
Yeah, I think I work more like Joseph. I tried cards and it was more work than I wanted. I keep everything in notebooks and somehow manage to make sense of it all.
Ha! Your wall looks an awful lot like my dining room table when I'm at that stage. Oh, and I'm big on paradigms.
LOL! 🙂 Good one!
Very nice, especially the spotlight! I think you are much more organized than I am.
This is awesome, and wayyy more organized than I am.
I usually go back over and over it on the computer. But I think with my current wip, I'm going to have to try something a little different.
I just go through it, beginning to end, and work in all my changes. I'm also not one who charts everything out before I write. I tried doing that… The best I can do is chart it out halfway through, when I'm stuck and need to know where to go next!
Great idea, I had something similar for my last novel. It really does help me hugely to see everything laid out at a glance like that.
I like your method. Mine involves bashing my head against the wall.
Jennifer – I have my book stuck on my wall, too. It's so helpful. =D
Kinda like the police trying to solve a case….well, movie & tv police anyway.
Very cool! I'm a spreadsheet kinda gal at this stage and it's working really well for me. I color code like no one's business and keep my character sheets, overall story notes, etc. in separate tabs.
You're so much neater than I am! I do like index cards and use the brightly colored ones all the time in revision. Each color represents a subplot, so I can be sure everythihng woven together instead of lumped. Great visual!
I love it! When I am working on stock stuff I use a leather planner with hand notes, very not high tech. At work I don't use the automated primer design function, I do it by eye like in the old days. I like the way you work 🙂
I do this on paper but it may be helpful to tack it up on a wall. Thanks for the idea!
Visually I think that would kick start the ol' brain creatively.
What a great idea! I've never thought to do something like this before–hope it helped you!
Oh that's a great way to do it!! 😀
How do I revise? Well, let say I'm a lot messier than you! 😛
This defines true author as opposed to just writing on the side!
Love this idea!
Makes everything look so organized! I always email myself book notes.
Thanks for stopping by, guys.
I'm not normally this old school when I'm revising, but it was the only thing that seemed to work this time around! I'll have to break out the colored index for next time. 🙂
That is awesome! What do you stick it with? I have a board that I stick the post-its on. I do a short summary on the post-it of each chapter. If it doesn't move the story forward, it's gone. It helps me see where I can add, what I can take away and what I forgot to tie up at the end! But I like your wall better. There's more room on your paper!!
Wow, this is a cool way to organize scenes! I create a bazillion outlines and spreadsheets and things, but I may have to try this.