tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post5177054995313349077..comments2024-03-28T08:02:30.691-04:00Comments on The League of Extraordinary Writers: Revising: How To Avoid Staring Into The Great Black AbyssAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-72547489578175179752011-03-06T21:16:50.791-05:002011-03-06T21:16:50.791-05:00I find that having readers who don't know me, ...I find that having readers who don't know me, haven't read my work before or even read in the genre I write but are willing to give it try....helps me with revising a manuscript. <br /><br />Sometimes it may be harsh, or unconstructive (rarely), but it can help me see what areas are weakest. The usually unbiased feedback really motivates me to improve shaky areas, or gives me new enthusiasm for the project. It helps me reacquaint myself with characters after seeing them from someone else's perspective.Red Haircrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10560786713243853962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-77293852335622870272011-03-04T13:47:59.309-05:002011-03-04T13:47:59.309-05:00Great ideas.
I prefer editing to writing first dr...Great ideas.<br /><br />I prefer editing to writing first drafts... So I end up editing as I go along... Which makes first draft writing sloooow. Hopefully by the time I get to re-drafting the whole thing, it should be relatively painless. *fingers crossed*Sophie Playlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14937622260333202138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-24862422162772656822011-02-10T00:19:25.037-05:002011-02-10T00:19:25.037-05:00Nice process. Thanks for describing it.
I use the...Nice process. Thanks for describing it.<br /><br />I use the AutoCrit Editing Wizard to stop me procrastinating. It's easy to get started on and it breaks the editing process down into smaller chunks.Janinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00272527704400070501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-24972958162336967642011-02-06T12:56:55.622-05:002011-02-06T12:56:55.622-05:00I am an aspiring writer, and this took away a lot ...I am an aspiring writer, and this took away a lot of my fear about even getting starting!! Thank you for sharing your process. It's truly a motivator/inspiration/starting point/bright-light-in-the-sea-of-darkness. <br /><br />Thank you!Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01232040870999532960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-50328227596554031772011-02-05T01:11:26.471-05:002011-02-05T01:11:26.471-05:00I am bookmarking this post for when I finally get ...I am bookmarking this post for when I finally get the the revision stage on my current project. <br /><br />I really like your idea of chunking your manuscript so it's not quite so daunting. Thanks for sharing.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681972776455438121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-66114712314821331402011-02-04T19:48:20.279-05:002011-02-04T19:48:20.279-05:00Thanks so much for this post!! I'm at this exa...Thanks so much for this post!! I'm at this exact point with my novel and your advice comes after two days of me staring into the abyss and accomplishing nothing. Now I know I can do it with your tips. <br /><br />Thank you!Sandra Wickhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13272064308178374621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-12770081762469893252011-02-04T16:29:16.334-05:002011-02-04T16:29:16.334-05:00I bust out the Giant White Board of Fun. Grid it. ...I bust out the Giant White Board of Fun. Grid it. Each square becomes a chapter with the purpose of the chapter written at the top of each square. Then each scene is color coded according to plot or subplot within the chapter squares. That way I have a visual sense of where everything falls within the story.Krystalyn Drownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12895353579071997640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-58275357918354180042011-02-04T12:41:28.314-05:002011-02-04T12:41:28.314-05:00Great system, awesome advice!Great system, awesome advice!Nicole Zoltackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464800543376449290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-40153394386814195602011-02-04T12:08:41.322-05:002011-02-04T12:08:41.322-05:00This is a great system Elana.
Step 1 is the most c...This is a great system Elana.<br />Step 1 is the most crucial for me - Because I'm so goal-oriented, I need to set those targets for myself. I'm quite a logical person, so breaking them down into smaller parts isn't such a problem.<br /><br />I'd love to follow your plan, but I don't have anywhere near the amount of beta readers you have. <br /><br />I have a question, Elana - Are all of your readers also writers? If so, how do you find the time to read and crit their work as well as get through your own?IanBontemshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13942749761260327580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-21380889302149543302011-02-04T11:14:10.753-05:002011-02-04T11:14:10.753-05:00This is the perfect post for me today! I'm emb...This is the perfect post for me today! I'm embarking on the fourth draft, need to fold in crits, do a lot of revisions, all kinds of stuff. You are awesomely organized and I love, love that! Ok, deep breath, and plunge...Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-54925140579424842622011-02-04T10:25:24.451-05:002011-02-04T10:25:24.451-05:00LOL. That's so funny that free rice saw your l...LOL. That's so funny that free rice saw your link and came to make sure they were all good. Could they possibly not realize how freaking awesome they are? Fun, educational questions, AND it feeds the hungry?<br /><br />Yeah. Free Rice rules.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-59430640335158627482011-02-04T09:45:03.070-05:002011-02-04T09:45:03.070-05:00Team Freerice: NOT AT ALL. I even have my fifth an...Team Freerice: NOT AT ALL. I even have my fifth and sixth graders do the math one in my computer lab. <br /><br />Just, for me, as a writer, it's a procrastination technique I use. If I'm stuck and/or don't want to work on my writing, I play free rice. It's good--really good. I'm just not working on my writing...Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-71146866022240084512011-02-04T09:15:56.048-05:002011-02-04T09:15:56.048-05:00I'm working through Donald Maass's Writing...I'm working through Donald Maass's Writing A Breakout Novel Workbook while editing my new wip. OMG! It's a great book. It's changed how I'm approaching my edits. It'll take longer for me to do them, but that's okay. I LOVE EDITING, so I'm in no rush to finish it. Besides, I've only just started querying my other book. I don't want to be querying two books at the same time. :)Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-27555407504045238192011-02-04T08:12:58.062-05:002011-02-04T08:12:58.062-05:00Why would Freerice.com be a desperate measure!?
...Why would Freerice.com be a desperate measure!? <br /><br />We're so pleased that you play it and raise desperately needed rice, but wonder do you feel the content could be more engaging?<br /><br />Team FreericeTeam Freericehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18245849614435534829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-30540728042595510712011-02-04T08:03:02.241-05:002011-02-04T08:03:02.241-05:00Good idea to write that outline while going throug...Good idea to write that outline while going through the MS. <br /><br />With only a basic outline to start with, outlining while editing is a great way to get a synopsis going, rather than relying on memory. Thanks!J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-8814581774478875542011-02-04T06:14:55.067-05:002011-02-04T06:14:55.067-05:00Oh my this sounds like what I do, I only do it a w...Oh my this sounds like what I do, I only do it a whole lot! But I love turning my catipillar into a butterfly. It's also nice to see others process.LM Prestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624508396760965680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-42010329604799492252011-02-04T06:11:52.366-05:002011-02-04T06:11:52.366-05:00This is such great advice. It really is this tedio...This is such great advice. It really is this tedious. It may sound crazy, but sometimes I edit chapters backwards. It helps me see the chapter as a whole and remember exactly what it's supposed to lead up to.PK HREZOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11650153097981426833noreply@blogger.com