Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "manuscript"
Writing Tip of the Week: Scratch Pad Drafting
Rewriting can seem like a daunting task, one often more of a challenge than the initial first draft of your manuscript. Now that your ideas are on the page, you can begin crafting and fine-tuning them into a stronger narrative. Making these changes in a work this is tens- or hundreds of thousands of words can also be overwhelming.
That’s why I recommend what I call Scratch Pad Drafting.
This Old Date
I highly recommend that you keep multiple dated drafts of all your manuscripts. From the first to the last, having a historical record of your story’s evolution is crucial. This is also important if something happens and you must go back in time to retrieve something you omitted from subsequent drafts.
Free Your Mind
Cutting and adding paragraphs or chapters in a seemingly completed manuscript can be tricky, especially if you’re writing on the fly. There will be times – many of them – when you’ll be reading through and find that a section doesn’t work.
What to do?
Have another document open that you can use to workshop fresh ideas. This blank canvas allows you to try new things, work out ideas, and punch up dialogue without fear of reformatting or other issues that can crop up when working on the manuscript. Now you have free reign to play around and work things out until you are satisfied with the new version.
Then, copy and paste the new material and add it to the manuscript.
Punching Things Up
The Scratch Pad can also be helpful when working out a character or location description. You can work to create the most descriptive sentence using the least number of words. Or, you can embellish and weave an intricate tapestry of sights, smells, sounds, and more to describe a person, place, or thing.
This is the best place to try those things out. You’re not affecting the manuscript while you work, and once you have the best version available, you can add it to the draft you’re working on.
This is also good as a place to punch up dialogue. You can work out important exchanges, jokes, and other moments to make them more realistic and truer to your characters. Again, the Scratch Pad is the place to play around and find the best version to serve your story and enhance the reader’s experience.
Final Thoughts
There’s always room to fine-tune and refine your work as you craft your next draft. Using a separate document to work on new sequences, descriptions, and dialogue gives you an open space to play and create without the burden of affecting the manuscript before the time comes to do so.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
That’s why I recommend what I call Scratch Pad Drafting.
This Old Date
I highly recommend that you keep multiple dated drafts of all your manuscripts. From the first to the last, having a historical record of your story’s evolution is crucial. This is also important if something happens and you must go back in time to retrieve something you omitted from subsequent drafts.
Free Your Mind
Cutting and adding paragraphs or chapters in a seemingly completed manuscript can be tricky, especially if you’re writing on the fly. There will be times – many of them – when you’ll be reading through and find that a section doesn’t work.
What to do?
Have another document open that you can use to workshop fresh ideas. This blank canvas allows you to try new things, work out ideas, and punch up dialogue without fear of reformatting or other issues that can crop up when working on the manuscript. Now you have free reign to play around and work things out until you are satisfied with the new version.
Then, copy and paste the new material and add it to the manuscript.
Punching Things Up
The Scratch Pad can also be helpful when working out a character or location description. You can work to create the most descriptive sentence using the least number of words. Or, you can embellish and weave an intricate tapestry of sights, smells, sounds, and more to describe a person, place, or thing.
This is the best place to try those things out. You’re not affecting the manuscript while you work, and once you have the best version available, you can add it to the draft you’re working on.
This is also good as a place to punch up dialogue. You can work out important exchanges, jokes, and other moments to make them more realistic and truer to your characters. Again, the Scratch Pad is the place to play around and find the best version to serve your story and enhance the reader’s experience.
Final Thoughts
There’s always room to fine-tune and refine your work as you craft your next draft. Using a separate document to work on new sequences, descriptions, and dialogue gives you an open space to play and create without the burden of affecting the manuscript before the time comes to do so.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
The Self-Aware Writer - Self-Awareness & Editing
Last time, we discussed the best way to use self-awareness during the drafting process. Today, we’ll explore the best ways for self-aware writers to edit their work to make it the strongest it can be.
The Self-Aware Editor
This is one area of the writing process where you want your powers of self-awareness at full power. Once you’ve completed a draft of your manuscript that you feel is the best version, you’ll want to give yourself a little break – maybe a week – and return to it with fresh eyes.
This distancing will help you focus more on the technical task before you: Editing the manuscript.
Editing is a multi-layered activity, so taking your time is important. Don’t skim through the manuscript. You’ll want to read each sentence, paragraph, and chapter with an eye for spelling and grammar errors, continuity issues, plot holes, and parts of storylines you cut that you missed.
One good way to stay focused is to read the manuscript aloud. This will help you stay in the story and also help you detect any issues with the flow of the writing. If it’s hard for you to read a sentence out loud or it doesn’t make sense, then it would be difficult for a reader to comprehend. These are things you’ll want to change.
When you do find yourself losing focus, take a break. Attempting to edit a novel in one afternoon is definitely not recommended. You want to ensure you are awake, focused, and uninterrupted.
Consider carving out time and limiting how many pages you edit per session. If you have a 500-page manuscript, only edit 50 pages daily or less. The key is to give your mind the energy and focus it needs to weed out any issues that can detract from the reader’s experience.
Self-Aware, But Too Busy?
The ability to be self-aware enough to know you won’t be able to give the manuscript the attention it needs at this stage is also the sign of a mature writer. You understand that while editing needs to be done, you can’t give it the time it needs.
In this case, you can outsource it to an editing company. These resources offer various services, from basic spelling and grammar editing to more in-depth manuscript edits. But please be aware: these can cost a lot of money, so shop around.
But, if you can, find the time to do it yourself, even if it’s a few pages a day. After all, only you truly know and understand your story, and you’re the best person to make the necessary edits.
Up Next…
You did it. The edits are done. You’re tired, and your brain feels like mush, but you have cranked out a solid draft of your story that you are proud of. The time has come to let another set of eyes read your work. To give your baby to another who can provide you with feedback on what you’ve written.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
The Self-Aware Editor
This is one area of the writing process where you want your powers of self-awareness at full power. Once you’ve completed a draft of your manuscript that you feel is the best version, you’ll want to give yourself a little break – maybe a week – and return to it with fresh eyes.
This distancing will help you focus more on the technical task before you: Editing the manuscript.
Editing is a multi-layered activity, so taking your time is important. Don’t skim through the manuscript. You’ll want to read each sentence, paragraph, and chapter with an eye for spelling and grammar errors, continuity issues, plot holes, and parts of storylines you cut that you missed.
One good way to stay focused is to read the manuscript aloud. This will help you stay in the story and also help you detect any issues with the flow of the writing. If it’s hard for you to read a sentence out loud or it doesn’t make sense, then it would be difficult for a reader to comprehend. These are things you’ll want to change.
When you do find yourself losing focus, take a break. Attempting to edit a novel in one afternoon is definitely not recommended. You want to ensure you are awake, focused, and uninterrupted.
Consider carving out time and limiting how many pages you edit per session. If you have a 500-page manuscript, only edit 50 pages daily or less. The key is to give your mind the energy and focus it needs to weed out any issues that can detract from the reader’s experience.
Self-Aware, But Too Busy?
The ability to be self-aware enough to know you won’t be able to give the manuscript the attention it needs at this stage is also the sign of a mature writer. You understand that while editing needs to be done, you can’t give it the time it needs.
In this case, you can outsource it to an editing company. These resources offer various services, from basic spelling and grammar editing to more in-depth manuscript edits. But please be aware: these can cost a lot of money, so shop around.
But, if you can, find the time to do it yourself, even if it’s a few pages a day. After all, only you truly know and understand your story, and you’re the best person to make the necessary edits.
Up Next…
You did it. The edits are done. You’re tired, and your brain feels like mush, but you have cranked out a solid draft of your story that you are proud of. The time has come to let another set of eyes read your work. To give your baby to another who can provide you with feedback on what you’ve written.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
The Self-Aware Writer - Self-Awareness & Feedback
Last time, we talked about how self-awareness can help you edit your manuscript and get it to the best version possible. Today, we’ll explore how to use self-awareness when receiving feedback from others on your work.
Let’s get started.
Feedback: Self-Aware, Not Self-Absorbed
Everyone needs feedback on their writing. It doesn’t matter what it is; if you intend to publish it, you’ll want to take the time to have another person – or other people – read it and get their honest feedback about the work.
Being a self-aware writer is knowing that there are areas of the writing process that are your strengths. Still, others are weaknesses that you need to improve upon. Getting feedback from others can help you pinpoint these weak areas so you can improve them before you send the manuscript out to the next reader.
These initial readers should be people you know and trust who will be honest with you about any problems they find. This is where being a self-aware writer comes in handy. You want to make it clear to the reader that you want them to be truthful with you about anything they find that needs work. You can’t make it better if all they do is shower you with false praise.
You’ve given them the manuscript for a reason, and you want to make sure that what you need from them is what you get.
Feedback: Know What You Want
Two words: BE SPECIFIC. “Let me know if you like it or not” is not a good way to get strong feedback. Before you send your manuscript off to anyone, think of aspects you want them to focus on and look for. This will ensure they stay engaged since you’ve given them a task related to the book.
Some questions you could pose to your reader include:
• Is the main character’s story arc strong enough?
• Does the story keep them engaged?
• Is there any place during the story where the energy dies or the pacing slows?
• Were there any parts that were confusing or hard to understand?
• Did any of the subplots cause you to lose interest?
• Was the villain’s motivation strong enough?
• Did the conflict keep you invested?
Then, when you meet with them after they’re done, they have clear and specific answers that will help you improve the manuscript going forward.
Feedback: Know What You Don’t Want
This is where picking the right people to read for you is key. You should ask people who will actually READ the manuscript and provide you with the feedback you need. There’s nothing more frustrating than asking someone to read your manuscript only to have them say they haven’t even started it a month after you sent it to them.
You also want to do all you can to get detailed information from your reader. “It was good,” “I didn’t like it,” or “It wasn’t my type of book” are not helpful feedback statements. This is why giving your readers clear direction can make a huge difference as you work to make changes and improvements to the next draft.
Next Time…
The feedback was good, and it allowed you to make changes to your manuscript that have made it even stronger than it was before. You’re feeling confident…maybe even a little cocky about yourself as a writer. But will that inflated ego hurt you in the long run?
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Let’s get started.
Feedback: Self-Aware, Not Self-Absorbed
Everyone needs feedback on their writing. It doesn’t matter what it is; if you intend to publish it, you’ll want to take the time to have another person – or other people – read it and get their honest feedback about the work.
Being a self-aware writer is knowing that there are areas of the writing process that are your strengths. Still, others are weaknesses that you need to improve upon. Getting feedback from others can help you pinpoint these weak areas so you can improve them before you send the manuscript out to the next reader.
These initial readers should be people you know and trust who will be honest with you about any problems they find. This is where being a self-aware writer comes in handy. You want to make it clear to the reader that you want them to be truthful with you about anything they find that needs work. You can’t make it better if all they do is shower you with false praise.
You’ve given them the manuscript for a reason, and you want to make sure that what you need from them is what you get.
Feedback: Know What You Want
Two words: BE SPECIFIC. “Let me know if you like it or not” is not a good way to get strong feedback. Before you send your manuscript off to anyone, think of aspects you want them to focus on and look for. This will ensure they stay engaged since you’ve given them a task related to the book.
Some questions you could pose to your reader include:
• Is the main character’s story arc strong enough?
• Does the story keep them engaged?
• Is there any place during the story where the energy dies or the pacing slows?
• Were there any parts that were confusing or hard to understand?
• Did any of the subplots cause you to lose interest?
• Was the villain’s motivation strong enough?
• Did the conflict keep you invested?
Then, when you meet with them after they’re done, they have clear and specific answers that will help you improve the manuscript going forward.
Feedback: Know What You Don’t Want
This is where picking the right people to read for you is key. You should ask people who will actually READ the manuscript and provide you with the feedback you need. There’s nothing more frustrating than asking someone to read your manuscript only to have them say they haven’t even started it a month after you sent it to them.
You also want to do all you can to get detailed information from your reader. “It was good,” “I didn’t like it,” or “It wasn’t my type of book” are not helpful feedback statements. This is why giving your readers clear direction can make a huge difference as you work to make changes and improvements to the next draft.
Next Time…
The feedback was good, and it allowed you to make changes to your manuscript that have made it even stronger than it was before. You’re feeling confident…maybe even a little cocky about yourself as a writer. But will that inflated ego hurt you in the long run?
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Writing Tip of the Week: When it Comes to Editing, Re-Visit Every Chapter
Editing is a necessary and inevitable part of the writing process. No matter what you’re writing – from a blog post to a novel – taking the time to correct, add, delete, or change things helps make your writing stronger and helps you deliver a polished product.
When you edit, you likely know the key areas you want to focus on to improve the manuscript. Still, it’s best to read the entire draft and make changes to each chapter along the way.
Let’s talk about it.
There’s Always Something
Even if you love how a chapter is written, there’s always room for small changes that can result in a stronger finished product. It can be as simple as rewording a sentence for clarity or as involved as delivering greater detail to a character’s appearance. You may also find grammar or spelling errors you missed in previous drafts that can now be fixed.
Every little bit helps.
Pacing, Pacing, Pacing
Taking the time to re-visit your entire story can help you see where the story lags, where a reader might lose interest, or where even you, as the writer, need clarification. Checking the story for pacing and ease of reading can ensure you don’t lose a reader at any point during the story.
What Really Matters
By going through each chapter, you can also ensure that each chapter has a reason to be in the book. A reason? Yes, a reason. Each chapter should provide the reader with information about a character or plot that helps to move the story forward. Whether it’s the main story, sub-plots, or backstory, all of it needs to assist in propelling the narrative toward its conclusion.
Beginnings and Endings
How does the story begin? Does it grab you? Does it make you want to turn to the next page and keep reading? Go back through your opening chapters to ensure they help transport the reader into the story’s world and keep them there. You can offer up set-ups and questions in these early chapters that will be paid off and answered later.
With the final chapters, have you created a satisfying conclusion for your reader that ties up any loose story threads and gives them a complete story? Is there anything presented throughout the story that hasn’t been resolved? Reading the entire manuscript ensures all story points are concluded and not left flapping in the wind for readers to ponder what happened.
Final Thoughts
Editing is a lengthy task and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. By giving your story the time and editing it deserves, you can help make it a more robust narrative with better pacing, a stronger opening, and a grand finale.
It’s also great to snag those pesky grammar and spelling errors!
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
When you edit, you likely know the key areas you want to focus on to improve the manuscript. Still, it’s best to read the entire draft and make changes to each chapter along the way.
Let’s talk about it.
There’s Always Something
Even if you love how a chapter is written, there’s always room for small changes that can result in a stronger finished product. It can be as simple as rewording a sentence for clarity or as involved as delivering greater detail to a character’s appearance. You may also find grammar or spelling errors you missed in previous drafts that can now be fixed.
Every little bit helps.
Pacing, Pacing, Pacing
Taking the time to re-visit your entire story can help you see where the story lags, where a reader might lose interest, or where even you, as the writer, need clarification. Checking the story for pacing and ease of reading can ensure you don’t lose a reader at any point during the story.
What Really Matters
By going through each chapter, you can also ensure that each chapter has a reason to be in the book. A reason? Yes, a reason. Each chapter should provide the reader with information about a character or plot that helps to move the story forward. Whether it’s the main story, sub-plots, or backstory, all of it needs to assist in propelling the narrative toward its conclusion.
Beginnings and Endings
How does the story begin? Does it grab you? Does it make you want to turn to the next page and keep reading? Go back through your opening chapters to ensure they help transport the reader into the story’s world and keep them there. You can offer up set-ups and questions in these early chapters that will be paid off and answered later.
With the final chapters, have you created a satisfying conclusion for your reader that ties up any loose story threads and gives them a complete story? Is there anything presented throughout the story that hasn’t been resolved? Reading the entire manuscript ensures all story points are concluded and not left flapping in the wind for readers to ponder what happened.
Final Thoughts
Editing is a lengthy task and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. By giving your story the time and editing it deserves, you can help make it a more robust narrative with better pacing, a stronger opening, and a grand finale.
It’s also great to snag those pesky grammar and spelling errors!
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
