Story Threads: Fixing Rips in Our Story

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As we write, we weave our characters, plot, dialogue, action, narrative, backstory, etc. together to create a full picture for our readers. However, during the revision process, we might have to rip through our carefully-constructed story.

We might need to reduce our word count to
meet publishing specifications, or we might discover a subplot drags down our
story’s pace. Or we might need to add
new scenes, subplots, or characters to fix other story problems.

Regardless of the circumstances, we can’t
simply delete or insert and move on. Instead, we have to repair the broken
threads, weaving our story back into a smooth storytelling experience for
readers. How can we stitch the pieces of
our story back together after big changes?

Think of Story
Elements as Threads

Our story elements are like threads that stretch forward and back
through our story. That subplot we need to delete might be foreshadowed two
scenes earlier. Conversations from that subplot might be referenced three
chapters later.

In stories that follow what’s known as the
“But and Therefore” rule to avoid
episodic writing, every piece of the story is affected by what came
before and likewise affects what comes after. Plot revelations and character
epiphanies don’t happen in a vacuum.

So the hardest aspect of big revisions is
recognizing the story threads of anything we touch so we can fix the frayed
ends throughout the rest of the story. When we struggle to see the strings, a
checklist might help. *smile*

Before Changing
Anything…



Before removing a chunk, identify the still-relevant elements in the deleted section.

Does it share important information with readers? Does it show a bonding moment
between characters? Etc.

Decide what elements are important to keep and brainstorm how to include them
somewhere else, such as sharing important information in a different scene or giving
characters a different way to bond.Before adding a thread, know why
it’s important to include.

How will it fit into the big picture of the story?
What does it accomplish that can’t be accomplished in other ways?



Repairing Frayed
Threads: The Basics

Once we understand the nature of our changes,
we can analyze how they affect the story as a whole:

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How do the scenes before or after need to change to seamlessly
follow the new cause-and-effect flow and/or to include the still-relevant elements?Do we have old foreshadowing to remove and/or new
foreshadowing to add?Do we have references or callbacks to a defunct thread’s setups to delete or
change?Do our characters change due to a defunct thread in ways that need to be
adjusted?

In the big picture, we need to smooth out the transitions
between the old and the new, stitching them into a seamless story cloth.

Recognizing Frayed
Threads: Advanced Steps

The
hardest part of making big revisions is finding all the minor ways our changes affect our story:

Check for “in passing” references
to a defunct thread in the following scenes.Introducing a new character
aspect, like a motivation or fear? Ensure hints and references before and after
are consistent so the new inserts don’t feel out-of-character.Did an earlier scene trigger
the defunct thread? Is that scene or trigger still needed? Or should it be
deleted so as not to imply future story events that no longer happen?Did something in a defunct
thread trigger later events or reactions? Should the later events or reactions
be deleted as well? Or should they be triggered another way?Are we now missing setup or
motivations for later events or reactions? Can they be added elsewhere?How does the defunct or new
thread intersect with the main plot, subplots, themes, or arcs? Do those
intersections need adjustment?Did events in a defunct thread
round out or help motivate the character in ways that need to be replaced in
other scenes?Did the changes introduce
repetition we don’t want?Did we introduce characters,
settings, emotional issues, motivations, relationships, questions, goals, breakthroughs,
ideas, etc. in a defunct thread that now need to be introduced elsewhere?Are characters’ internal and
emotional arcs still smooth? Or is part of their journey now missing or
zigzaggy?

Once we’ve fixed all the necessary changes
we can think of, we can then search for
keywords of the defunct or new thread, subplot, or characters involved to
look for other sections we might have missed. For example, if we’re removing a
character’s motivation or false belief, we can search for the words we used
with the previous descriptions.

Then we should always finish with a reread of our story. No matter how carefully
we try to stitch pieces together, we’re likely to find a few loose strings.
*smile*

Do you have any questions or insights about
fixing torn story threads?



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After muttering writing advice in tongues, Jami decided to put her talent for making up stuff to good use. Fueled by chocolate, she creates writing resources and writes award-winning paranormal romance stories where normal need not apply. Just ask her family—and zombie cat. Find out more about Jami here, hang out with her on social media, or visit her website and Goodreads profile.
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