A Line-By-Line Revision Tip No One Talks About
Every day I talk to writers who are struggling to get their book in a place where they feel proud. It always feels like a draft, not a product. So how does an author go from a first draft to the final piece? It’s different for everyone! That said, when I was an editor, polishing line-by-line was truly when a book would start to shine. This is why I wanted to share a quick revision tip that has helped me over the years (even though I don’t see it discussed often). It all comes down to this:
Save descriptions you struggle with for later.
When I’m fast-drafting, I will skip over descriptions that I know will require more energy. For me, that generally means clothing. I barely know the difference between silk and lace. It’s not something that comes to me naturally. I’m a t-shirt and slacks sort of a gal. Granted, I know that you don’t have to include clothing descriptions in your novel, especially in every scene, but it would be weird if clothes were never mentioned, right? That’s why I typically put in placeholders and fill them in later. My first draft might look like this:
His mother met him at the top of the grand staircase. (insert fancy dress description)
Then, when I go back to revise, I will research how others do it. Maybe that means I flip through some of my favorite books. Maybe I’m Googling clothing websites. Sometimes, I find something I like on Pinterest and then check out what, exactly, the clothing is, so that I have the vocabulary to explain it. Now my scene looks like this:
His mother wore a lilac gown decorated with richly gathered tulle. Along the neckline, glimmering embroidery caught the candlelight as she neared the grand staircase, holding out her hand for him to take.
You can apply this method to anything. Struggle with rooms? Visit Zillow. Lost on scents? Peruse a candle shop. What about colors? Hello paint swatches. No matter the topic, someone somewhere has written something about it. This does not mean you are copying and pasting someone else’s writing. Hard stop. That’s plagiarism. This method is meant to inspire you and educate you. You still need to put everything in your own words. This will take practice and time. But at least you now have the tools to start building your voice in a focused way.
The first step is knowing what types of descriptions you struggle with, and then spending extra time understanding how to do it successfully. Your vocabulary base will build over time, and soon, that kind of describing will be a natural part of your writing voice.
As a writer, you will research lots of topics to bring your story to life.
Why not research line-by-line details, too?
~SAT
