Where Was I Going Again? The Benefits of Re-Reading During a Revision

By Janice Hardy

A re-read might be theright path to find your story and fall in love with it all over again.

Many writers shudder at the very thought of revising theirnovel. Others curse. But I’ve always enjoyed the revision process (don’t hateme). I’ve found it’s where my best writing happens, because I know how my storyturned out and I have a much better understanding of who the characters are andwhat they want and need to do.

Even if you’re a meticulous outliner, your final draftrarely matches your original plan exactly. And if you’re a pantser or discoverywriter? Well, your manuscript may resemble your initial vision about as much asa squirrel resembles a spaceship. Though honestly, that can happen to plotters,too.

Because things change as we write. Motivations shift. Newideas pop up halfway through and suddenly alter our understanding of the plot.Characters do things we didn’t plan, and sometimes what sounded brilliant inChapter Eight feels like a complete mistake by Chapter Twenty.

Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com