My favorite revision tool: Storyboarding

Many years ago, I attended a writing workshop with Carolyn Coman, who taught us about her storyboarding process when writing novels. She had us begin our own storyboards during the workshop, and as I worked on mine (it was for Jumping Off Swings), I was floored by how much power the visuals had in helping me "see" the flow of the book. I've used this technique for revision ever since.

Here's a little bit of how it works, with my own modifications (Carolyn's storyboards are much more beautiful and simple, mine are a bit of a mess. But the basic concept remains):

Once I have a solid but messy first draft, it's time to look at the contents of the book. What's happening in each chapter, what the emotional as well as physical arc looks like, and who appears when and where.

To do this, I follow Carolyn's instruction to make one box for each chapter. In this case, my manuscript has 10 chapters.



Then, as I reread my novel I start taking notes. Things to include in your storyboard might be:

A rough sketch of the most powerful moment in the chapter. (This should be the strongest image you think best represents the key moment in that chapter.)



I also include the:
• title of the chapter, if there is one
• names of the characters who appear in the chapter
• strongest emotions that pervade the chapter
And in this novel's case, the time of day, since this novel all happens in one day.



Each day as I revise more chapters, the squares fill up with details and notes which will eventually serve as a cheat sheet, of sorts, to help me keep track of what happens and where, and who is involved.

As I revise more, I will add additional details, but for now, here's my finished storyboard, which I'll use today as I go back to the beginning and start revision round two:



While I also use Scrivener to keep track of details and names and things, I like to be able to see the entire book on one page, with images that work as cues to me. I like to be able to see the book in one splash, and be able to quickly refer to the page or add to it as necessary.

Carolyn Coman, thank you SO MUCH for introducing the basic storyboard idea to me all those years ago. This has been the most important revision tool I've had.

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Monday Morning Warm-Up:

How about you? What's the most helpful tool you use in revision or in creating first drafts? Share here or blog about it! Be sure to give us a link. :-)