It Never Ends

That's the first thing you need to know about revisions. There will always be changes to make, sentences to tweak, better word choices to make. It never, ever ends. It's just that eventually, they put the book on the shelf and won't let you make changes anymore...but you'll still want to. Sick, isn't it?

I just turned in my revised revised version of NINTH GRADE SUCKS, so revisions are on my mind. Oddly, I've become one of those people who love doing revisions. You probably can't tell through all of my moping and complaining, but it's true. Writing makes a good book. Revising makes a great book.

So how do you know where to start? Well, the first thing you need to do a lot of is read. Read, read, read. You don't want to copy the stories or styles of other authors, but reading will give you a sense of what works and what doesn't. But don't just read. Study those texts, read passages aloud. If a phrase, or scene work, find out what makes them work. If they don't, ask yourself why. The most important thing a writer can do is to study other's crafts in order to perfect their own. I wish I had more time to read currently, but I'm well-prepared for any unscheduled reading time that might pop up with stacks and stacks of books I've been adding to for that "some day". Which brings me to my next, somewhat Boy Scoutish, piece of advice.

Be prepared. Don't think you're the first, or that you're a crappy writer after all. Revisons happen to EVERYBODY. When the happy day comes that you connect with an agent and sign on with him or her, they may ask for changes. Be true to yourself, but keep an open mind. If the changes will be better for the book, make them. And then, when you sell...and garner an amazing editor at a fantastic publishing house...be prepared to make even more changes to your manuscript. It's really so much easier if you realize ahead of the game that there WILL BE changes. Don't fight it. Roll with it.

Am I saying to follow your editor blindly? Oh heck no. I'm just saying that to write is human, to edit divine--most editors are pretty sharp and can pick out things you otherwise might not have noticed. Keep and open mind, and be prepared to make changes.

As for me, I'm breaking for the weekend. And reading a good book.