Last night I was up until 2 a.m. finishing my initial edits on "Artemus and the Knights of Light." It's a cute story that's got a lot of good going for it but like many first novels (mine included) it has POV and story arc issues.
After my initial reading, I struggled with how to get my arms around the project. Sunday afternoon I was thinking about the writing process in general and did a quick search on how to write a bestseller. An article came up that I doubt I could find again but in it, the author suggested using a table or speadsheet to map out the scenes of your book.
One thing I've learned about writing is that its different for everyone. I could never do this before I started writing. I'm an organic author. I start with a basic premise and then sort of live through my stories and see how they grow from the seat of my pants. BUT for editing and revisions, what a fabulous tool.
With this story that was the perfect answer. As soon as I could see it simplified in front of me, I could figure out how to intensify and streamline the plot to add suspense and interest.
Now I'm going to do it on the final edit of my own manuscript.
Hooray for good ideas!!!
3 comments:
hey Christine the spreadsheets do sound like a good Idea. Is there anyway you could share how you have used it with other writing critique groups through ANWA or in some other way so other budding writers could try the process?
Great Idea! I will.
I am very excited about the mapping idea and have been thinking about it for the last week in relation to my novel. Yesterday I printed off a calendar. I'm whiteing-out (or white-outing?) the numbers, but keeping the days of the week. Now when I sit down to write I don't have to figure out what day it is in my story...plus I am filling in the basic events of that day in each square. This should help the story flow.
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