February 18, 2011

Now We're Getting Somewhere

A few weeks ago, I reported that I'd started using SuperNoteCard to plan for revision. Now, maybe it's because of this fancy new software, or maybe I could have made just as much progress with one of my old methods, but whatever, because the important thing is that I am ready to really actually finally start revising next week!

For months, I've been pondering, reviewing feedback, compiling notes, thinking about characters, summarizing the plot, rearranging events, outlining, and ruminating. I've alternated between despairing of ever making the story fit together and marveling over my brilliance at assembling the pieces. Today some remaining chunks fell into place, and I think this is going to be a pretty good novel once I rewrite it.

So now I have to rewrite it. I don't have a good idea of how long this revision will take, except for being pretty sure that it will take longer than I want it to. But now I know what I'm aiming for, and I'm looking forward to getting started.

Good Stuff Out There:

→ Ben Myers at the Guardian Books Blog writes about choosing character names: "Because characters don't arrive fully formed in your head, they develop over time and after much thought; therefore it stands to reason that the name they may start life with will more than likely change as their personality develops on the page."

→ At the Office of Letters and Light blog, Sarah Mackey confesses to weeping into popcorn and paperbacks, an experience I'm very familiar with.

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