Revision02:20 It is the art of turning what you wrote into what you meant to write.

Get Organized!04:10 Have a plan Synopsize & Summarize Make an Outline Know your manuscript Get Help

A Novel is …04:55... a story about someone who wants something badly and takes positive forward action to get it.

Synopsis07:40  A brief, clear statement of your novel’s story line  The whole novel at a glance  Distills story into its most important elements  Litmus test for your revision: Does this advance the story as presented in the synopsis?  Helps identify problems: plot, pacing, logic, characterization, etc.

The Brief Synopsis12:15  AKA “The Elevator Pitch”  Your WHOLE novel, in one sentence  Story form from Linda Arms-White & Linda Backus: This is a story about your main character, who wants story goal more than anything else in the world, but is prevented from achieving it by antagonist/obstacle, until s/he (takes positive forward action and) does what?

The Detailed Synopsis21:00  Chronological summary of the plot and conflicts  All the major characters and their arcs  Add the resolution (the ending)  Easier to glance at 5 pages than keep 400 in your head  Just for your revision: nobody else has to see it (right now)  However long you need it to be (within reason)

Your Outline34:20 In which you figure out how to get there …  Your map for your revision: 1. Chronological list of every scene in the novel 2. Plus notes to guide you (annotations)

Whatever Format Works For You39:16  Formal Outline/ Lists  Storyboard  Detailed Synopsis  Copious Notes/ Revision Letter  Software (Scrivener)  Snowflake Method – pre-writing/ planning your novel

Read Your Manuscript, Part I 48:05 In which You read your manuscript for every scene in the book and ask yourself:  What is its function?  Is it relevant ? Does it support your synopsis?  Is it in the right place?  Is it well written?  Is it repetitive?  Is it too long/ short/ boring/ confusing?  Is it working ?

Read Your Manuscript, Part II 56:05 In which someone else reads your manuscript  Critique Partners/ Groups  Freelance Editors  A good reader who will be honest about what doesn’t work … and what does  You have to let go eventually  Gauge the audience’s reaction: Did you read what I think I wrote?  Helpful to bounce ideas off another person

Plot 01:16:45 Plot is a series of escalating conflicts that:  Build on each other 1. “Escalating” = the stakes are raised 2. “Build on each other” = the solution to one conflict begets the next conflict  Not just “one damn thing after another”  Plot is caused by the actions of your main character 1. Not things that happen to her/ him.

Story Structure 01:25:20  Intuitive understanding, but worth studying anyway  Invisible skeleton that supports and organizes the plot 1. What scenes go where  Find one that works for you: 1. 3 Act (beginning/ middle/ end) OR (set-up/ conflicts/ resolution) OR (set-up/ complication/ resolution 2. Pyramid (rising action – climax – falling action) 3. Nine Block Plot Matrix (Internet) 4. Hero’s Journey 5. Etc… And embrace it

References 01:32:30  Book in a Month (3 act structure) by Victoria Lynn Schmidt  The Key by James N. Frey  Snowflake Method/ Advanced Fiction Writing.com  Save the Cat by Blake Snyder  Screenwriting Tricks for Authors by Alexander Sokoloff  Scene Sequel by Jack Bickham

Character 01:37:05  Emotional Plot (vs. Action Plot) = Character Arc 1. What your character wants 2. What she overcomes to get it (internal & external) 3. And how she changes as a result of that journey All major characters need an arc  Especially, the villain 1. Because everyone is the protagonist in his own story. 2. Villains should parallel/ oppose the hero’s

Character, cont’d 01:57:10 1. Worthy Goal  What she wants 2. Strong Motivation  Why she wants it 3. High Stakes  What s/he risks if s/he doesn’t get it. 4. Flaws  How she keeps getting in her own way. 5. Arc  How she changes as a result 6. Consistency  Takes (+) forward action 7. Sympathetic  Someone we want to spend time with

The Small Stuff 02:13:00 In which, revision is in the details  Keep Track of Your Revision 1. Don’t delete anything! Maintain a CUT file. 2. Make notes as you go: a “cleanup” file  World building details (Did Jim’s name change to John in Chapter 3?  Notes on upcoming chapters/ scenes  Changes to make for next time  Etc.

The Small Stuff, cont’d 02:18:55  Keeping Track of Your Prose 1. Watch for “weasel words” 2. Repetition: Have I already made this point? 3. Voice & Dialogue: Do my characters sound like themselves and no one else? 4. Point of View: Is the right person narrating this scene? 5. Scene & Sequel (Narration vs. Summary) 6. Is my writing as clean as it can be ? 7. … Is it too clean?

References02:31:10  Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne & Dave King  Steering the Craft by Ursula K. LeGuin