When is the best time for revision if you want to contiue writing the story. Do you look over what you've written daily and make corrections, and then continue on, or what? I could spend all my time revising Chapter 1 and never get any further because each time I read it, I think of something else that can be added or excluded or tweaked. Does anyone else ever have this problem?
Thanks
Tazira
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
For a longer story written in sections or a novel, I would write the first, set it aside for a month, while writing the second part, then go back and edit (once) the first, then start teh third, (then go back and edit the second, etc.
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
It depends on the creative process you're using. But as a general rule, the first revision shouldn't happen until you have a complete story written down somewhere.
If you're the type that hates to have a sloppy first draft, then that means that you need to do some kind of outline or similar design document. That way, your revisions actually mean something.
Also, you should probably only revise a section once before writing another section (or making a major modification to the design). If you write an early draft of chapter two, then realize that you need to tweak chapter one again, that's progress. Endlessly rewriting chapter one without ever getting to chapter two is not.
Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :
Also, make a distinction between revision and proof reading. They aren't the same thing.
Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :
Taking some of the wisdom of OSC . . . the time the revision should happen is as soon as you see a problem. Because whatever you change in Chapter 1 will require changing every subsequent chapter.
That's what I do, unless I can see that the changes in a scene will NOT affect what comes later, much.
Posted by abby (Member # 2681) on :
Well, two points of view for me. First, sometimes I find I forgot something vital to the story, and have to add it back in, and it goes in an early chapter. Other times, I realize that with a turn the story has suddenly taken, I need another note up at the top, so I will add those into the correct place.
Second, sometimes life gets in the way, and it is a few days between working on my writing. When that happens, sometimes I can't get started again. I may do a quick read through, to see where I have already been, and reset the mood for where I need to go. In the process, I may catch an error or two. If I can fix it in seconds, I do it at the moment. If it will take re-writing sections, I make a note of the problem, page number, line number, and correct it later.
Posted by Tazira (Member # 2711) on :
The information I'm getting here is all good. I absolutely don't want to get stuck in one spot because I keep seeing things that I can add or delete etc...
Keep posting insight. The more I have the better informed decision I can make
Tazira
Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :
quote:. the time the revision should happen is as soon as you see a problem
That's not to say we all do this in the same way. During my first novel, I had certain scenes that I knew would change. I made the changes in my head and went back to change them on paper later. I seem to do a lot of that kind of thing in my head, more than average. My old boss told me that i have a very organized mind. You wouldn't know it from looking at my desk, though.
