Losing Steam?

I take breaks from revisions FREQUENTLY. I have broken down my entire manuscript into portions of ten pages or less, with a title for each, much like diagramming an outline, I guess.

I'm working my way through in waves, with the goal of revising one section per day. If I am more ambitious, I do two a day, but that's about all I can handle. (I'm just wordy, that way)

Good luck with your work

For me, the thrill is finding out how the story ends. After that I have a hard time paying attention. I have bills to pay, and children to feed (they won't go hungry if I don't publish, but you get the point) and that forces me to keep going. That and my parents already telling everyone they know their daughter is a writer.

Yes, definitely take frequent breaks from it. Maybe start working on something else in those breaks. Just keep the writing going.

Breaks are lifesavers. I also find doing the easy stuff first to get it out of the way helps. Makes the job seem less imposing. Breaking it into chunks with time off between the chunks works, as it's easy to do a chunk, then start to lose focus on the next chunk.

I also like to break it up by what needs to be done. Say, adverb or passive verb hunt day, then check goals and motivations another day, dialog tags on a third, etc. I find this lets me focus better since I'm just looking for one thing to tweak at a time.

Danthia said:

I also like to break it up by what needs to be done. Say, adverb or passive verb hunt day, then check goals and motivations another day, dialog tags on a third, etc. I find this lets me focus better since I'm just looking for one thing to tweak at a time.

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That's a great idea, Danthia. I'll have to try that.

Besides the frequent smaller breaks, try taking a few days of "vacation" from your manuscript. Leave off in a place that you'll be eager to return to, so instead of dreading the editing, you'll look forward to progressing the story.

jmascia said:

Yes, definitely take frequent breaks from it. Maybe start working on something else in those breaks. Just keep the writing going.

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I do the exact opposite. I hate it so I do it fast. I set my self a vey tight deadline and plough on. Geting it finished is my incentive.

I went through four, yes, FOUR, rough drafts of my manuscript before sending it off. The first was just a gist, the second was editing punctuation, the third was editing dialogue/setting/details, and the last was a run through to make sure I didn't need to add anything else.

Also, you could break it up. I split my manuscript in half to make editing not seem so overwhelming. Just take it one chapter at a time. Once you get halfway through, take a break. If you need to take a couple of days (or even a week) off, then do it. Then start the second half.

It's also a good idea to get a fresh pair of eyes to look things over. After you see words every day for months, that's all you see. So get someone else to "review" it. Tell them to check for punctuation, if the dialogue is feasible, etc. I make sure I have avid readers review mine because they notice stuff that others don't.

I think reading is a great break for me (and yes! I absolutely do lose steam, especially when I am ALMOST done, ironically.) But reading somebody else's fabulous brilliance always reminds me that i had better work my ass off if my book is even going to compare.

This may be a no brainer, but I always work on a new project (even if it's just sort of goofing off/exploring) even while I'm editing. It helps me stay in touch with the creative part.

The current manuscript went through at least six drafts and five proofreaders so I thought I was getting close. Then recently I went through it because I decided a character in it had sequel potential and I discovered a whole host of new things to be tweaked.

Isn't there a quote somewhere about poetry that says it is never finished only abandoned???