- Joined
- Apr 12, 2005
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- www.jamie-mason.com
I had a revision due today. I don't know about you, but when I'm editing a novel-length work for, well, more than the first time, I have a tendency to start with focus and ruthlessness, only to get swept up into the story and what I meant to say, not necessarily what I actually wrote.
Ultimately, this ends with the first few chapters polished all shiny and the finesse fading as the manuscript goes along. Now, I'm a firm believer that for continuity, plot hole discovery, and overall flow, you have to go through it soup-to-nuts a time or two, anyway. But when you want to polish just the words, it can get frustrating.
So I tried something new. This particular manuscript has thirty-two chapters. So, I printed out the numbers 1-32. I cut them apart and folded them individually. Then I drew chapters out of a hat and edited in random order.
Can I tell you? Best editing pass ever. I saw each chapter on its own merit. Saw where my concentration had faltered and let down the storytelling.
I'm very pleased, so I though I'd share. Maybe it'll help somebody else.
Happy Friday!
Ultimately, this ends with the first few chapters polished all shiny and the finesse fading as the manuscript goes along. Now, I'm a firm believer that for continuity, plot hole discovery, and overall flow, you have to go through it soup-to-nuts a time or two, anyway. But when you want to polish just the words, it can get frustrating.
So I tried something new. This particular manuscript has thirty-two chapters. So, I printed out the numbers 1-32. I cut them apart and folded them individually. Then I drew chapters out of a hat and edited in random order.
Can I tell you? Best editing pass ever. I saw each chapter on its own merit. Saw where my concentration had faltered and let down the storytelling.
I'm very pleased, so I though I'd share. Maybe it'll help somebody else.
Happy Friday!
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