tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post8956027340776706985..comments2024-03-25T05:49:46.932-04:00Comments on My Name Is Not Bob: Revision Tips for WritersRobert Lee Brewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733003865003484352noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-74837030606044374772013-01-31T00:59:52.206-05:002013-01-31T00:59:52.206-05:00It's a good list and great post .it will must ...It's a good list and great post .it will must help me thanks to share this <br /><br /><a href="http://www.examconfidence.co.uk/exam_tips.html" rel="nofollow"><b>Revision Tips</b></a> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13568716120100338694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-78356083166518105932011-06-14T12:37:52.175-04:002011-06-14T12:37:52.175-04:00Thanks for sharing your tips, everyone! I love lea...Thanks for sharing your tips, everyone! I love learning new things to consider.<br /><br />Mary, "it" is definitely a good word to re-write as something else when possible.Robert Lee Brewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733003865003484352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-56200649481931708602011-06-11T14:24:10.103-04:002011-06-11T14:24:10.103-04:00Great post. I've also discovered the power of ...Great post. I've also discovered the power of reading the ms. aloud, which slows me down and let's me notice more. It's also helpful when I need to read a passage at an event since it's not the first time! I'm impressed by the creative ways people are using "find."Ann Littlewoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-8038488446951747672011-06-11T13:22:11.968-04:002011-06-11T13:22:11.968-04:00Giving yourself space from your manuscript is DEFI...Giving yourself space from your manuscript is DEFINITLY encouraged. It's like a relationship. Yeah, you love the person, you want to spend time with him, yadda-yadda-yadda; but, eventually, you get sick of looking at the person and need some space to gain a clearer perspective. Works for me.<br /><br />http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.comBook Club Reviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-75431265730532610722011-06-10T21:25:00.217-04:002011-06-10T21:25:00.217-04:00Great post.
I use the find key for 'they, it...Great post. <br /><br />I use the find key for 'they, it, and was/were' to make sure the it is explained and to see if I can replace was/were. An editor's advice once was to look up these words and get rid of them if you can. It really makes you think about reworking a sentence and I've been happy with each change. It's my personal challenge I guess. <br /><br />I'll be keeping your list. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-71643019498324121782011-06-10T20:49:59.559-04:002011-06-10T20:49:59.559-04:00Great list. I think you've hit on pretty much...Great list. I think you've hit on pretty much everything I do. One thing that has saved me a lot of time and effort is to save each update with a different file name (usually numbered to tell them apart). I find if I print the chapters out before I edit or revise and set it down for a couple days I like some of the changes and not other changes.Marleen Gagnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08609394775306329231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-51982398995994671662011-06-10T19:14:23.528-04:002011-06-10T19:14:23.528-04:00I use find for: was, just, even,-ings, very, to be...I use find for: was, just, even,-ings, very, to be & being. These are weak words. I also do a scene check: does each scene have a start, offer conflict, cross dialogue,engage the senses, and finish. Is the scene in one POV and does it move the story forward or develop the character. A spiral notebook, couple of pens, and an area to spread the MS around is my workplace until I get revisions completed-well at least the first time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07925934256050681032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-55380841403601422462011-06-10T12:41:08.770-04:002011-06-10T12:41:08.770-04:00Part of my revision process is making sure every s...Part of my revision process is making sure every scene has a reason to exist. Does it move the story forward by showing a change? This can be done when a discovery or a decision is made, when something emotional or exciting happens, or when there's conflict between characters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-45296946571125976922011-06-10T11:09:08.782-04:002011-06-10T11:09:08.782-04:00I also use the "find" tool. For many ki...I also use the "find" tool. For many kinds of revisions. To change a character's name, to find sneaky typos ("our" for "out"), to find passive voice (look for "was" or "were"). Putting "space-there" into the find tool leads me to all sentences that begin with "There." I also look for "they" to show me where I'm telling instead of showing. The "find" tool is invaluable.Something About the Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02493002116735282925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-87372469741411835272011-06-10T10:39:51.885-04:002011-06-10T10:39:51.885-04:00A great list, Robert. "Put the manuscript dow...A great list, Robert. "Put the manuscript down and walk away" is a huge one for me. I'm often guilty of re-reading...to death!<br /><br />~AmandaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-67702589731646088332011-06-10T10:33:37.171-04:002011-06-10T10:33:37.171-04:00This post has been very helpful and I plan to keep...This post has been very helpful and I plan to keep it at hand. <br />As for myself, I keep a list of words or such that I know, or have been told, I overuse. I also keep a list of words I'm prone to spelling wrong at the wrong time, ex, through and though. Big difference in the word. Then, once I have walked away for a bit, I run the Find button, reading each sentence out loud. Too many, too often, pick, choose, change. When in doubt, get a second, third, fourth, opinion. Thus far, this method is working. <br />Elizabeth =^,,^=Who am I?https://www.blogger.com/profile/11108684076961044907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-12095114648389587182011-06-09T10:09:15.527-04:002011-06-09T10:09:15.527-04:00During my final edit of the final draft, I use the...During my final edit of the final draft, I use the "find" feature of MS Word to look for words that end in -ly, and determine individually if an -ly adverb adds to the sentence. I also do this for cuss words, character-specific phrases, or any phrase I suspect I might have over-used.SM Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02991536645592985414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-70351161685850327622011-06-09T09:28:25.129-04:002011-06-09T09:28:25.129-04:00I always try to reread my manuscripts after a mont...I always try to reread my manuscripts after a month or two of distancing myself from them, as you said, to give myself more objectivity. Once, that is complete, I try to get more granular and look for misspellings, etc. However, for me, the most valuable asset during the revision process is the feedback of beta readers. They've never heard the story, are not as intimate as I am with the piece, and therefore, can spot the holes that I may have taken for granted when getting it from my head to the page. I don't know what I'd do without them.<br /><br />Awesome post, Robert!J. R. McLemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15839469076383524144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-53724795227723356292011-06-08T22:10:41.798-04:002011-06-08T22:10:41.798-04:00Revision is different from editing, at least accor...Revision is different from editing, at least according to what I get to teach in composition. Revision is big picture stuff - figuring out what belongs where, what needs to go, what needs to be expanded. Only when all that is done should one worry about editing, i.e. the detail stuff - sentence structure, word ticks, awkward phrases, grammar issues, etc. See your point #1.Annette Gendlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03006606888883773812noreply@blogger.com