So last Friday I shared that I had completed post-it revisions!!! You all graciously congratulated me and told me that it was never early to celebrate (even if it was 9AM) I will have you all know that I celebrated! My mom, sis, husband and I went to TGI Fridays (on Friday, lol) for some cocktails and dinner and Saturday the hubs and I went to the beach and then had dinner with some great friends. I also received Rachele Alpine's Summer Giveaway package, which I adore!!!
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young is already super cute!!! LOVE IT!
Okay so the real reason for this post is to talk about revisions! I know, a lot of you love revisions (add sarcasm) and we all have different methods. I thought it would be fun to show you how I do the first set of revisions.
This is my Getting to Peloria binder where I put the entire rough draft of my manuscript. I leave it here for at least 3 days then I grabbed some post-its and my red pen and went to town.
A page out of my binder! There are only a few post-it's here, but this is the first page and I can tell you that before I took the picture you couldn't even see that there was a page. I have multiple post-its on this page (around 20) just talking about re-structuring, working on chapters, etc.
Now that I've shown you a few pictures of what my post-it revisions look like I'm wondering how you revise. Have you ever tried post-it revisions? Do you prefer working off of a computer? How is your writing going?
54 comments:
It's fascinating seeing other writers manuscripts! I haven't tried the post it revision, although I do use post its alot. I used to print out my MS, revise and then add to my computer. It's good cus you can look back at the first draft compared to the final, but SO time consuming! I do however keep a little notpad and write down what needs to be changed then go back, or just correct as I revise!
I can not revise off the computer to save my life...Has anyone else ever revised mutiple times on screen, thought it was perfect, printed it out...and then found tons changes that needed to be made. Or is it just me?
That revision book looks amazing! You even have a cover with a picture of the MC on it! Wow!
I just do revisions in my head. But what fun am I missing out on?
i go over a few times on the computer (saves time and precious ink!) and then print out for my hubby to take his red pen to it.
I do post-its. I couldn't revise without them. I like lots of random notes everywhere that only I can comprehend!
I am addicted to post-its.....I cant live without them...hahaha...I nate note all the time:)
Glad you had a wonderful weekend,sweetie
happy Monday and see you soon:)
That would drive me nuts! LOL I work off the computer and also print off a hardcopy and read it outloud and scribble on the pages. Maybe that is just as bad!!
I'm mid revision and I use every tool possible. That's because I don't outline or even have any concept except for the ending when I start my books. The thing I've been using this time around and it has been a GREAT piece of revision technology is Beat Sheets from Roz from Nail Your Novel. I've got seven sheets of what happens when and they are attached to a piece of plywood resting on a chair right near my computer. When I get through a scene I check it off - and the beats or scenes have all sorts of notes I took off my first draft like your post-its.
And hey, I love revising. Love it. Weird to admit but true. I do not like ironing though.
Jan Morrison
wow, that looks really cool and organised! Honestly, I only printed my whole ms out one time and I don't think I'll ever do it again (too much ink, paper and space). BUT when I finish a first draft, I do a once through right away to try to smooth it out- I'll go back and fluff up some characterization in the beginning and check for flow. Then I put it away for three weeks. Then do a quick read through and take care of the bigger points. Then each subsequent edit looks at each chapter by itself and cleans up the writing. Then its ready for betas, more edits and revisions, list of annoyingi words, etc...Can I just say I HATE the revising process. It's too damn long.
I have never tried postit revisions, but I'm intrigued... I like it! :o)
congrats on being done, and I like your pretty binder~
Post-it revisions. Hmmm...that's interesting. I'm afraid I would have a million post-its all of the place and you wouldn't even be able to see the ms! LoL.
I do it by computer first go around and then print of and write on the ms. Of course, this doesn't inclue the butchering it goes through with the beta. Kidding. Sarah is awesome.
~JD
Great idea, Jen! :)
I haven't tried the post it method, but I like it.
I chart/draw, print pages and use the computer.
I first print the whole thing out to read and take notes. And then I look at story structure and big picture things before getting to the actual words. I'll be blogging on it on Wed. :)
That's so cool! I love your binder--I need to take the time to three-hole punch my manuscript and do the same, because that seems so much more organized! I just printed out my revisions last night, so today I'll go through them with a red pen and scribble in new lines and paragraphs or just notes about what needs to get done. I usually have a ton of red marks on each page! Good luck with the rest of your revisions! And yay for a weekend of celebrating--it was definitely deserved :)
I usually print my first draft out and edit it by writing all over the pages. Then I'll enter those changes into the computer and go back through the MS again, looking for continuity errors, plot holes etc. One final go through for grammar issues and it's off to a beta reader.
I"ve never done post-it revisions either. I do all my stuff on computer - usually I make a different file that lists all the revisions I want to make by chapter. I have tried writing my revisions in a notebook, but those darn kiddies have a tendency to steal them!
I'm strictly digital, mostly because I can't afford to print!
I revise both on paper and on the computer. I start on paper usually, cut things, add things, just get everything down I want to fix, and I underline alot.
Then I type it up into word and make more revisions, then after that I put it up in a critique group.
I'm fascinated by how others revise! I print out a hardcopy and use colored pens. I designate one color to a revision, like purple for plot, green for grammar, orange for characters, etc. I also use post-its like you do. It works out great for me; the colors help me "see" the revisions and I can visualize the final project much more clearly! It doesn't seem so overwhelming when I'm organized. :)
Jen you are amazing, I love your method. So creative, original, effective, and FUN!
Congrats again!!
I tend to do almost all my revising straight on the computer. For this ms I did print it out when I got to the polishing stage. I went through it and wrote right on the pages with my fave blue pen. It worked pretty well.
I hand write my notes in the double spaced lines. When the time comes to type my revisions for the next round, I struggle to read my handwriting. I need a new method.
Inkpots n' Quills
Congrats on your revisions! I've never tried post-its before, though I do prefer revising with pages in front of me and pen in hand.
Thats a cool way to revise. I usually do one computer read through and then print it. And I always edit in purple pen because red seems so harsh :)
Hmmm, I've never even considered doing revisions this way. I've always done them on a computer. For big revisions (meaning anything more than a few words here and there) I open a new word doc and title it (1, 2, 3,etc). But when I first write an MS, I usually write the first draft in my sketchbook. A bit backwards?
Your post it revisions look so cute! I'm a little envious. Umm, when I revise I put all the documents on my ereader and then I scribble notes all over my MS then I do it on the computer (this was from before...now I'm working on my first draft from scratch...again!)
Oh post its! I love them. They help me with school work a lot.
I hope you are having a great week.
LOVE!
I do print my works, but then just change in the computer. I like your post it idea, and loved seeing your pictures! I'm afraid if I started doing that method I'd get caught up in organizationitis--you know, colourized post its for certain errors, certain changes, and then different pen colours too. I can get crazy analytical that way!
Congrats on your prize! And I love this idea for revising. I think that when I get to that point I may have to try out the sticky notes. Great idea!
Yay for prizes! :)
Revising, oh oh oh... I'm about ready to throw myself under a train right now. Or throw my MS out the window. One of us has to go!
I have varying ways to revise but all involve printing out my MS in hard copy. I need to SEE it - physically - to revise.
Good luck Jen!
Very cool-- I DO work straight off my computer!! But sometimes it takes a village (A village of post-its. )
AND yes I do, I love revising ;--)
I love the idea of post-it revisions. I may have to steal that one!
I've never tried the post-it version, but that's just because I'm so used to doing revisions on my computer!
Wow, my revision process is way less cute than yours. I love all your post-its! I just cut and slash in my Word doc. Not a pretty pic. :)
Oh that's cool:)
I do mine on the computer and also on hard copy. I revise a lot as I go. I know I'll still have to revise in the end. But I actually like revising.
I'm feeling lucky, this is the second time I've gotten to peek into the creative side of a writer.
Connie
Oh, your binder is so pretty! I LOVE The cut-out letters for the title.
Hmmm, now you've got me thinking that I should make one of these binders for my own WIP! Haha.
As for my own revising, I usually print off the whole manuscript and attack it with a blue pen. It's amazing what you can find when you have a hard copy in front of you!
hi miss jen! one of my brothers puts my stuff in the computer and he tells me if stuff need changing. mostly i forget to say more about the characters so you could know how they think and look. my brother prints my stuff and then i write all the changes on a paper next to it and he get it back in the computer. it takes a lot of time up for sure. maybe i could try post its cause they look pretty cool.
...smiles and hugs from lenny
I am a color-coded post-it girl! My anal retentiveness comes out in the rewrite. I used three colors with this last rewrite: the blue post-its for the new storyline, the maroon for character (spicing up my villian, strengthening other characters) and the green for plot. I have FUN with my rewrites!
Thanks for sharing yours! I love seeing how other writers approach this process. Yours looks great! I think I'll borrow your binder idea for the next rewrite because it's really annoying having the pages loose and falling all over the place.
Congrats on winning Rachel Alpine's Summer Giveaway Package!
Congrats on the completion of your post-it revisions!
My process - when I'm "done"
1- Read whole thing on computer, beg to end and revise as I go.
2-Print out and use a binder, no post-its but I do write everywhere including on the back of most pages.
3 - Read it aloud - usually to poor husband
revise as we read and a little bit after we're done.
4 - Give to friend who works for shoes
revise and then put away.
5 - Pull back out, read again, revise more and begin to write a query.
I'll probably have to blog this now.
I'm impressed-you seem very organized...I hope it goes really well....
thanks for stopping by my blog today and entering my contest!
i love your revision process. mine consists of lots of scribbles, and tiny, tiny print - squeezing in all the edits i want to make. most of the time i can't read it....
I'm glad you got the package and liked it! I use post-its too when I revise (lots and lots of post-its! I use them like list and line them all up and throw each away when the change is made. I like to see myself make progress or I think I'd go insane!
What an awesome way to revise! You are SO organized. :)
I've never tried the post-it method before, but I LOVE the idea.
Cool!
Haven't tried the post it method, but I may in the future. So far I just scribble in margins or on the other side of the page.
Have a good week,
Karen
that's very organized of you!!!
I have not tried Post It revisions. If I had an agent or editor give me feedback, I'd probably do it for the bigger revisions.
Thanks for sharing your method.
That looks like a cool system. I'm not that exciting. I just do it all on my computer. :-)
I love seeing how other writers revise! It's so fun!
Hi there sweetie! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today and for leaving your sweet words. I'm so glad to be introduced me to yours. It's fabulous! Looking forward to following along :)
Great post! Love the pics ;o) I haven't tried the post-it revision yet. Mostly I have everything organized in Scrivener. So I don't have any paper stuff. So far it's worked pretty good.
I'm in the middle of revisions right now. Frankly, I'm writing more than revising... LOL guess that happens ;o)
Interesting approach! My writing shifts perspectives in stream of consciousness a lot, so I use index cards arranged chronologically, scene by scene, with a different color for every perspective. It's the only way I can keep in mind the entire structure as a whole and recognize imbalances.
Very interesting...
Well, when I'm doing articles I print, scratch it all up, re-type, print and repeat for about 6 to 12 times.
For my novel, I haven't a clue. It's my first, and I just signed up for a critique group at a writer's conference (GULP!). Right now, I'm liking the way you revise. I may have to try this method. Thanks for sharing.
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