Recently a friend of mine emailed me a couple of really great questions. She’s also a writer, and so I really enjoyed answering her questions. I thought I’d share one of my responses – about revision – here on the blog. 

When you were editing your books, did you have to change A LOT and basically re-write the whole book with only a few sentences from the first draft here and there?

I was 12 and 13 when I wrote my first book, and when I finished I gave it to my dad to read. He sort of became my editor. At that point, he didn’t believe in revising the story to shreds, or tearing it apart. I think he thought it might have ruined my motivation. So, no, I did not change much of the original story at all. There were, however, several rounds of edits, during which we found many grammatical errors and typos and run-on sentences and things of that nature.

That said, let me tell you what I would do if I wrote that book today rather than several years ago. Now I know that first drafts are far from perfect, and that there is typically a long way to go between draft 1 and a finished product. And I’ve realized there is a difference between revising and editing. The revision process comes first. That’s when you reread and decide your protagonist is too whiny, or that you introduced a subplot that you forgot to resolve in the end. Revision is cutting unnecessary scenes but figuring out where to add better descriptions or dialogue. Editing is rereading to catch your grammatical errors.

When you’ve finished your first draft and you’re ready to take on revisions, take a moment to remember one thing: you’ve finished a first draft, and that takes guts! Do not forget to congratulate yourself and celebrate this accomplishment. Then, and only then, should you move on to revisions. I say this because revisions can be exhausting, difficult, and discouraging. Many writers give up at this point because they think, This is terrible. Why did I ever think anybody would want to read this? I don’t know if you feel this way, but if you do you should know it’s completely natural. And so my advice is, if you are truly rewriting the book, DO NOT delete your original draft. Keep it in a file/folder somewhere, but DO NOT delete it, even if you think it’s completely unusable. You may go back later and realize there’s something you want to save or reuse. Either way, it doesn’t hurt, even if it sits there collecting dust. (And you may have already done this, but I thought I’d warn you just in case.)

I’m glad I didn’t revise my books when I was 12/13. My dad was probably right in that it would have crushed my spirit, and I might not have written books 2 and 3 if I continued to rewrite book 1. I look back now and am thankful for the entire experience, because it’s what solidified my belief that I wanted to be a writer. I learned so much by writing those books, including that revision is necessary.

But those books were stepping stones for me. Research any published author and you’ll find that their debut novel was NOT the first book they’d ever written. Almost all published authors have first and second novels locked away. So, I guess what I’m saying is this: revision is necessary. Revision is probably the most important part of the writing process, because it’s what takes your mess of a first draft and turns it into something that makes sense, refines it. And if you find you have to rewrite the book, that’s okay. But DON’T get stuck in a rut where you continue to rewrite over and over again, because it’s a pitfall for us writers. Be confident in your story. (Again, I am not saying this is you. Just a warning because it sometimes happens to me.) I really hope this answers your question. Sometimes I can be a bit long-winded. 😉

*Thanks, M, for corresponding with me! Questions/comments are encouraged. 

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH YOU KNEW WHEN YOU STARTED WRITING?

This is a really great prompt. At first, I had no idea what to write, but I slowly began to think of all the things I’ve learned and the lessons I wish I’d learned earlier – because I probably could have saved myself a whole lot of time.

First, I wish I’d known that ideas do not come fully-formed. In elementary and middle school, I was convinced I had not been gifted with the gene for coming up with great story ideas.

“How do you get your ideas?” is one of the most commonly asked questions published authors receive from readers/aspiring writers. I was at the front of that line. Any time I went to a book signing, or met an author face-to-face, that’s the question I asked. I searched for answers online. I bought books. And then finally, finally, I learned there is no magic formula for coming up with great story ideas.

Experience and every-day life inspires story ideas, but once you’ve got the initial spark it’s your job to flesh it out into an actual plot.

Something else I wish I knew when I started writing: stories need structure.

I believe it’s the reason I wrote so many unfinished drafts. I’d get super excited to start writing, and then I’d lose steam and the story sagged because I had no foundation.

Structure is not inhibiting, but freeing.

And the last thing I wish I’d known: it’s OKAY to write a terrible first draft.

I’m a perfectionist, a type A personality. What I’d once thought was a strength suddenly became a major weakness (especially in high school). Overanalyzing my work and giving everything 110% was absolutely exhausting, and also unnecessary. Not to say I shouldn’t have tried my best, but there comes a point when you’ve reached an unhealthy extreme. That was me.

And gone were the days of writing something just for fun – the first page of a story, or chapters of a fantasy that had been floating around in my head – I thought my drafts needed to be perfect. Seriously, I don’t think I’d ever heard of “revision.” And because of this, I thought I needed to write the story correctly the first time around. Obviously, this just creates fear and pressure and then you’re staring at the blank page for far longer than you should.

In my 11th grade AP Lang class, we read an excerpt from Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, in which she discussed the importance and necessity of a “shitty first draft.” (Had to move past the curse word first, because even in 11th grade the elementary and middle school naivety had not yet worn off.) But after that, I realized that even my favorite authors wrote multiple drafts before they reached a finished product. And they all swore these drafts were terrible – “shitty,” in fact.

The true origins of great ideas, the necessity of structure, and “shitty” first drafts – these are the things I wish I knew when I started writing.

That said, I continue to learn every day, and I’ve realized in writing this post that I don’t think I’d go back and change my writing journey even if I could.

Be sure to check out the rest of the chain! And feel free to share your thoughts. 🙂

5th – http://unikkelyfe.wordpress.com/
6th – http://thelittleenginethatcouldnt.wordpress.com/
7th – http://nasrielsfanfics.wordpress.com/
8th – http://miriamjoywrites.com/
9th – http://lillianmwoodall.wordpress.com/
10th – http://www.brookeharrison.com/
11th – http://musingsfromnevillesnavel.wordpress.com/
12th – http://erinkenobi2893.wordpress.com/
13th – http://theweirdystation.blogspot.com/
14th – http://taratherese.wordpress.com/
15th – http://sammitalk.wordpress.com/
16th – http://eighthundredninety.blogspot.com/
17th – http://insideliamsbrain.wordpress.com/
18th – http://novelexemplar.wordpress.com/
19th – http://thelonglifeofalifelongfangirl.wordpress.com/
20th – https://butterfliesoftheimagination.wordpress.com/
21st – http://theloonyteenwriter.wordpress.com/
22nd – http://roomble.wordpress.com/
23rd – http://thependanttrilogy.wordpress.com/
24th – http://teenscanwritetoo.wordpress.com/ – The topic for August’s blog chain will be announced.

I recently returned from a two-week trip to Italy.

It was an incredible experience, to say the least. And while I took a hiatus from the blog during those two weeks, I was actually working – gathering material for future posts.

I’ve traveled before, and so I know what traveling can do for a writer. It’s inspiring. So what do I mean by that?

You’re exposed to new cultures, new people, and new ideas. If this doesn’t broaden your perspectives and renew your creativity, I don’t know what will.
The activities I’ve listed below are suggestions for writers to make the most of their travels.

1.People-watching

Take note of the people you meet. You’re surrounded by potential characters for your future novel. The huge push for diversity in YA? This is it. In Italy, I was one of very few people speaking English. I enjoyed listening to the native Italians, to their accents and the way they spoke broken English when answering a tourist’s question.

2. Sight-seeing

Take pictures! Pay attention to detail in architecture. One of these locations could become the setting for your newest work, and you want to remember every detail.

3. Rejuvenating

Oftentimes writer’s block can be conquered by a change of scenery. This may be as simple as writing in a bookstore rather than your bedroom, or organizing your space. An even better solution? Leave the country.

4. Getting to know your traveling companions

No matter who you’re traveling with, it’s sure to be both fun and frustrating. There isn’t much you can keep from one another. Observe your companion’s quirks. Do they hog the window seat? Refuse to keep their stuff neat?

You may think you’ll remember every little detail forever, but the truth is, you won’t. So do yourself a favor and record the things you don’t want to forget.

Every night, I pulled out my composition book and took quick notes about everything we’d done that day. I’d also jot down words or phrases to jog my memory – to help me recall certain conversations, our hilarious inside jokes, and the many ideas my travels sparked.

Above all, be sure to enjoy yourself. As writers, experience is a crucial aspect of our craft.

*“Traveling” does not only refer to leaving the country. These activities work just as well for a quick trip across town, or a road trip with friends, or a day at a theme park. Remember, it’s your job to make the most of the experience, whatever it may be.

I avoided reading John Green’s Fault in Our Stars for a very long while, though I was curious as to what all the fuss was about.

I have a cousin who was diagnosed with leukemia when she eight years old, and so I refused to read another “depressing cancer book.” But when I finally gave in, I realized the reason the book is so beloved is because it isn’t a “depressing cancer book.”

This is what I loved:

CAST

The cast was fantastic. Shailene Woodley (Hazel Grace) and Ansel Elgort (Augustus Waters) were fantastic, and had great chemistry.

I was worried at first, because, as we all know, Woodley and Elgort are siblings in the movie adaptation of Veronica Roth’s Divergent. But both actors have the talent to make their audience forget they aren’t actually the characters they’re portraying.

It was so satisfying to see Gus come to life and to hear him say, “It’s a metaphor, see?”

And I’ve got to give props to Willem Dafoe, who was the perfect Van Houten.

TONE

We all knew this would be a tough one. Was it possible for the producers to convey the same lighthearted yet profound tone of Green’s book? The answer is a resounding yes.

The movie was equal parts funny, emotional, touching, and spirited.

Hazel, the narrator of Fault in Our Stars, does not believe in sugar coating. And so it was raw and inspiring. The movie is a tearjerker, of course, but in the best possible way. Life is short, and so we must not be afraid to love and to be loved.

ALSO…

Loved that John Green was so involved with the production of the film. I think it’s incredible that he was given a part in transitioning his characters and their story from print to the screen.

If you’ve read the book but haven’t seen the movie, SEE IT. If you’ve seen the movie but haven’t read the book, READ IT.

What were your thoughts??