How To Revise a Dog Ugly Manuscript
How To Write A Novel - How To ReWrite A Novel
Notes on how to revise a very bad manuscript. Largely gleaned from the book 'How to Write a Damn good novel' by James Frey.
- Analysis. For the entire book compose:
- step sheet
- logical flow
- emotional flow
- PREMISE
- Choice of viewpoint
- character profiles
- physical
- gender/age/height/weight/hair/face/features
- deformities/health/strength/dexterity
- social
- names/nicknames
- upbringing/childhood/family/friends
- education/career/hobbies
- mental
- reactions/attitude/ego/outlook/temper
- fears, neuroses, anxieties
- RULING PASSION
- Action. For each chapter/scene, consider:
- cut irrelevant scenes (irrelevant to the premise)
- fix logical errors
- start as far into the action as possible
- emotions/drama/style
- empathetic:
- reader's emotions in check with empathetic characters
- consistent and effective:
- characterisation
- viewpoint
- tense
- conflict
- not sudden or jerky
- not stagnant
- intensifying
- start: hook
- end: tag
- dialogue parsing:
- triteness/cliches
- characterisation
- 'indirect'
- clever
- prose parsing:
- not vague
- specific, detailed
- tasty, fragrant, tactile, colourful, harmonious, melodious; (stimulating)
- rhythm (suitable when aloud)
- consistent tense
- consistent viewpoint
- mechanics
- spelling
- grammar
- your checklist:
- eg: 'ly' words, common typos, character names, cultural specifics
Output
- the Novel itself
- Stepsheet
- Character profiles
- Executive summary
- personal checklist
- premise (1 line summary)
- blurbs/taglines/teasers
- scrap heap of rejected ideas/fragments
- notes (from working through problems, research etc.)
- Archive of old copies, backups (softcopies and hardcopies)
For a list of bad practices you can follow, see the ever-popular How to write a novel
Agent Required!
Personally, I've written a cracker of a novel, but haven't found a suitable agent for it yet. If you know a good literary agent for a satirical, sci-fi crime novel -- email me, leonbambrick@gmail.com
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