Comments on: Turning a First Draft into a Novel http://www.poewar.com/firstdraft/ Writing Career Center Sat, 08 Oct 2011 13:49:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Writing Milestones « Words and Coffee http://www.poewar.com/firstdraft/comment-page-1/#comment-223893 Writing Milestones « Words and Coffee Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:29:59 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/ive-got-50000-words-what-do-i-do-with-them/#comment-223893 [...] next thing is revising the first draft of Shadow. I’m about 10-15% into revisions and the process is confirming what I suspected [...] [...] next thing is revising the first draft of Shadow. I’m about 10-15% into revisions and the process is confirming what I suspected [...]

]]> By: SDR http://www.poewar.com/firstdraft/comment-page-1/#comment-222103 SDR Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:32:04 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/ive-got-50000-words-what-do-i-do-with-them/#comment-222103 I just finished my first draft. I didn't hit 50k, but feel like I have plenty to work with. I'm closer to 37k words. I'm about to xerox the entire manuscript, get it bound, and go over it with a high lighter, but at this point I'm torn between further defining themes, refining characters, and just getting the plot together. It feels like somehow it needs to all happen at once. Thanks for posting your plan of attack. I'm going to see if I can get it to work for me. SDR I just finished my first draft. I didn’t hit 50k, but feel like I have plenty to work with. I’m closer to 37k words.

I’m about to xerox the entire manuscript, get it bound, and go over it with a high lighter, but at this point I’m torn between further defining themes, refining characters, and just getting the plot together. It feels like somehow it needs to all happen at once.

Thanks for posting your plan of attack. I’m going to see if I can get it to work for me.

SDR

]]> By: Revising Your Novel: Edit as You Read | Writer's Resource Center http://www.poewar.com/firstdraft/comment-page-1/#comment-148483 Revising Your Novel: Edit as You Read | Writer's Resource Center Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:18:49 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/ive-got-50000-words-what-do-i-do-with-them/#comment-148483 [...] is time to revisit the novel editing process we began in December. The first three steps in the novel editing process [...] [...] is time to revisit the novel editing process we began in December. The first three steps in the novel editing process [...]

]]> By: John Hewitt http://www.poewar.com/firstdraft/comment-page-1/#comment-146229 John Hewitt Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:00:00 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/ive-got-50000-words-what-do-i-do-with-them/#comment-146229 Hi David, We actually did quite a bit of this before NaNoWriMo: <ul><li><a href="http://www.poewar.com/10-days-of-character-building-character-bio-sheets/" rel="nofollow">10 Days of Character Building: Character Bio Sheets </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.poewar.com/10-days-of-character-building-basing-characters-on-real-people/" rel="nofollow">10 Days of Character Building: Basing Characters on Real People </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.poewar.com/10-days-of-character-building-12-questions/" rel="nofollow">10 Days of Character Building: 12 Questions </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.poewar.com/building-a-character-using-multiple-perspectives/" rel="nofollow">10 Days of Character Building: Building a Character Using Multiple Perspectives </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.poewar.com/10-days-of-character-building-brainstorming/" rel="nofollow">10 Days of Character Building: Brainstorming </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.poewar.com/10-days-of-character-building-interview/" rel="nofollow">10 Days of Character Building: Interview </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.poewar.com/10-days-of-character-building-biography/" rel="nofollow">10 Days of Character Building: Biography </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.poewar.com/10-days-of-character-building-posessions/" rel="nofollow">10 Days of Character Building: Possessions </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.poewar.com/10-days-of-character-building-a-day-in-the-life/" rel="nofollow">10 Days of Character Building: A Day in the Life </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.poewar.com/10-days-of-character-building-defining-characters-by-their-roles/" rel="nofollow">10 Days of Character Building: Defining Characters By Their Roles </a></li></ul> Hi David,

We actually did quite a bit of this before NaNoWriMo:

]]> By: David Bowman http://www.poewar.com/firstdraft/comment-page-1/#comment-146066 David Bowman Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:55:41 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/ive-got-50000-words-what-do-i-do-with-them/#comment-146066 Four of your comments referred to characters, whether lack of "realness" or level of focus. One recommendation that we often make to authors is to create a separate biography for each character, asking such questions as "What drives this character?" "How is this character relevant to the central conflict of the story?" "How is this character connected to other characters" and "What unique characteristics does this character possess?" Finally, have the courage to cut mercilessly and the passion to add enthusiastically (then, probably, cut again). Congratulations on your 50K words! Four of your comments referred to characters, whether lack of “realness” or level of focus.

One recommendation that we often make to authors is to create a separate biography for each character, asking such questions as “What drives this character?” “How is this character relevant to the central conflict of the story?” “How is this character connected to other characters” and “What unique characteristics does this character possess?”

Finally, have the courage to cut mercilessly and the passion to add enthusiastically (then, probably, cut again).

Congratulations on your 50K words!

]]> By: John Hewitt http://www.poewar.com/firstdraft/comment-page-1/#comment-136454 John Hewitt Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:13:46 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/ive-got-50000-words-what-do-i-do-with-them/#comment-136454 Hi Rebecca, I will certainly be evaluating who the novel will focus on. It was always meant to have multiple prominent characters though, so the adjustment isn't as traumatic as it might appear on the surface. One of the main issues is that there is still a lot left to be written. The finished novel will almost certainly be longer than the 50,000 words I have so far. Hi Rebecca,
I will certainly be evaluating who the novel will focus on. It was always meant to have multiple prominent characters though, so the adjustment isn’t as traumatic as it might appear on the surface. One of the main issues is that there is still a lot left to be written. The finished novel will almost certainly be longer than the 50,000 words I have so far.

]]> By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.poewar.com/firstdraft/comment-page-1/#comment-136449 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:37:01 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/ive-got-50000-words-what-do-i-do-with-them/#comment-136449 Thank you so much for a very interesting entry! I've often struggled with the editing process when it comes to my fiction. I think a huge part of the problem is that in the early stages it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what is wrong and where things don't work. For this reason I really enjoyed your list of 'faults'. It offers a clear, precise display of what kind of elements could affect a novel and gave me some starting points to check for in my own work. One interesting point you mentioned was that the character with the most words wasn't your intended main character. Perhaps this is a sign from the characters that your focus has been the wrong person. It could be worth looking closely at why this other character has taken on a significant portion of the work so far. Perhaps they are the one who deserves the staring role? I'm looking forward to more posts on 'novel editing'. You have a way of making what often feels (to me) like a daunting task an exciting opportunity to flesh out and pull together the strings of a novel. It's this vital process that gives books the depth and intricacy I find so appealing when I read and that I'm trying to work into the novels I write. Thank you so much for a very interesting entry! I’ve often struggled with the editing process when it comes to my fiction. I think a huge part of the problem is that in the early stages it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what is wrong and where things don’t work. For this reason I really enjoyed your list of ‘faults’. It offers a clear, precise display of what kind of elements could affect a novel and gave me some starting points to check for in my own work.

One interesting point you mentioned was that the character with the most words wasn’t your intended main character. Perhaps this is a sign from the characters that your focus has been the wrong person. It could be worth looking closely at why this other character has taken on a significant portion of the work so far. Perhaps they are the one who deserves the staring role?

I’m looking forward to more posts on ‘novel editing’. You have a way of making what often feels (to me) like a daunting task an exciting opportunity to flesh out and pull together the strings of a novel. It’s this vital process that gives books the depth and intricacy I find so appealing when I read and that I’m trying to work into the novels I write.

]]> By: Rianon http://www.poewar.com/firstdraft/comment-page-1/#comment-135082 Rianon Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:50:24 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/ive-got-50000-words-what-do-i-do-with-them/#comment-135082 Congradulations Marie!!! :) Congradulations Marie!!! :)

]]> By: Marie http://www.poewar.com/firstdraft/comment-page-1/#comment-135079 Marie Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:39:37 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/ive-got-50000-words-what-do-i-do-with-them/#comment-135079 I am so glad I popped in for a quick lurk. This was my first time participating in NaNoWriMo and I did meet the goal of 50K words (very exciting; I even put my winner's button on my family's website ;-)). But this is also the first time I've ever written a novel, or something that is supposed to pass for a novel. And while I'd like to share it with friends & family, I cringe at the thought of anyone reading it in its current state. Thank you, John, for taking on the heroic task of leading us forward into dimensions beyond NaNoWriMo! I am so glad I popped in for a quick lurk. This was my first time participating in NaNoWriMo and I did meet the goal of 50K words (very exciting; I even put my winner’s button on my family’s website ;-) ). But this is also the first time I’ve ever written a novel, or something that is supposed to pass for a novel. And while I’d like to share it with friends & family, I cringe at the thought of anyone reading it in its current state. Thank you, John, for taking on the heroic task of leading us forward into dimensions beyond NaNoWriMo!

]]> By: Rianon http://www.poewar.com/firstdraft/comment-page-1/#comment-134993 Rianon Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:24:44 +0000 http://www.poewar.com/ive-got-50000-words-what-do-i-do-with-them/#comment-134993 Great suggestions, thank you!! :) Great suggestions, thank you!! :)

]]>