Last day of ReviMo!!!! You can do it revisers!!! I'd love to hear how it's going, what have been your challenges, where you've had great breakthroughs, etc.
The ReviMo Shop is chock full of cool stuff, so be sure to peruse it. Proceeds for this week go to RIF, Reading is Fundamental, a wonderful cause. Let me know if you don't see what you'd like!
Don't forget we've got special deals for ReviMo participants! You can find the link in the Facebook group or drop me a line if you can't find them.
And now.... our 7th guest for ReviMo 2015... Kara Lareau. We love Kara's books Mr. Prickles and No Slurping, No Burping. On with the show, heeeere's Kara!
Hello, friends! I’ve been asked to talk a little bit about my revision process. So without further ado…
HOW I REVISE
1. To get myself in a positive frame of mind, I eat some chocolate.
2. I fix myself a cup of coffee in my favorite mug.
3. I make sure I am wearing something comfortable. (I am LIVING for cotton ragg socks right now. Highly recommended for chilly writing nights.)
4. I settle into my workspace. (I know it seems strange, but even though I have an office, I almost never work there. It’s upstairs in our house, and it feels too remote to me. I’m trying to make some changes up there, to make it seem more inviting, but for now, I find I do my best work sitting on my bed.)
5. I put in my headphones. I do listen to music while I work, but I find I can’t listen to any songs with lyrics or anything too percussive, as they distract me and my sense of rhythm. I have a CD called Bach for Book Lovers, and I swear by it. I also NEVER play it unless I’m writing, so my mind knows when it’s time to get Bach to work (heh heh).
6. I read through the piece, and whatever supplemental material I have (an editor’s letter, my own jotted down ideas), and make a list of objectives. And then I set really, really small goals for myself, goals that are easy to reach, so I can keep up my confidence. With picture book revisions, sometimes it’s just a page a day — a chapter a day if it’s a longer piece.
7. I take at least one break. I always make sure to get up and leave my work area when I’m taking that break, as changing the scenery is a good way to reset the brain (sometimes I can solve problems in the time it takes to walk from the laptop to the coffeemaker).
8. If I get stuck and need a fresh perspective, I work on something else for a while. Another revision, a new idea, a blog entry, whatever, as long as I keep the momentum going. I find I get my best ideas on a project when I’m trying to focus on ANOTHER project. So I allow myself to jump around a little.
9. When I’m done for the day, I write in my journal. I keep a writing journal to jot down how I’m feeling about the work I’m doing. Sometimes, just writing out my feelings or problems helps me to discover new solutions. And then I make sure to jot down some goals for my next session. (I’ve obscured my entry here to protect my “brilliant” ideas. Ha!)
10. I reward myself. I watch a TV show I like, play around on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest, or catch up on whatever book I’m reading.
Hope this is helpful! Happy revising!
Thank you Kara! I think I need to model your process, it sounds zen and cozy!
Thank you revisers! Be on the lookout for Rafflecopters in the post tomorrow. Be sure to take your time and read the instructions so you get your votes properly cast!
Kara LaReau was born and raised in Connecticut. She received her Masters in Fine Arts in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and later worked as an editor at Candlewick Press and at Scholastic Press. She is the author of Snowbaby Could Not Sleep, illustrated by Jim Ishikawa; the Rocko and Spanky stories, illustrated by her sister, Jenna LaReau; Ugly Fish, Rabbit and Squirrel, OTTO: The Boy Who Loved Cars, and Mr. Prickles: A Quill-Fated Love Story, illustrated by Scott Magoon; and NO SLURPING, NO BURPING! A Tale of Table Manners, illustrated by Lorelay Bové. Kara lives in Providence, Rhode Island with her husband and son and their two cats.
HOW I REVISE
1. To get myself in a positive frame of mind, I eat some chocolate.
2. I fix myself a cup of coffee in my favorite mug.
3. I make sure I am wearing something comfortable. (I am LIVING for cotton ragg socks right now. Highly recommended for chilly writing nights.)
4. I settle into my workspace. (I know it seems strange, but even though I have an office, I almost never work there. It’s upstairs in our house, and it feels too remote to me. I’m trying to make some changes up there, to make it seem more inviting, but for now, I find I do my best work sitting on my bed.)
5. I put in my headphones. I do listen to music while I work, but I find I can’t listen to any songs with lyrics or anything too percussive, as they distract me and my sense of rhythm. I have a CD called Bach for Book Lovers, and I swear by it. I also NEVER play it unless I’m writing, so my mind knows when it’s time to get Bach to work (heh heh).
6. I read through the piece, and whatever supplemental material I have (an editor’s letter, my own jotted down ideas), and make a list of objectives. And then I set really, really small goals for myself, goals that are easy to reach, so I can keep up my confidence. With picture book revisions, sometimes it’s just a page a day — a chapter a day if it’s a longer piece.
8. If I get stuck and need a fresh perspective, I work on something else for a while. Another revision, a new idea, a blog entry, whatever, as long as I keep the momentum going. I find I get my best ideas on a project when I’m trying to focus on ANOTHER project. So I allow myself to jump around a little.
9. When I’m done for the day, I write in my journal. I keep a writing journal to jot down how I’m feeling about the work I’m doing. Sometimes, just writing out my feelings or problems helps me to discover new solutions. And then I make sure to jot down some goals for my next session. (I’ve obscured my entry here to protect my “brilliant” ideas. Ha!)
10. I reward myself. I watch a TV show I like, play around on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest, or catch up on whatever book I’m reading.
Hope this is helpful! Happy revising!
Thank you Kara! I think I need to model your process, it sounds zen and cozy!
Thank you revisers! Be on the lookout for Rafflecopters in the post tomorrow. Be sure to take your time and read the instructions so you get your votes properly cast!
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85 comments :
Kara, thanks for the tips. Definitely ordering Bach for Book Lovers. I'm sure it will be a great addition to my listening collection.
I try to make certain of the chocolate and coffee supplies foremost!! I play music nearly all the time and find ideas and support in the rhythms though understand about lyrics. I found that Jesse Cook's "Rumba Foundation" and "Vertigo" also a collection of new flamenco called "Gypsy Soul" also, "Bibbidi Bobbidi Bach" and "Heigh-Ho Mozart" are particularly good for picture book revising tunes as they are Disney tunes done in the styles of great classical composers! I shall now crank up my stereo and spend my last day of ReviMo grooving with the masters. Thanks Kara, fun to learn about your process!
I love the idea of keeping a writing journal. I'm sure you'd discover new solutions to writing problems and it would be very cathartic for all those writing troubles and doubts we get
I love this peek into your writing day. There are some great tips there. Thanks for the post.
Thanks you, Kara. I can't wait to give your revision process a try; chocolate, coffee, warm slippers, writing in bed, listening to Bach and writing in a journal. It sounds like the perfect plan! And, Meg, thank you for a wonderful week of writing. I've revised two stories - one is finally submission ready. (I hope) Thank you for a great ReviMo. It felt wonderful to have the holidays over and to focus on revising. Kudos to you for a job well done!
Doesn't it sound lovely? Thank you Doris!! So glad you got some good revising in! :D
Interesting! I'll have to check these tunes out today myself, thanks Margaret! :D
Kara, I can relate to your writing process with the exception of number 9 - journaling. But what a great idea! May give that a whirl :D Thanks for the mention of Bach for Book Lovers! Where did you find it? I'm going to look at Barnes & Noble. Perfect gift card purchase! When at home I listen to AT&T U-verse station Soundscapes. My office is a WIP right now too. LOL! So, I sidle up at the kitchen table temporarily. The room overlooks a park like setting with ponds - one to the left, one to the right - which each has a fountain in them. My 1.5yr old adoptive sister kittens each curl up each on their respective chair next to me and we, I mean, I write :D If stuck on revisions, I do a few things. Sometimes I pop into the shower and recite from my manuscript aloud in hope for a breakthrough. Other times, I venture off to do non-writing tasks while my characters and their worlds dance in my head.
Great post! Thank you.
I love the fact that you shared your revision process with us. It's always interesting and educational to hear how another author approaches revisions and I always come away with a couple of things to try. By the way, love the wordplay in Mr. Prickles!!! So funny!
Kara, I like the before writing chocolate! The idea of small goals and a writing journal about the writing ideas!! Thank you for the fun pictures and post. "Bach to work" make me laugh out loud!
I love your post. The way you go about revising makes it simple and easy. Thanks for the ideas.
Hmmm, maybe a writing journal will help me. I've started documenting on a calendar if I RS (research), RV (revise) or WR (write) that day, just so I can feel good about what I have done. But the writing journal might be a good step too! Thanks for your post!!!!
Thanks for sharing your writing day with us! I'll have to find that Bach music. I enjoyed all your photos!
Thanks Kara! I liked how you wrote about keeping goals small and I'm going to look up that Bach CD!
The right sox and the right mug - I can TOTALLY relate to how important those are! The rest of your ideas look like good ones too. I'll give them a try next time I get stuck. :-) Thanks Kara!
I guess we writers think alike, Kara; comfort food and comfort! Thanks for sharing your secrets to getting the job down.
cotton ragg socks! chocolate! what more does one need? Thanks for this wonderful post - and great ideas. I've always done my journaling before writing.... but now I think I'll try it afterwards.
I love the way you shared this. So fun! I found it inspiring. Thank you so much, Kara! And Meg, thank you for a great week of ReviMo! We appreciate all you do. :)
I loved your post, Kara! I'm going to have to get some cotton ragg socks for my new england winter writing days!
Kara...you had me at chocolate. :)
Seriously (and I'm always serious about chocolate), I love your process! I write where I feel part of the pulse of the house...at the dining room table, facing the big picture window that looks out to the woods...in the winter, it is a snow covered wonderland, during the fall, the trees are festooned with burning headdresses. I'm a fan of comfy clothes and warm socks as well. :) But I appreciate your tip on only listening to a particular piece of music when you are in writing mode...I can see how that would help you to focus...as if declaring to your creative energy: it is time to write. ;)
And Meg...this has been a wonderful week...I've gotten so much accomplished, not only with revisions...but also with writing. You've built a great community..and I'm so happy to be a part of it.
Meg, I wanted to thank you for this amazing week. Your guests have been the best. I've loved each post. Kara, I love the idea of listening to music. I just started that and I also find that I cannot have singing or a hard driving beat. I've noticed that there are some pieces that can literally help me with scenes I'm working on. I'm a bed writer too. But I need to get something to rest my laptop on instead of my lap. Not sure it's healthy. So, to recap my top five:. Chocolate, writing notes, comfy socks, swell writing place, and music that puts your brain in that mindframe of IT'S TIME TO WRITE!! Good, no great ten pieces of advice.
What a fun post & filled with some great suggestions!! Thanks so much Kara!
I love your process. I'm going to have to check out that music. I've never tried writing to music but have been meaning to give it a shot.
I'm terrible about taking breaks...I can see how it would help me "reset" my thoughts though. Thanks!
I need to learn to take breaks in the worst way! Thanks for reminding me of that!
Thank you for sharing your process, Kara! I think your journal idea is great! My kiddos love NO SLURPING, NO BURPING! :)
Love your process and that you began with chocolate. :) Thanks for sharing.
Hmmm. I think I like #1 the best.
Thanks for sharing, Kara. I like the idea of a writing journal...I might have to borrow that idea work through my thoughts that way. And thanks, Meg, for a great week of inspirational blog posts and butt kicking motivation! Happy revising!
I really like the idea of journalling about my writing. I often find myself working on my bed as well, but it's the only place in the house I can spread out while my pets lounge around me.
Thanks for the post. Loved the cotton socks!
I loved how you created a "coziness" to your process! Took notes and keeping this in mind! "Bach" to writing/revising heehee! Thanks for sharing your time with us!
On bad days I go straight from #1 to #10. On better days I get the actual work of #6 done without distractions. :)
Thank you! It was very helpful to hear about your process. I agree, it is amazing what a trip into the kitchen will do for a person's mind- I solve a lot of problems between my office and the kitchen!
These are GREAT tips - thanks so much, Kara. About to tackle my seventh day of ReviMo - my second PB.
Such great ideas! I will definitely be using them!
Thank you, Kara, for sharing your tips on the revision process. I always start that revision day with a good cuppa in my hand! I'll add some of your suggestions to that list :)
I just love this! If you start out your day in an ordinary way, extraordinary things may happen.
Thanks for sharing your revision process, Kara! I like the idea of ending the day with journal writing. I have a tendency to do the reverse, but I think I need to switch it up and see how that works for me.
Interesting, I will look up the music!
Yes, this sounds SO cozy! And I am very intrigued by the music. Thank you for sharing!
First I want to thank Meg for another amazing RrviMo!! What a great way to end ReviMo 2015, Kara! Chocolate, ragg wool socks, and listening to music sounds purrfect to me! I usually have classical music playing in the background when I write…or Yanni. Yes I admit it… I like Yanni’s music .
And like “flintsuter” I sometimes listen to “Bibbidi Bobbidi Bach" and "Heigh-Ho Mozart."
I’m glad to know that I am not the only one who likes movie scores etc redone in a classical style. I love The Lion King’s “Circle of Life” done as a Gregorian Chant, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs “Whistle While You Work” done in the style of Beethoven not to mention Cinderella’s “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” done in the style of Grieg
Thanks for sharing your revision process
Very helpful. Thanks for sharing your process.
This sounds like a perfect writing routine for me!
Thanks, Kara, for sharing and thanks, Meg, for another year of ReviMo. I dug out some of my old stories, ones that I had forgotten about, and hopefully breathed new life into them. My critique partners will soon see some of my efforts. :)
Any process that starts with chocolate is worth trying! Great post! Love your technique of switching gears of you get stuck. Thx!
Hmm, I like the journaling about it. Good idea! And I'm with you... I listen to some beautiful instrumental- can't do words either. :D
I need quiet - but I'll try that "small goals" idea!
I need to get Bach to writing, loved this post. Thank you Kara for sharing your revision secrets with us, and thank you Meg for keeping us motivated.
Kara- #6. Brilliant. Sometimes I'll write down the best / worst elements of a piece but I don't connect this step to the revision process directly enough. THANK YOU!
Thank you for this post! It's great to see similar methods as mine for revision, like chocolate and music!
Thank You for a fun post. I agree that cozy socks are essential to successful writing.
I think there's security in a comfortable routine, and it seems to help the mind to focus. Your routine sounds ultra-comfortable. Have to find the Bach for Book Lovers and those cotton rag socks!
Thanks, Kara. I think the journal idea is the best thing I've taken away from your post. It is a great idea to think on the feelings about the writing. Thanks Meg for Revimo.
Thanks, Kara, for these great suggestions (esp to start with chocolate though that might just be my excuse to start with chocolate. :D ) I really like #9: journal - this was confirmation for me actually because I think it would help get those naggy inner critic comments out of my head (which would be a blessing! And prob lead to less chocolate but that's another issue. lol!) And I agree about finding a comfy place to work which is something I like about a laptop. I'm off now to check out that Bach cd you mentioned (I guess I also should get "Bach to writing/revising" but...maybe after another cup of coffee.) *innocent smile* :D
Wow, I can't believe it is the last day already! Thanks so much for this, Meg, it was my first year and I really enjoyed it. :)
If I don't have coffee I can't do anything. Okay I can, but I pretend like I can't. How else can I make sure I have coffee?
Meg, I think your comment box changed. I bet mine will too. I no likey blogger. :( Kara, thanks for the wonderful tips. I ordered a new ReviMo journal. Just in time to see that fabulous tip. Love the pics. They made me chuckle.
Meg, thanks for another wonderful week in January. Love, love, love. xoxo
These seven days went by way too fast. Thank you Meg for sharing your love of writing and revising with all.
Thank you Kara for *approving* of my need to "jump around" moving from one writing project to another. BTW-I like your socks! ~Suzy Leopold
Thanks for this heartening post! If all else fails, chocolate! :-) Thanks for also giving an insight into your busy life, it is great to know that you can be a writer, revise and get published, even when having a busy family!
Loved all the photos that went with this post! And I was checking out 'Bach for Books' just yesterday on Itunes. Will have to get it now!
Love these ideas. I like how you ONLY listen to Bach while writing so your brain knows!
Yes! This is tremendously motivating and helpful. Thanks! P.S. I loved No Slurping, No Burping!
Thank you Cheryl! So glad to be revising with you!!
So happy to have you in it Vivian!! It's lovely people like yourself that make it what it is! :D
Thank you Pamela! So glad you enjoyed it!! :D
So welcome! Thanks for revising with me!! :D
Thank you Sharon! Glad you enjoyed it! :D
Thank you for joining me Jacque! Always fun!!! :D
My pleasure! Thanks for revising with me!! :D
Glad you enjoyed it Tracy!! Thanks for joining us! :D
Thank you for joining us Suzy!! :D
Love -- "get Bach to work"
Fun process! Thanks for including entertaining pictures.
I really like your process. It sounds similar to mine. Today I needed to take a break for a little while, so I went for a run. I re-wrote the beginning of a PB I've been working on (for something like the 20th time) in my head and started to actually put it on paper. While I was drinking chocolate milk, of course:)
I love how you use your writing journal! I may have to borrow that idea. Thanks for sharing your process and for a great post!
The journal idea was really interesting. My workspace is usually my sofa. It's cramped, and in the middle of all the commotion in the house. But for some reason I like it.
Thanks for sharing your technique - small goals resonates with me!
Lol! Love that chocolate is part of your routine!
Thank you, Kara. It's helpful to hear the details of a process that someone else has had success with!
Thanks for sharing your routine! I, too, never write creatively in my office space- I think I feel more relaxed and playful in other spots of the house. I also jump around from project to project. Your journal idea was new to me- will have to try it!
Love your process. I take breaks while writing too. Of course mine are determined by my fur-babies. 😊
I find switching to different projects keeps the momentum going.
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