What You'll Need for Your Revision Journey
by Linda Ashman
Happy New Year! First of all, kudos to Meg for using ReviMo to focus attention on revision, often regarded as the ugly stepsister of writing. Lots of people ask me, “Where do you get your ideas?”—but rarely does someone say, “Tell me about your revision process.”
by Linda Ashman
Happy New Year! First of all, kudos to Meg for using ReviMo to focus attention on revision, often regarded as the ugly stepsister of writing. Lots of people ask me, “Where do you get your ideas?”—but rarely does someone say, “Tell me about your revision process.”
That’s not surprising. After all,
ideas are glamorous (Inspired! Brilliant! Clever!). Revising, on the
other hand, is painstaking, repetitive, and—yes—sometimes
tedious. And yet, as one of my former bosses liked to say, ideas are
a dime a dozen. Sure, they’re essential. But turning ideas into
something tangible and usable, well, that’s where the
treasure is.
And where the real work begins. It’s
not easy to transform a scrap of an idea—no matter how
brilliant—into a compelling and marketable manuscript, so it’s
good to be prepared.
I’m a big fan of lists (they make me
feel more organized than I am). So, as you tackle your revisions this
week—and beyond, I hope—here’s my list of things you’ll need
for the journey:
1. Stamina. Ideas often arrive
in a momentary flash of inspiration. Revisions, on the other hand,
require hours, weeks, months—sometimes years. Be patient with the
process—and yourself.
2. A playful spirit. Carl Jung
said, “The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.”
Presumably, you’re a writer because you love stories, language and
words. So play with them! Experiment with voice, rhythm, structure,
point of view. What brings your story alive?
3. Openness. Sometimes the story
you begin with isn’t the one that wants to be told. If your idea
starts taking you in a new direction, follow it. You can always go
back if it turns out to be a dead end (and don’t be afraid of dead
ends—sometimes they point us in the right direction).
4. An objective eye. If, like
me, you find that the revision process sometimes brings on a severe
case of brain fog, it helps to step back. Go for a walk, clear your
head, and ask: What is this story really about? What am I trying to
say? How can I say it more simply, clearly, and concisely?
5. A sharp knife. (A
metaphorical one, of course.) If you’re writing picture books, in
particular, be merciless with those long, rambling descriptions, and
anything that isn’t visual and doesn’t move your story forward.
6. Small rewards. Writing is
hard work, so it helps to have some carrots to keep you motivated. My
own carrots? Cookies. Yep, a couple of cookies, or maybe a scone or
muffin—along with a good cup of joe—keep me going through the
afternoon lull. Walking, gardening, and trips to the library help
too.
7. Commitment. There’s always
a point in my revision process where my manuscript looks so messy,
convoluted, and ugly that I’m ready to abandon it and move on to
something “easier.” After many years of writing, I’ve come to
accept that it always gets worse before it gets better. And I know it
won’t get better unless I keep slogging through the morass.
If I’m not willing to do that, I’ll never finish anything.
8. A touch of perfectionism.
Save this one for the end of the process, after you’ve gotten all
your ideas on paper, experimented, trimmed, and essentially completed
your story. Now is the time to be a little bit obsessive—to clarify
that slightly confusing passage, find exactly the right word,
trim anything extraneous, fix typos, make sure your meter is flawless
(if you write in verse), and polish, polish, polish.
9. Faith. I’m not talking
higher powers here, although if you’ve got those connections, by
all means, use them. I’m talking about faith in yourself. It’s
tough when you’re struggling with a story. What’s the point?
Who wants to read this? No one’s going to buy it. Chances are,
no one’s pushing you to write this manuscript—or any manuscript,
for that matter—so the motivation’s got to come from within. No
one can guarantee that you’ll sell your story—but you can
guarantee that you’ll do your best work and finish it.
Above all, as you pull out those scraps
of ideas and half-finished manuscripts this week and beyond, remember
why you’re a writer. Because you love words, perhaps. Or love
stories, or art, or books, or writing as a form of self-expression.
When you’re struggling through your manuscript for the fiftieth
time, it’s good to remember the “love” part. Yes, revision can
be a slog. But, for me, it’s a joyful slog. Enjoy the process.
Thanks for inviting me, Meg. And happy
revising to all!
Thank you Linda!
Thank you Linda!
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Linda Ashman is the author of more than 30 picture
books. Her books have been named to the “Best of the Year” lists of The New York Times, Parenting, Cookie, and Child magazines, New York Public Library, Bank Street College of Education, the IRA/CBC and others. She's also the author of The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books, a "how-to" handbook for writers. For more information, visit lindaashman.com or howtowritepicturebooks.com.
If you haven't read Linda Ashman's The Nuts & Bolts Guide to Picture Book Writing, I highly recommend it!
If you haven't read Linda Ashman's The Nuts & Bolts Guide to Picture Book Writing, I highly recommend it!
