For once, I overwrote. I have a story that needs to be told in less than half as many words, so I thought I’d spend a little time and create a plan for this first revision.

This Week’s Revision Plan

First steps:

1. print out the story
2. read aloud
3. highlight best lines/parts
4. cross out parts I don’t like
5. ask questions to get to the core of the story
6. write logline/ elevator pitch/ summary
7. increase conflict
8. explore possibilities
9. re-write

Questions to get to core of story:

• Who is this story really about?
• What does that person want more than anything?
• What is in the way of getting that desire?
• How will she overcome the conflict?
• Was the desire, once achieved, really what she needed?
• How has the ordeal changed her?
• Why is this story important?
• Why do I want to tell it?

Next steps:

1. Repeat first steps 1-4
2. focus on opening line: try at least ten other possibilities. Have I drawn the reader in with a whisper of everything to come?
3. focus on ending: try cutting last line, last paragraph, try adding a paragraph or two to find real ending. Have I left the reader wanting more; feeling something, thinking?
4. focus on dialogue: are the voices unique? dialogue as tight as possible?
5. focus on setting: does every description do double duty (mood, symbolism, character development)? Is every object there for a reason? Have I described for the reader what I see in my head, really put it on the page?
6. focus on characters: play with unique, concise descriptors (think pessimistic moustache). Does each character jump off the page? Can the reader relate to them, empathize with them?
7. focus on the senses: have I created vivid experiences using all five senses? Are there sounds, smells, textures, tastes as well as sights? What associations am I trying to elicit in the reader with these choices?
8. focus on sentence variance, sound and rhythm
9. focus on sentence clarity: am I really saying what I mean to say?
10. focus on word choice: strong verbs, specific nouns
11. hunt for and remove over-used words
12. hunt for and remove clichés
13. print out and read aloud as a final spell-check, specifically for homonyms and other small errors computers don’t catch.

Looks like an overwhelming amount of work, but I have a week and many of the next steps will be revisited over the next few weeks of revisions as well. I’ll probably add to this list as I work. I hope you find it helpful. If you have revision checklists or processes that you would like to share, feel free to add a link in the comments.

Happy Reading and Writing!