Not yet, anyway. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Your email address will not be published. Don't subscribe All Replies to my comments Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Holly Lisle: Writer. Revision Requests Holly. Now, I share with trusted individuals only and generally online. I read most rough drafts aloud to my husband who hears the mistakes. I also share all my picture book manuscripts with one young granddaughter who also has remarkable insights.
What is something surprising you learned while preparing your story for publication? LB: The most surprising part was discovering that authors and illustrators seldom meet, or even have contact. Not only did this collaboration strengthen our book, Amy and I have remained friends. JT: During the publication process, my editor let me know that Finding the Music would be bilingual It was initially English-only.
This meant some extra editing and paring down, but I was really excited about the decision! What was surprising to me, though, was how adding the Spanish text added so much dimension to the book as a whole. Though I understood picture books, I had no training in becoming a writer other than the one community college course mentioned above. JT: Coming from a newspaper background, I already had big appreciation for editing and revising as part of the writing process.
But at a newspaper, it happens so fast. Winning the New Voices Award and preparing Finding the Music for publication helped me realize how valuable it can be to step back from a project, and approach it again weeks or even months later with fresh eyes and perspective.
The Blue Roses by Linda Boyden is available now! Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Take out passages that slow the pace and justify each metaphor and simile. This thorough cleaning of your manuscript can make a big difference. Toni Morrison once claimed that changing a handful of words in one of her manuscripts changed the entire story. Resist the urge to engage friends and family as they may be more focused on encouraging you when what you really need is constructive criticism.
Is your plot a balance of fresh and familiar? Are your characters well-developed, perfect in imperfect ways? Enlist avid readers and talented writers who have the know-how and experience to tell you the truth about the current state of your manuscript.
Whether you receive feedback in the form of an editorial letter or your trusted reader speaks with you to discuss your story, try to read or listen more than you react. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia. While completing a first draft is a monumental accomplishment, it is by way of rigorous revision that the depth and complexity of your story is revealed. And that process begins by trusting your intention and then strengthening your ability to honor it to good effect.
Remember to dig out your favorite books on craft and spend time rereading. Take a class. Go to a conference. Schedule time to re-imagine your story and stick to it.
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