Suffering Through Revision

First off, I'd like to apologize for being so late with this week's update. I blame assorted network and homework problems for this. Now, onward to this week's topic!

Revision, to many, is the least appealing aspect of creative writing. After creating characters, building an environment and breathing life into the scenario, the idea of going through and making changes seems too much like work. The whole point of writing is to have fun, isn't it?

No. The lazy person writes for fun. The writer writes because it is a fundamental part of who he or she is. For the writer, revision is something worth suffering through because it serves the end goal, which is to produce excellent - not good, excellent - writing.

Admittedly, my own revision ethic is weak, but I think I know a few things that are worth sharing at this point.

The most important thing is to let the work sit for a while after it is finished. How long depends on the length of the story - a short story may only need a week or two, where a longer body could require a few months. In the meantime, it's a good idea move on to other projects. The idea is to get your mind off your finished work so when you go back to it, you will see it with fresh eyes. What, then, should you be looking at?

Your Use of Words - I don't mean whether or not you have "proper" grammar. Have you chosen the right words for the situation? Think about the differences between words like "anger" and "rage." The basic meaning is the same, but they tend to have different connotations. Also, consider your characters' dialogue. Do the words they use reflect their personality, or does everyone say "darn it!" because you're afraid to make some of them say "shit"?

Scene and Summary - Do you spend too much time detailing your characters actions, or do you have a tendency to blast through parts of the story that could use more attention? Ask yourself, "Does this add to the story?" If you are questioning details, make sure they are relevant. No one wants to sit through a long description of a room and a lenghthy conversation if it doesn't pertain to the story. If you're looking at a summary, make sure you don't gloss over events that will develop the overall story. For example, you might tell the reader that your main guy "worked for the phone company for twenty years, only taking five sick days in that time." While that may be enough to show that the character is a hard worker, it would develop him even further to explain the circumstances around those sick days (were they consecutive? was he the one who was sick, or was it someone else? did he do something impulsive that he normally wouldn't do?).

Scenery and Symbolism - Look for objects that appear in your story and think of ways to make them somewhat consistent throughout the story. Suppose the protagonist goes to visit her mother several times in the course of the story. If the first scene includes, say, a photo album on the end table, make sure that photo album is present in subsequent visits, or else mention its absence. Show the page it is open to (if it is open). Work with these details to enhance what is going on with your story, just don't be too heavy-handed with it - keep it subtle.

Consistency - This is key. Get a notebook or new text file and take notes on what your characters say and do and what history you reveal and keep an eye on any changes that occur as the story progresses. The longer the work work is, the more likely you are to screw up your continuity - it happens. You come up with better ideas as you go, and they weasel their way in without your knowledge. That's just how it goes. Your job is to go back and fix those problems.

Revision is brutal, but you don't have to go it alone: Ask other people to read your drafts and offer their feedback. Outside input can be quite valuable in determining the story's weak points. That's not to say you should just change everything your readers don't like, you just need to honestly consider the opinions of others because they might see something that you overlooked.

So, let's recap. Revision is suffering but necessary. Don't worry too much about grammar until you've fixed problems with word choice, scene and summary, setting and symbolism, and consistency. Listen to others. The last, and probably most painful thing you'll hear today, is the last step in the revision process: rewrite and repeat. That's right, there's a good chance that you may need to start with a blank page and write the story again with the vast knowledge you gained in the revision process. Then revise it again. It may require more rewrites, but remember, it's okay to cry.

Challenge: Write a short story (keep it under five pages for this exercise). Let it sit for a day, then revise it, focusing on one area we discussed today. Wait another day, then look at a different area. Repeat until you are satisfied.