"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you."
~ Anne Lamott
I unplugged in Costa Rica for five days in August. The lure of a Yoga and Writing Retreat, even if it meant traveling at the height of summer to a place even hotter than Wisconsin, was irresistible. The retreat was everything I hoped for and more. I met wonderful writers, made new friends, and basked in a tropical paradise with the sound of the ocean lulling me to sleep each night. I received thoughtful and generous critiques and excellent suggestions for several of my chapters. Best of all, I finished writing the final chapter of my new novel!
I understand how a person can put their finished manuscript into a drawer and leave it there forever. So much of the pleasure in writing a novel comes from telling the story. But once it’s told, there are few surprises left. Instead, what comes next is a lot of hard work. Writers are advised to take a break once they have typed “The End” on that last page, and that’s exactly what I am doing.
Now comes a beautiful period of repose when my 65,000 words get a break. When I return to them hopefully, I’ll be able to recognize the flaws, and smooth out rough edges and awkward transitions. Reading the second draft aloud, I’ll do my best to harmonize the narrative. The story will remain essentially the same, but some sections will be fleshed out with added paragraphs, while others will be chopped. I’m aiming for a final 80,000 words.
And what happens then? I’ve lined up four wonderful “beta readers” to read the novel from beginning to end and give me their honest assessment. Beta readers are at the core of a good novel. They take a step back and consider the story as a whole, highlighting weaknesses and inconsistencies in the narrative. With feedback from these generous souls, I’ll go back to the beginning once again, aiming for the very best novel I can write.
~ Mary
PS. Always feel free to forward these Blogs to your friends.
Anyone can sign up to receive them. https://www.mvbehan.com
~ Anne Lamott
I unplugged in Costa Rica for five days in August. The lure of a Yoga and Writing Retreat, even if it meant traveling at the height of summer to a place even hotter than Wisconsin, was irresistible. The retreat was everything I hoped for and more. I met wonderful writers, made new friends, and basked in a tropical paradise with the sound of the ocean lulling me to sleep each night. I received thoughtful and generous critiques and excellent suggestions for several of my chapters. Best of all, I finished writing the final chapter of my new novel!
I understand how a person can put their finished manuscript into a drawer and leave it there forever. So much of the pleasure in writing a novel comes from telling the story. But once it’s told, there are few surprises left. Instead, what comes next is a lot of hard work. Writers are advised to take a break once they have typed “The End” on that last page, and that’s exactly what I am doing.
Now comes a beautiful period of repose when my 65,000 words get a break. When I return to them hopefully, I’ll be able to recognize the flaws, and smooth out rough edges and awkward transitions. Reading the second draft aloud, I’ll do my best to harmonize the narrative. The story will remain essentially the same, but some sections will be fleshed out with added paragraphs, while others will be chopped. I’m aiming for a final 80,000 words.
And what happens then? I’ve lined up four wonderful “beta readers” to read the novel from beginning to end and give me their honest assessment. Beta readers are at the core of a good novel. They take a step back and consider the story as a whole, highlighting weaknesses and inconsistencies in the narrative. With feedback from these generous souls, I’ll go back to the beginning once again, aiming for the very best novel I can write.
~ Mary
PS. Always feel free to forward these Blogs to your friends.
Anyone can sign up to receive them. https://www.mvbehan.com
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