On Friday I attended a novel intensive, where Nancy
Werlin gave self-editing advice. She talked about making a chart, literally.
Each chapter receives its own picture box. You write a scene from that chapter,
draw a picture in a square—no matter how heinous, stick figures allowed—and beneath
label the scene with a strong verb. This will help you find sections of your
book where nothing is happening. For example, if you have several boxes within
your novel labeled "realizing," you should probably revise those
chapters or scenes, so that your protag is reacting
to whatever information or realization they had. Doing this will strengthen
weak areas in your novel.
On day two, in the YA track, Nancy spoke about her own
revisions. It was interesting to see that she suffers from the same editing
issues as the rest of us, even after nine published YA novels. Her example was
on a final novel in her fearie series. She thought she'd written the perfect ending
to the series, but after having her rough-draft critiqued, she learned there
were major flaws.
In short, the book was not as perfect as she thought, and
she had to revise the entire novel. Her message was for authors to understand
that being published doesn’t mean you have less revision issues. In writing, there
is always more editing. Even when you swore you'd written an epic novel. Even
when it sounded perfect in your head. Even when you have a successful writing
career and work with a professional agent and editor. It still happens.
There were two other revelations I had as a writer because
of the conference. The first: male agents can do justice for girl writers who
have a romancy style. I never bother to query male agents because I think they
won't get my voice and the romance I insist on having in each novel. But after
listening to Josh Adams speak that has all changed.
Now I feel Josh would be my dream agent. He reps several
authors who write romancy stories and, yes, he gets it. He really gets it! There
is a sincerity in the way he speaks about his authors and their stories. It's
obvious he wants to go to bat for them and help them find great success. He
gets excited in a way I didn't think was possible for a man, and he has an
unmistakable sense of pride for each of the novels he represents.
I was blown away by him and have decided to add a new
made-up word to my vocab. Agent crush. Which I define as a non-physical, non-sexual
desire to work with someone you admire. And I have a huge agent crush on Josh
Adams. If I'm lucky, one day he will represent my stories.
This is a concept I struggle with and am coming around to
slowly with practice and understanding. It makes sense. As a reader, we can't
sympathize with the protagonist when their world is crashing around them, if we
don't know how they act when life is normal.
So there are some my tidbits in regards to my experience
at the SCWBI conference this summer. I hope the information helps your current
writing endeavor. It most definitely is helping mine.
I've heard Josh Adams is amazing, and he has the track record to prove it. I was interested in your comments about getting to the know the character first. I, too, have thought we had to BAM! create problems. I just finished MATCHED, and it took several pages before the inciting incident. We were in her normal world for quite a bit, and I wasn't bored at all. I fell in love the character and had a chance to care when things went wrong. Now, if only I could master that skill!
ReplyDeleteHey there! Man, I loved Nancy's down to earth revision approach. It was so good to hear even pros have to deal with it. I'd live to work with Noa --she seemed very passionate.
ReplyDeleteI missed Friday but thanks for sharing it. Josh does sound amazing!
I had a great time at that conference, and all the points you mentioned were great ones!
ReplyDeletePK--Noa is amazing. I have an Editor Crush on her.
Glad you had a good experience at the conference! I've heard good things about Josh Adams and their agency - good luck!
ReplyDeleteerica