Rewriting: Finding Your Voice, Finding Your Bones

(The following handout was prepared for a workshop on June 27, 2014.)

1. POV: Examining Point-of-View

Is the right person or third-person narrator telling the story?

If you have multiple POVs, is each character carrying his/her/their weight?

2. Voice

Is the best representation of “voice” in your manuscript sustained through most of your manuscript?

3. Container and Plot

Is a prose book the proper structure for your story?

Is your chosen “genre” the right container for your story?

OUTLINE VS. PANTSER (or discovery writer)

Author Learning Center interviews

Plotter: Wayne Hoffman

Pitch/Characters/Outlines: Claudia Gabel

Pantser: Tammy Kaehler

Great question: Is there enough material for a book?

Remembering the pitch: Or what is the “knot” of your story?

Three disasters and resolution

REVISING AND EDITING THE SOGGY MIDDLE

Author Learning Center interview

Cindy Jones: Moved items that was designed for a sequel into the first book.

Naomi’s tips:

Three braiding technique

Have you let the chips fall where they should?

Outline your chapters/scenes on 3″ x 5″ cards

4. Setting and Characters

Have you set this in the right place or time? (thinking about this should probably happen before writing)

Is there enough at stake for all the main characters?

5. Details (some stolen from the late Doris Betts)

Are you using “look” too much?

Do you start the book with the person looking in the mirror?

Does the beginning catch your reader’s attention? Does it represent what will be happening through the book?

Dialogue tags–up for debate

BOOKS ON WRITING

Bird by Bird (Anne Lamott)

On Writing (Stephen King)

Writing a Novel (John Braine)

Writing 21st Century Fiction: High Impact Techniques for Exceptional Storytelling (Donald Maass)

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Select one of the above sections and sit in it. Write the question and journal the answer.
2. If you have selected #2, choose a strong paragraph representing your “voice” and test it against some other paragraphs in your work.
3. For #3, journal and consider whether you need to add a subplot or follow through on a falling chip or domino.
4. Begin to write plot lines on 3″ by 5″ cards and note the rhythm of your book.
5. Consider whether there is enough at stake for all of the main characters. If no, journal what may have to be added/changed.
6. Quickly go through your manuscript to see repetition of words or other pitfalls.