Hi friends. I’m especially busy right now finishing up a few things, and it will be this way through the spring until I go on vacation, finally, in May. Every day I just wake up and start working, no matter what. I keep touching the work, I stay in it. Sometimes it is just the way it has to be for a good long while. I can see an end point in the future, though.
Mar 23, 2023·edited Mar 23, 2023Liked by Jami Attenberg
What's your approach to revision of a first draft? I've been letting a novel first draft sit for a few months and am planning on reading it straight through no-edits on first go round so I can get a general feel for it, and get a sense of any major issues (plot points, underdeveloped characters, etc.). But I imagine it's hard to read through and not mark things up! Curious how others do this.
Such important advice! The reading aloud trick has saved me a number of times, even on boring, work-related projects! And congratulations on your God-puppy! She is magnificent!
Perfect timing for this post. I had just read my memoir manuscript aloud, line by line, before sending it back to my editor last week. Wow, what a great way to illuminate issues that is. Found so many clunky phrases and the like, plus opportunities, as you say. I have recommended the read-it-aloud process for years to my editing clients and was so glad to prove it again to myself. As you did! Keep on keeping on... I love your newsletter.
What's your approach to revision of a first draft? I've been letting a novel first draft sit for a few months and am planning on reading it straight through no-edits on first go round so I can get a general feel for it, and get a sense of any major issues (plot points, underdeveloped characters, etc.). But I imagine it's hard to read through and not mark things up! Curious how others do this.
I print it out and handwrite notes all over it and then I make those changes to the document. I get really messy with it.
Such important advice! The reading aloud trick has saved me a number of times, even on boring, work-related projects! And congratulations on your God-puppy! She is magnificent!
This was exactly the pick-me-up I needed this morning! Thank you for sending it!
Perfect timing for this post. I had just read my memoir manuscript aloud, line by line, before sending it back to my editor last week. Wow, what a great way to illuminate issues that is. Found so many clunky phrases and the like, plus opportunities, as you say. I have recommended the read-it-aloud process for years to my editing clients and was so glad to prove it again to myself. As you did! Keep on keeping on... I love your newsletter.