While I do a pre-revisions read-through, I have a rule: no edits, only comments. No matter how egregious the error or brilliant the brainstorm, I don't stop to change the text. If I let myself start tweaking, it will take weeks to get through the document. I do leave myself point-of-use notes with Track Changes, though. And sometimes, they get a little weird/mean:
It's like I'm channeling Regina George as my own beta reader.
So once I've read the manuscript and made notes, I write a very brief synopsis that I use to figure out structure or arc problems. And then I start revising, but I start out with chunks because working on more than 5-6 chapters at a time, in a fresh Word document, freaks me out.
So, writer friends: Do you read through old manuscripts to reevaluate them? Do you write yourself snarky editorial comments? How do you decide if, when, and how to revise?
13 comments:
I love re-reading old stuff b/c it's always a cool surprise - I go in expecting it to be BAD, but there's usually a gem or two.
I am my own worst critic. With the WIP I'm currently revising, I made an initial note about how much I hated one of the characters. He's a nice guy and a love interest, but his boringness drove me nuts. He got lots of snarky little comments.
I also love re-reading stuff. And I'm with you on the just reading part--I often put ms. on my nook or my iPad to keep myself from over commenting.
My manuscript notes are just as snarky, but that way I can triumphantly defy the editor who made those notes when I go back and revise. And I always mark revisions in red for the same reason--I then feel like I have to get back at the person who marked up my manuscript like that.
This is an incredibly timely and helpful post. I'm toying with the idea of revisiting an old manuscript, but I've been far too daunted to even open the file. I really like the idea of a strict re-through, with comments only. Thank you, thank you, Rebecca!
So I can't actually re-read any of my work because all I see are mistakes. Mistakes I can't figure out how to tackle. I send my work right away to my beta readers and CP so they can look at it and help me out. But I love reading about everyone's process - all so different. :)
Haha, your comments to yourself are funny. Since I've only written one full manuscript, I don't have experience going back to an old one. But I have gone back to old scenes and passages of old book ideas. I'm actually going to take one scene and work it into my new WIP. :)
Why are we so hard on ourselves, fellow re-readers?
It is so cool to see how everyone's process is different.
I haven't had the opportunity to revisit old manuscripts for two reasons: 1) I don't yet have 'old manuscripts' because I'm a noob, and 2) I just keep moving on to shiny new ideas. O_o (I'm like a crow—attracted to shiny objects.)
I love that you have an inner Regina George as a beta reader. That's so fetch. :P
The only really old manuscript I have I fear is much to cringe-worthy for me to open up. Maybe some day. In a few years. After several bottles of wine.
I love to reread old things, but I usually just write down a bunch of questions for myself. I Regina George myself enough during the actual writing and editing, I need a little bit of niceness. I hope you write yourself lots of nice comments, too! :)
I definitely read old manuscripts. I can punch out a first draft really quickly, and consequently, my revisions are really extensive. Sometimes I'll open something up and hate it, sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised. I love your idea about adding comments but not changing the text. Brilliant!
This made me smile. I leave myself snarky notes all the time! And I recently read through an old ms - there were most definitely alternating periods of cringing and laughing.
Hello fellow OneFour member! :) So happy to have found your blog! Channeling Regina George is hilarious. (I just had this long debate with my husband about whether Mean Girls is one of the most-quoted movies of our generation--I so think it is.) I totally do the same thing. I have to really, really steel myself to look at old writing--somehow it always magically transforms itself into something I hate in the meanwhile.
Great idea about just reading first, and commenting, and not actual editing. It seems like the editing takes up a different part of your brain than the writing, and the two compete if you're trying to do both at the same time!
How does old writing manage to do that? I swear, gremlins go in the document in the meantime and change things. It's the only explanation.
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