It used to take me FOREVER, Reader. Weeks. Months even. And I used to dread it just as much as everyone else. Sometimes I’d put it off for weeks and start something new just so I wouldn't have to do it. Procrastination by means of doing more work. 😩 I’m of course talking about editing. More specifically editing a story. It used to take me months to do. Endless weeks of grueling tedious work. Now that I have an organized well-thought-out system, I can edit a third of a book in a week. No joke. So if the thought of editing makes you want to scroll the latest social media instead? Well, then you’re in luck because I’m about to show you how to do pain-free edits in 3 passes. First DraftIn your First Draft pass of edits you want to do the following: Go through chapter by chapter and catalog important details about the main cast of characters and locations.
Highlight any place where info needs to be researched: measurements, place names, uniform details—anything—just highlight it and use a placeholder or symbol like an asterisk. You can set up hotkeys to make highlights like this a snap in Scrivener Make sure there are no remaining plot holes. You don’t want any unused Chekhov's guns or unintentional red herrings. Lastly, make sure each scene flows into the next or that you properly utilize scene or chapter breaks. Second DraftIn your Second Draft pass of edits you want to do the following: Start at the beginning and fill in the info you highlighted in the previous draft. You know all those details you shelved to look up or research until later? Now's the time to do it. Check your characters and location descriptions against your continuity log to ensure they remain consistent throughout the story. This is why programs like Scrivener that offer a side-by-side view to display your log on one side and your story’s scene or chapter on the other are super helpful.
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KAT VANCIL THE STORYTELLER'S SAGA QUEST 85 Well hello there, Reader, While everyone else has got Black Friday Deals for you and whatnot, I thought I’d share 3 (mostly FREE) tools I’m grateful for instead. Scrivener Since 2010, I’ve done all my story writing exclusively in this program designed by a UK company Literature & Latte. Hands down, it’s the best writing program I’ve worked with and I’ve never considered switching to anything else. I use it for everything. Story creation, daily prompt...
KAT VANCIL THE STORYTELLER'S SAGA QUEST 84 But what if no one likes it? It’s a common fear among newbie storytellers,Reader. It’s ingrained right down to the bones. Like showing up to the first day of school and getting mocked for your hair or backpack or glasses. That fear of being singled out is at the very heart of what it is to be human. We want to blend into the herd, the pack, it’s how we stay safe. It’s how we keep from getting eaten. But…the point of art—of storytelling—IS to stand...
KAT VANCIL THE STORYTELLER'S SAGA QUEST 83 It’s perfectly okay to NOT be okay right now, Reader. Because the outside world is A LOT at the moment. The implosion of NaNoWriMo. The banning and destruction of all we hold dear in this world. The dystopian fascist hellscape that America has become. It’s enough to make you want to crawl under a blanket and hibernate until 2028. Trust me, Reader, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or disillusioned, you’re not alone. It’s okay. Your feelings are valid....