Episode 32: Some tips on revising

In Episode 32, we talk about lots of different elements of revising. We decided to do this episode because Olivia is about to (probably) embark on a revision of her novel, and Meghan’s wrapping one of hers, so she had some wise words to share. We talk about lots of stages of revising and rewriting:

revising as you go (if you’re a better first drafter than we are)
rewriting
“breaking” your story (see link below)
mapping out character arcs
working with a developmental editor or writing coach
managing tension and adding sensory details

We also give a shout-out to our (erm, Meghan’s) favorite books about revising:

DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community by Gabriela Pereira
The Last Draft by Sandra Scofield
Suck it up and Revise by Alicia de los Reyes
Anatomy of a Story by John Truby

You can listen right here on this page, or get Marginally on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever get your podcasts.

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Theme music is “It’s Time” by Scaricá Ricascá.

Have a question you’d like us to try to answer, or a topic you’d love to have us cover? Interested in being a guest? Contact us here.Thanks for listening, and get to work!

Mentioned in this episode:

WMFA Episode 14 with Jennifer Haigh

“Breaking” a story, a term borrowed from screenwriting

DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community by Gabriela Pereira

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Elizabeth Gaskell

Ann Radcliffe gothic novels

George Eliot

Anne Lamott and the theory of the “sh*tty first draft”

Meghan’s blue and red pencil

DIY MFA’s subway-style plotting maps

DIY MFA revision pyramid and podcast episode