Every author has one part of the process that is the bane of their existence. Editing is mine. Plotting, Outlining, and Drafting are what I find easy. Because of my Dyslexia, I find revising and editing the hardest parts of the process. It doesn’t help that often writing programs try to correct what I was trying to spell and insert the wrong word so I don’t pick up on them right away.
Staying motivated
5 ways to stay motivated while you revise and edit
Create goals and rewards: I am great at creating goals. It was rewarding that I found it difficult and now that I’m on a special diet finding rewards can be even more difficult.
Limit distractions and possibly use the things you would distract yourself with as a reward.
Take Breaks especially before you get tired or brain overload.
Take a half-day or whole-day retreat away from your usual space. Go somewhere and focus on your project away.
Create a progress journal. I love lists and checking things off my lists. Nothing in the world makes me happier than seeing completed tasks. If you would like to see a blog post on how to create a progress journal please let me know in the comments below.
What is the difference between revision and edits
According to Fiction University the difference between revision and edits is:
Editing is the line by line tweaks that polish your text.
Revision is more macro level, changing parts of the story.
So what does that mean? Revision is where you look at the larger picture of your novel. Check the plot, character arcs, the hook, the ending, the middle, the climax. I created a method of revision that lets you look at the book in a completely different way. It’s called the Bookend Revision Technique. You can get a free copy just click the link below. So what is the Bookend Revision Technique?
It’s a way to look at the end of your novel and the start of your novel the two most important places. You divide your novel into chapter documents and then look at each chapter in a different sequence. Last chapter, 1st chapter, etc...
Get your copy of the Bookend Revision Technique
What are all the different types of edits
Developmental editing
Structural editing
Proofreading
Line Editing
How do you know what kind of edit you need to do
This site reedsyblog has a quiz to help you answer this exact question
I’m sorry to say no one will have the exact right answer but here is my process.
Outline
Quick Draft: No edits, research tags
Revise: fix research tags, Bookend Revision
Beta Read
Developmental and structural editing
Line edit
Proofread by two different people
Keeping track of edits
How do you keep track so you don’t lose your mind?
Plan it out: look at what needs to be done for the stage you're in, plan rewards for reaching milestones, find encouragement.
Break your project up into bite-size pieces
Write your plan down somewhere
Ask someone to be your accountability partner
Current Writing Project
Knowing that Avril is his fated mate is a blessing and a curse.
Talon Gargoyle Detective for P.I.R. (paranormal investigation and registration) The United States answer to learning that magical and mythical creatures exist in the world. Must leave Fort Worth as far as he can get... Rainy Seattle Washington.
There he gets to know a whole new city, new partner, sector chief, and new case. When a fearful elf mage who works for a local jewelry store is found murdered. Talon must keep his focus on the case and not dividing his loyalties by protecting Avril his former partner and fated mate from afar.
Gargoyles mate for life and Avril is mortal. Can he truly let her go and give his loyalties to PIR?
He was always going to have to live without her at some point after all.
When I Left is a fan-only serial novella. To read this novella sign up for my newsletter or become a Wing's member today.
C.L. Clark's Recommendations for LGBTQ+ Speculative Fiction
Cup of Tea
If you like my content and would like to buy me a cup of tea you can do that right here
Merch of the week
Into the Fire Cover Planner. A great way to keep track of your projects and show a little love to the author.
Size: Small (5.5" x 8.5")
One sheet of fun and colorful repositionable stickers in back (shown)
Includes monthly and weekly layouts, 12 months, 60 pages
Softcover front and back covers laminated
Wire-o® spiral spine available in three color options
Raven’s Cookbook
We are compiling recipes by fans for fans for charity. Raven is the main character in Book One of the Fire Series - Into the Fire. She is a chef and, in Book One, has written a cookbook of her own. I know for a fact that this character would love to collect recipes and help feed people.
At the start of each month, you can submit a recipe for everyone to vote on. Thereby, picking the winning recipe to be showcased here for the public to use. At the end of the year, everyone will be able to vote for their favorite food-related charity. We will compile the winning recipes into a cookbook where we will then sell to raise money for the charity picked!
RULES:
Every recipe that is submitted must either be a recipe of your own creation, or a recipe that you have changed / "tweaked" in some way to make it your own.
PLEASE no stealing as we plan to publish these recipes into a cookbook to sell for charity.
Your recipe will be voted on by fans through our Discord Channel and Newsletter List.
If you would like to be able to place your vote for the recipes, and get some other goodies and freebies, sign-up for my newsletter and / or Discord Channel here:
All recipe and charity recommendations must be submitted to sacrow@authorsacrow.com or through our Discord Channel.
We will also take your suggestions for a food-related charity all year long. If you are a food-related charity, please give us as much information as possible and send it to sacrow@authorsacrow.com.
We would love to share it with our voters!
Everyone will be able to preorder the cookbook before it is available!
What I’m reading
What I’m watching
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