Thank you for talking about this. I'm currently in the middle of restructuring a story I wrote in college and will be using these tips to help me in the process!
Thanks again Phoebe! Practical and helpful! I really love Scrivener for this process. I've assigned a digital note card to each chapter, which has a brief outline, and I've colour coded by theme, so at a glance I can see what's happening, who's involved and whether that chapter mostly deals with family, romance, business, friendship etc. Then I can drag chapters around too, so no copying and pasting!
This one makes me so happy, Phoebe, thanks! It’s exactly how I’m tackling the outline for my new novel – pre-structuring subplots and character arcs so they fit into the grander architecture in the right way. The thought of fixing after the book is written is too daunting a prospect so try to get it right up front. Does take me longer to start drafting though…
One thing that I did with one of my drafts was consider where it would start if it were made into a movie, and as a result the first 3 chapters were axed! It made me realise they were exposition and that I needed to jump straight into the action scenes that had tension.
So helpful! I find an ebook version essential when I'm doing final edits. If you don't have a Kindle, convert to Epub and read on your phone. Works for me!
Wonderful content, thank you; I’d enjoy additional future posts relating to structure. I can’t weigh in on structure in fiction, but it’s an enormous part of any NF editing I’ve done. Anything beautiful in this life has structure, be it seashells or cathedrals: our minds crave structure the way our bodies crave oxygen. I realize it’s not the snazzy part of writing or editing perhaps but for me it’s the make or break factor. When someone contacts me because they are so frustrated as to why their work wasn’t accepted, claiming they made sure it was perfect (!), I already know it’s a structural issue. I’m sure it’s much harder for fiction. I once told an author (his book was about architectural history) the reason he could lose himself in admiration of extended sight lines, dramatic themes and feelings of awe in his featured buildings was because the architect also put a lot of thought into the joists and the cross beams 🤓
Thanks for that article Phoebe. I found it useful and real. Am redrafting two novels at mo- one I haven't looked at for five years. Think- and hope I am getting better at self-editing and redrafting. You just have to be ruthless don't you?
But as you say -you can always save unused/edited out chapters/sections/bits and these may come in useful later for same book or maybe another.
All good, solid advice, Phoebe. On the first point, I write everything in Scrivener, with each chapter given its own 'scrivening' document, so if I'm doing multiple POV or multi-arcs, I can colour code them accordingly.
Scriv also makes saving those cut passages easy; I keep an "Old drafts" subfolder in my Research folder, and keep everything in there just in case.
Super helpful, as I edit a novel which needs surgical structure revision.
Excellent advice and takes the overwhelm away. Thanks so much!
Thank you for talking about this. I'm currently in the middle of restructuring a story I wrote in college and will be using these tips to help me in the process!
Thanks again Phoebe! Practical and helpful! I really love Scrivener for this process. I've assigned a digital note card to each chapter, which has a brief outline, and I've colour coded by theme, so at a glance I can see what's happening, who's involved and whether that chapter mostly deals with family, romance, business, friendship etc. Then I can drag chapters around too, so no copying and pasting!
That does sound good… maybe I should try it!!
Give it a go! Their 30 day free trial means you can use it for 30 days… not consecutively! So clever and generous!
This one makes me so happy, Phoebe, thanks! It’s exactly how I’m tackling the outline for my new novel – pre-structuring subplots and character arcs so they fit into the grander architecture in the right way. The thought of fixing after the book is written is too daunting a prospect so try to get it right up front. Does take me longer to start drafting though…
Sounds like it’s working for you!!
Brilliant tips! Thank you.
One thing that I did with one of my drafts was consider where it would start if it were made into a movie, and as a result the first 3 chapters were axed! It made me realise they were exposition and that I needed to jump straight into the action scenes that had tension.
Oh love that tip! Thank you for sharing.
So helpful! I find an ebook version essential when I'm doing final edits. If you don't have a Kindle, convert to Epub and read on your phone. Works for me!
Good tip! Thank you!
Thank you Phoebe! These are really wonderful tips, so spot on!
Thanks Janet! Appreciate you reading!
Wonderful content, thank you; I’d enjoy additional future posts relating to structure. I can’t weigh in on structure in fiction, but it’s an enormous part of any NF editing I’ve done. Anything beautiful in this life has structure, be it seashells or cathedrals: our minds crave structure the way our bodies crave oxygen. I realize it’s not the snazzy part of writing or editing perhaps but for me it’s the make or break factor. When someone contacts me because they are so frustrated as to why their work wasn’t accepted, claiming they made sure it was perfect (!), I already know it’s a structural issue. I’m sure it’s much harder for fiction. I once told an author (his book was about architectural history) the reason he could lose himself in admiration of extended sight lines, dramatic themes and feelings of awe in his featured buildings was because the architect also put a lot of thought into the joists and the cross beams 🤓
Love this. Structure is so important! Thank you for reading.
Thanks for that article Phoebe. I found it useful and real. Am redrafting two novels at mo- one I haven't looked at for five years. Think- and hope I am getting better at self-editing and redrafting. You just have to be ruthless don't you?
But as you say -you can always save unused/edited out chapters/sections/bits and these may come in useful later for same book or maybe another.
Remind me why we do all this?
Oh yes, we enjoy it.
Mostly, in the main.
Thanks again
Haha! Yes allegedly we enjoy it… you’re right, you have to be strict with yourself. I think it does get easier!
I'm just reading through feedback from a freelance editor I hired, and I was wondering what best to do next, so this is really helpful advice.
I’m glad it came at the right time for you!
Great advice. And good to know I’m on the right track with the Post-Its
Oh I love post-its!
All good, solid advice, Phoebe. On the first point, I write everything in Scrivener, with each chapter given its own 'scrivening' document, so if I'm doing multiple POV or multi-arcs, I can colour code them accordingly.
Scriv also makes saving those cut passages easy; I keep an "Old drafts" subfolder in my Research folder, and keep everything in there just in case.
I’ve heard great things!
Wonderful advice!
Thanks Jill!
Thanks Phoebe this is good advice on necessary work.
Thank you for reading!
What *practical*, encouraging advice! Now--to apply it.... 😊
Thank you!
Thank you and good luck! Glad it is helpful.