Do you need to know more about how to revise your novel?

My daughter took Think Sideways. Wrote her first novel. Is working on revising it now.

And she said, “You know, I sort of get the One-Pass Revision, but I wish you had something a lot more in-depth for people who still aren’t sure which parts of what they’ve written are good, and which parts need to go. I want to have the whole thing broken down into tiny steps.”

Other people have said the same thing.

The One-Pass Revision is the way I revise my novels now. But now, I know how to look at characters, decide which need to stay and which need to go, and which need to be folded into other characters. I know where my writing was good and where it was bad. I can spot failed plotlines. I can identify the holes where description, conflict, and backstory should go.

When I was just getting started, my revision process was equally grueling, but different. I didn’t know the things I know now, so my process didn’t take anything for granted.

I still remember how I revised back then, and I wouldn’t mind teaching that method.

I’m just not sure how many people would actually want to spend three or four months doing a really intensive revision on their novels.

If this is something that would interest you, post here and let me know.

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By Holly

Novelist, writing teacher, on a mission to reprint my out-of-print books and indie-publish my new ones.

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Cheryl
Cheryl
13 years ago

I’d be interested in a rewrite module. What to leave in, what can be cut, and how to combine scenes.

Anthony
Anthony
13 years ago

I would be very interested.
Holly, any time you want to teach anything at all about writing, I’m interested.
Anhtony

Lisa Binion
13 years ago

Definitely interested.

Celeste Ammirata
13 years ago

I am just about finished writing my first novel, and I would be interested in more information about this course.

Joy
Joy
13 years ago

Yes, please, I’ve tried your one pass revision but there is still so much I don’t understand.

Evelyn
Evelyn
13 years ago

I would be interested in a course depicting how to revise my novel.

Tara
13 years ago

I want to finish my last year’s NaNo and this course would GREATLY interest me. I don’t even know where to begin on tearing that badboy apart!

Laurel
Laurel
13 years ago

I’m interested.

Laurel

Storm
13 years ago

Yes, please.

Janesse
13 years ago

I’m interested too! Please keep me on any info list about this course…

Laurel
Laurel
13 years ago

Frankly, I’d be interested in just about any writing course you’d like to offer. :o)

Vanessa Wells
Vanessa Wells
13 years ago

Please. I’m almost done with my first book and I’ve been trying to use the one-pass way you mentioned….after spending three months catching mistakes and revising before. I tried something different (with the major conflict in the book) and it didn’t work….so I admitted it and revised it. This involved deleting six thousand words and adding twelve. It was that or scrap the whole thing….I imagine taking the course would have saved me all that…

Harriet
Harriet
13 years ago

Yes, I’d love to see a course on that. I have several novels that I’ve been revising, but I’m never sure what I need to take out or leave in. Thanks for the (hopefully) opportunity.

V-J
V-J
13 years ago

YES!!!!!! Please as i have become the queen of collecting paper printouts the should be put into the recycle bin. :-).

nicole Lux
nicole Lux
13 years ago

I would love a course on step by step revising, and am delighted to learn that after a few novels the process gets easier.

Jeannie Furlong
Jeannie Furlong
13 years ago

Me too!

Cecelia Westrich
Cecelia Westrich
13 years ago

Yes, I would definitely love such a course. It would help so many!

Mary
Mary
13 years ago

Absotively, posolutely. I need this course more than anyone!

Brittany
Brittany
13 years ago

I would definitely love a revision course, except I wouldn’t be able to pay much for it…

Debra Young
Debra Young
13 years ago

That would be very helpful to me. Thanks, d:)

Kristi Hanson
Kristi Hanson
13 years ago

A course on revision would be so helpful, thanks.

Mindy Stone
Mindy Stone
13 years ago

I would love to take a revision course. I have only recently finished two completely different novels and am working through my version of editing and rewrites. Having some guidelines would be fabulous.

Marti Verlander
13 years ago

Yes, yes, and more yes! Can you have it ready by this weekend?

I’m writing the final chapter of my first draft tomorrow or Thursday, so I’ll need this info fast. 😉

Easter
Easter
13 years ago

I would be very interested!

Mallana
Mallana
13 years ago

Yes, I would love a course that broke it down more. I don’t know if I could afford it but I will definitely start saving….

ekcarmel
13 years ago

Yes, I would be very interested!

Adleyn Scott
Adleyn Scott
13 years ago

This sounds like a very helpful idea, so please proceed!

Rezina
Rezina
13 years ago

If I could afford it, than I would definitely sign up for your course!

Marissa
Marissa
13 years ago

I’d love it, if only I could afford it. By all means, though, do it!

Shannon
Shannon
13 years ago

I would be interested. Technically, I’ve just recently fiinished revising my first novel, but honestly, I don’t think it is ready. I can’t put my finger on what the problem is but I don’t want to ignore that nagging feeling telling me i’m not done.

Gail Talbot-Olson
Gail Talbot-Olson
13 years ago

Yes, I definitely be interested.

Ke-Yana Drake
13 years ago

Depending on finances, hell yes! That’d be interesting and very helpful! 🙂

Anne Gilbert
13 years ago

I am in the process of doiing a revision project on the first(very rough) draft of the first novel in a trilogy I’m writing. Yes, I would be very interested in any help I could get on the revision process, as the rest of them are going to have to be revised, too.
Anne Gilbert

Hasdiel
Hasdiel
13 years ago

Right now, I don’t have a novel to revise… because I haven`t finished one yet. But I’m really interested in this course, I’ll need it when I finish the novel I’m working on.

Margie
Margie
13 years ago

Yes, I would love a step by step course on how to revise or ‘fix’ your already written novel. I am actually working on mine right now, and I think I have it fixed, but a course in this would really help me.

Clare
Clare
13 years ago

That would be really useful!

Melissa
13 years ago

Yea, I have an issue with revision…more so while I’m writing than anything, and become unsure of what I’m writing. I think I’d enjoy this kind of course.

Meranda
Meranda
13 years ago

I haven’t gotten a chance to give One Pass Revision a try yet, but I always like to have other options available to me.. so yes!

karen guyler
karen guyler
13 years ago

Absolutely, positively, yes please!!

Pat Howerton
Pat Howerton
13 years ago

Absolutely!

Christine
Christine
13 years ago

I think this is exactly what I need. Count me in

Mattie
Mattie
13 years ago

Yes, yes. I already have a finished novel, but I don’t really know what to do with it. I’ve got no idea what to keep or get rid of, what to back off from and what to worth with. Or if I should re-write it, which is what I’m currently doing now… wasting time much? Haha. So yes, a course like that would be so helpful! 😀

(As of now, I can’t really afford the How to Think Sideways courses, I’m only 15, but I think a lot of people would benefit. Besides, I intend to sign up as soon as i can!)

Meg Donahue
Meg Donahue
13 years ago

Yes, I would be interested in a course on revising your novel.

Bridey
13 years ago

Sounds perfect!
I’d like to finish editing my Nano novel, which is proving to be very difficult…

Jenna
Jenna
13 years ago

Me too!
Me too!

Laraine
Laraine
13 years ago

Yes, absolutely!

Nika
Nika
13 years ago

Yes I would be extremely interested in this course 😉

Troy
Troy
13 years ago

Yes! I have a manuscript that is in need of such help.

Minze
Minze
13 years ago

Yes please.

Lucca
Lucca
13 years ago

Yes! Please! Where do I sign??

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