Welcome to Writing for Real, a monthly newsletter helping you live your best new writer life. I'm glad you're here.

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In this issue…

• My Latest Chapter (a personal update)

• Writing Must-Haves

• Read This

• Try This

• QOTM - Question of the Month

My latest chapter

Since travel was significantly impacted this month, I had to get used to staying home and being productive without my usual author dates (see Sept '24 newsletter for more info). That was a challenge. I love to take mini breaks and do something new to spark creativity. But after white-knuckling my way through two terrifying snow squalls where the world disappeared into a wall of white, I made a radical decision: my beloved author dates would have to wait. My car stayed parked, and my current manuscript became my only journey.

Instead of driving, I doubled down on my writing blocks. It started off well—I revised chapter after chapter and built strong momentum. However, after staring at the computer for hours on end, day after day, my eyes had something to say about it. Eyedrops and Tylenol helped a little, but the bottom line was I just couldn't look at the screen all day. But I didn't want to lose the established momentum. I had made real progress on the revisions and couldn't give that up.

So, I changed things. I let my laptop read my work aloud while I took notes with pen and paper. It worked! My eyes thanked me for the break, and my manuscript thrived under the continued attention. Having a repertoire of revision strategies is a Must-Have (more on that below) to help authors stay the course when the course wants to kick you to the curb.

Writing Must-Haves

In continuation of last month’s Must-Haves theme, here’s another tip for new or hesitant writers. Of course, these Must-Haves work for any writer, but they are essential for new writers who are looking for a safe place to start. My goal with this newsletter is to make things super easy (and hopefully fun and interesting) so that you can feel good building your writer skills.

Have you ever found yourself staring at your manuscript, eyes burning, brain foggy, wondering if you're making any progress at all? We've all been there. My own experience with being snowed in reminded me of the value of adapting my revision process. Having a diverse repertoire of revision strategies isn't just helpful—it's essential.

Why One Approach Isn't Enough

Relying on a single revision method is like trying to build a house with only a hammer. Sure, you might eventually get somewhere, but the process will be inefficient and the results subpar. Here's why developing multiple approaches matters:

Physical limitations: As I discovered when my eyes rebelled against screen time, our bodies sometimes make decisions for us. Without alternatives, you risk stalling completely.

Different problems require different tools: Plot holes, character inconsistencies, pacing issues, and sentence-level polish each benefit from specialized approaches.

Fresh perspectives: Switching methods can help you see your work differently, revealing issues and opportunities you might otherwise miss.

Sustaining momentum: When one approach stops yielding results, having alternatives prevents the dreaded full stop.

"The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say a brain surgeon. You can always do it better, find the exact word, the apt phrase, the leaping simile."
― Robert Cormier

Revision Strategies Worth Adding to your Repertoire

1. Read Aloud

Have your computer read your work to you or read it aloud yourself if you don’t have the software or you aren’t looking for an alternative to your screen. Your ears will catch awkward phrasing, repetition, and rhythm issues that your eyes might skip over. Take notes on paper as you listen. I use Word and Scrivener and both had read aloud options.

2. Print it Off

Printing off scenes or chapters gives your brain a break from the screen and allows you to see things differently. Studies show that working with pen and paper deepens content processing and enhances emotional health. I’d avoid red pens though. Find a colour that makes you happy (I use a purple gel pen) and doesn’t remind you of your high school English tests.

3. Colour Code your Thoughts

Use different colored highlighters to mark various aspects of your writing (e.g., plot, character development, setting). This can help you visually identify areas that need improvement and ensure a balanced revision. Bonus: it looks pretty.

4. Change the Format

If you can’t print out your manuscript, you can always change the font and/or font size. Or the layout. Word has a two-sided book layout view which reads like a novel. A new format can help you spot errors and see your writing from a different perspective. Alternatively, you can read it on a different device like a tablet or phone to see if that helps.

4. Shuffle your Scene Cards

Write each scene on an index card with a brief description. Physically rearrange them to experiment with structure and pacing. This bird's-eye view can reveal structural weaknesses or opportunities for stronger transitions.

5. Focus on One Sensory Pass

Review your manuscript focusing exclusively on sensory details. In one pass, highlight all visual descriptions. In the next, focus on sounds, then touch, taste, and smell. This ensures your world feels fully realized.

6. Scene Swap with a Friend

Instead of trying to address revisions on your own, try swapping scenes with writer friends. Or join a critique group. They can provide fresh eyes and a lived-experience-perspective different from your own. I’ve been part of several critique groups over the years and have always found their feedback extremely valuable.

Finding What Works for You

The beauty of building a revision repertoire is discovering which methods work best for your unique writing style and challenges. Keep experimenting with new ways to see your work with fresh eyes!

Read this…

Try this…

This month’s writing prompt experiments with reading your work aloud as part of the revision process. In education, teachers use a similar instructional strategy called Read Aloud to help students build fluency and comprehension. It focuses on audible things like pitch, tone, pace, volume, pauses, etc., but also incorporates questions, and comments. Asking questions of what you hear or read is important in fleshing out the meaning of your words.

1. Using a short piece of your writing (a paragraph or two), have your computer read it aloud while you listen for clarity, grammar or spelling errors.

2. After fixing the errors, have the computer read your work aloud again. This time, however, you’re making a list of questions or comments about each sentence.

   Here’s a brief example:

   Writing: Jay took his mother’s hand and gently led her down the vegetable aisle, the scent of citrus strong in his nostrils as an employee mopped up orange juice from the floor. “I think Dad would relish a chocolate cake this time, don’t you?” His mother smiled, her cane tap-tapping as they walked in unison.

   Potential Read Aloud questions and comments:

   -too many ‘s’ sounds in “scent of citrus strong in his nostrils”

   -why the vegetable aisle, why not meat or dairy? Is there a reason it needs to be there?

   -does nostrils sound too formal?

   -spilled orange juice denotes something crashed or broke - is that relevant to the scene? Does it foreshadow anything?

   -does anyone say ‘relish’ anymore? Would my character?

   You get the idea.

3. Revise your piece. Make each sentence work for you and your story.

Share your work with me—I'd love to feature a few in future newsletters!

QOTM

What is your go-to revision strategy? Why?

Reach out on Instagram, Threads or email to let me know.

Thanks for reading!

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