Manuscript Revision

The secret to revision is all in the attitude. And the first step is learning to challenge the basic premise. I have a cousin, after having read my completed manuscripts, who is fond of saying things like, “Why don’t you take the theme and scene structure leading to the climax, and then invert it?" This, obviously, is not the most welcome type of suggestion to one who has spent the past few months writing a several-hundred-page manuscript. The only thing worse, is when the labor-implicit idea rings true, as it almost always does. (If they didn’t, where would the headache come from?)

The second secret is to fear not, thy story is with thee. Perhaps the biggest thing that can stop or stunt our manuscripts in their evolution toward greatness, is our fear that tampering with them will somehow throw off the magical balance we hope they have somehow attained, taking them from the lofty pinnacle of “as good as it can get” and plunging them downward to the depths of “listless mediocrity.” I, however, would suggest that “as good as it can get” and “mediocrity” are actually not that far apart. Most of the difference between the two is caused by wishful thinking on the part of the author. Take that away, a process more painful than pealing scabs, and one will mostly likely reveal a manuscript with high potential and desperate need of revision. Wishing for the manuscript to be great, and hesitancy to touch it will not actually take it there. But fearless revision, and courageous implementation of new, startling ideas, on the other hand, will.

Third, adopt the motto, “He who says it can’t be done is usually interrupted by the guy who just did it.” Don’t be afraid to get out the red pencil or marker, and have at the manuscript like any four-year-old would with that same marker, and his daddy’s business planner. Editors won’t be afraid, so if you don’t mark it up, they WILL!.
Read through the manuscript page by page and flag anything that stands out to you, for whatever reason. You don’t have to know why at the time. Shrugging and letting a phrase or paragraph go unmarked, with the wishful rationalization that it is “probably good enough” or, “no one will probably notice” is basically the same as saying, “mediocrity for me, please, and super-size it!”

“But, what of those picturesque combinations of conversation and poetic supporting detail?” you ask in horror. “Right now, it pierces straight to the heart! How do I react to the heinous suggestion that it isn’t expressive or concise enough?”

Simple. First, take a shot of rubbing alcohol in the eye, and then face the fact that your glorious prose probably doesn’t connect with the reader as strongly as it does to you. If it did, they wouldn’t be suggesting that you strengthen it, or tighten it, or clarify it to some degree. On the bright side, if one can summon the courage to try, to rewrite, he/she will almost always find that the different approach was in fact beneficial to the story’s overall integrity. Instead of bemoaning the pain of change, learn to admit that deep down, that you know they’re right, and then say to yourself that you can do it. Most of my friends who write, have already learned to adopt this attitude. As for myself, I’m still working on it. (No negative comments about revisions to this article, please.)

There are numerous techniques for sparking creativity in the revision process. If I feel charitable, and someday run into a great deal of more time than I have now, I might even list some of them. It is, however, unnecessary, for I have repeatedly seen that revision techniques do nothing without the correct attitude. Make a fresh attack on your manuscript with the approach I’ve mentioned above, and you will discover the techniques for yourself. Your welcome. Anytime.