Here’s the fifth episode of the Writing Talk Podcast.
Today’s overall topic is the importance of self-editing and the clinching argument for outlining.
In this episode of The Writing Talk Podcast, I’m considering the contribution that outlining makes to the editing process. That may sound counter-intuitive but bear with me – the two processes are synergistic.
I talk you through an example from my own work which I hope will help to demonstrate the idea.
I hope you enjoy listening.
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Action Points
Look at your work in progress and honestly ask yourself if any piece of it gives you an itch.
If there’s a piece that you have a hunch about – or a nasty feeling it isn’t quite good enough – copy the offending chunk into a doc labelled “outtakes” or something similar, then return to the original manuscript and rework the passage until it works. Don’t forget to keep copies of everything. A rewrite is a good time to do a “save as” and rename the doc with a meaningful title to help you keep track of your versions.
Is Your Outlining Method Fit for Purpose?
Has your outline become a mammoth work in its own right? Is your process cumbersome? Trim it down – do only those steps needed to make the story’s details real for you.
Is your outline far too vague? Do you have only a faint idea of the story? Consider adding more detail – flesh it out, chase down the details.
Links to Writing Resources:
The Story Grid. A fascinating book on editing and writing.
https://books2read.com/u/38xEGr
Take Off Your Pants. Many people find this a real eye-opener. I enjoyed it and there’s a lot to be learned from this book.
https://books2read.com/u/4EMxgM
Affiliate links are used on this site – they don’t cost you anything at all but I get a reward from the company to help pay for the podcast hosting.
Question
What single piece of writing craft advice would you give to a writer just starting out on their first novel?
Please answer in the comments below and get a shout out in a future show:
