NOVEL WRITING LESSONS, July 2006

Fastlane Novel Manusript Prepping, or How to Get Your Novel Manuscript Ready in a Hurry
by zentao

How to put an author in a panic: They sent out their query letter and got a bite, so they sent out their first three chapters and a synopsis, and now the agent wants the whole manuscript. ...But the manuscript isn't QUITE DONE. How to take a novel manuscript from draft to final in anywhere from several days to several weeks, depending on how rough it is.

Draft complete, let it steep. Write your blurb and story synopsis. Do NOT reread your book. Do not LOOK at your book.

Draft Mending - Fixing big problem areas and drop-outs. From memory, jot down the scenes and inserts you know are needed. Write them up...without putting them into the manuscript.

Scan to Recall, patch in needed fixes, (do NOT read), outline if needed. You will then skim through a COPY of your draft, letting your eye drift through the pages till your memory of the spot goes, "OH. STOP. RIGHT THERE." There you will insert the patch or expansion to plot or story that is needed. Never mind the editing the text flow or the transitions. Just get it into the spot in REDLINE.

Phrase, scene or plot additions and final fixes discovered in outlining.

The Beginning and the End - final fix

Read Aloud session for author content adjustment, and niggle and nit session (The ear hears best.)

Final Smoothing. Now, go back and final the manuscript.

Spell-check

Format

Submit for Nitting/Light Review to trusted peers. Have a help group read it and nit it out for you.

Final edits

Submit to Agent/Pub.

© Copyright zentao 2006

Lesson TOC (Table of Contents)...4

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