Rewriting scenes while referencing your first draft
At least in my personal experience, I’ve had to rewrite 90% or more of my scenes going from my first draft to my second draft. To be fair, I didn’t really know how story structure worked when I started, and my author voice was all over the place, but it’s still been a major step in the process.
The first thing to do is mark up your original scene - places that you want to clean up, beats you want to reorder, where you want scenes to mesh together if you’re combining them, where you want the scene to split into two if you’re seperating it, paragraphs or sentences to cut, information you want to move elsewhere, things like that. This is useful both as a brainstorming tool - as you’re getting into the mindset of changing stuff around, but it’s also going to make rewriting the scene so much easier since you have a lot of the details about what you want to do with it right there.
Then write your scene beat by beat, referencing the appropriate part of your first draft scene for things you want to include/leave out. For chunks in your first draft that you liked, you may be able to type them all in pretty much virbatum. For sections that you needed to clean up, read through it again, and then try to write that section so it’s tidier (this is when referencing really helps, as you have all the information you want to include in the section right there).
I guess the main idea is taking notes on your original and then improving upon what you have based on those notes.
I wrote this in a reblog to one of @boy-who-can-fly‘s posts, but as I couldn’t add any tags to that that would make it findable to more than just my followers, I figured I’d make the same content in an original post because YAY TAGS!
Without further ado...
1) Take a break.
Some authors have suggested taking a break for six or so weeks, but I find anything longer than three makes me too distanced from my story, and I have to work a lot harder to get back into my protagonist’s head. During this break, don’t so much as look at your story. Instead, focus on something else. Maybe growing your author platform, planning or developing another wip, or researching the publishing industry if publishing is the end goal for your book (this goes for both traditional and self pub). The point of this is that without some distance, it’s going to be a lot harder to see larger developmental flaws.
(this is a very long post, so the rest of the steps are below the break)
2) The first read-through.
After your break has ended, and you’ve got to be a little stern with yourself not to extend it farther than what you set, or else you’ll never return to it, do a readthrough. This means either just reading it off you’re computer or kindle, or going to somewhere like staples and getting it printed and spiral bound (this costs money, but I found it helpful down the line). Two rules: 1) no editing. 2) look at the first rule. This read-through is going to help give you a general sense of what is and isn’t working in your book; the problems you notice here are likely going to be the biggest ones. (if you want, you can combine this step with step three, but I found it more helpful to keep them seperate)
3) Outline.
It doesn’t matter whether you outlined before, or whether you decided to pants it. By the time you get to editing, you need to have an outline that’s reflective of what you actually put on the page. Go through your story, chapter by chapter, and for each new scene write down
what is your character’s goal in this scene
what is standing in their way
what is the outcome of the scene.
This list should not go into depth; one short sentece per point, MAX. That being said, make sure to keep things specific, so “MC wants to convice X to go with them to Y.” is going to be a lot more useful to you later on than “MC tries to convince them to go.” This outline is going to help you objectively look at your story structure, as you can see a lot more of what’s happening at once, without being quite so overwhelmed by the sheer mass of the words you wrote. Yes, this step can be a bit tedious, but it is so, so worth it.
4) Sort out what you need to fix, aka start making a game plan for your edits.
Now that you’ve read through your wip at least once through, and probably twice, you probably have a pretty good idea of what you need to fix. The key here is that right now, you want to be fixing on the global edits - the things that span beyond just a single scene or chapter. The reason why is that you don’t want to be spending hours perfecting a scene that you’re just going to need to cut later because it doesn’t advance the plot.
In a new document or spreadsheet (whatever you think will work better for you, I liked using a google doc), write issues you see with:
Each of your main cast (regarding character development, motivations voice, etc)
Setting/s (consistancy, realism for your world)
General worldbuilding (consistancy, things poorly explained/set up)
Main plot (following a given plot structure, building tension, etc)
Each subplot (how it intertwines with the main plot, plot structure, building tension, etc)
Other major things you noticed during your readthroughs
These things tend to be larger scope, and generally are worth addressing first.
5) Picking your edit.
Look at the list of edits, and see which one is going to cause the most ripples through your story. This is going to be the first thing you look at to fix. If there are more than one edits that will all have major impacts on the story, think about which edit would make the other ones easier.
For example, in my wip, Project Toxin, my plot was, well, a trainwreck and a dumpster fire’s love child. But my characterization for my MC was also a wreck. Still, getting the overall plot more in order would make it easier for me to edit my MC, so I chose plot first.
6) Make a game plan for your edit.
Before diving in and ripping through your first draft, come up with a game plan. Brainstorm possible solutions to the edit you’ve chosen, and look at what ripples it would cause. You want to make sure that what route you take isn’t going to upset something major or crucial to your story. Most likely whatever solution you choose will cause some other upsets, so just make sure to think through what makes most sense for your story.
For example, when working on my story, I was fixing plot first. Figuring out my game plan meant looking at my scene list and moving things around/adding/cutting content until I had a plot that was much more satisfactory, and that was, in my mind, not a wreck.
Possible game plans for different types of edits:
1. Plot:
Look at your scene list. What helps to advance the plot? What is dragging the pacing. Are there any elements that you are adding or cutting in your overall story that need to be accounted for? With this in mind, cross out scenes that you want to cut, move scenes around that need to come in a different order, add scenes that need to be added, and mark scenes that need to be combined into one.
2. Characters:
For each of your characters, look at their character development. It’s going to be hard to make them come to life better on the page unless you’ve got a grasp of who they are, even if you didn’t plan them out originally. If you have not, consider listing in a spreadsheet or google doc what their backstory is, what their goals are, why they want those goals, and what a few of their strengths and weaknesses are. Also think about their voice: what words do they use more often? Sentence structures? What do they sound like when they’re talking? Stuff like that. If your character is inconsistant, pick one version of them that you want to follow (knowing that they will likely change over the course of the story), and look at what parts of them you will need to change to accomodate that.
3. Setting/Worldbuilding:
I’ve put these together here as they’re somewhat similar. For poorly explained aspects of worldbuilding, look at where you might add in little details so you can better set that foundation (this is not usually a global edit). If things are inconsistant, look at what makes the most sense for your story, and like what we talked about with characters, alter the rest to accomodate that.
7) Making edits.
This is where you really get to dig in and really move things around. Using the edit you’ve picked and the game plan you’ve developed, go through scene by scene and make the changes. I strongly recommend having a seperate doc from your rough draft to store your second draft in. Currently, my process is to have both open at the same time, and if a scene is already fine, I’ll just copy/paste it over. At least for me, however, it’s usually not, and I’ll either make tweaks to fix it up, or, more often at this early stage, I’ll rewrite it. As an added bonus, I also find that rewriting it makes my prose a lot stronger, since I’ve grown so much as a writer since I originally wrote the scene.
Since you know your story better, you may find other elements that you want to change are improving as you edit. If not though, don’t worry - they’ll get their own editing pass.
8) Repeat steps 5-7
You made a list of edits you needed to make back in step four. Now, follow steps 5-7 to make all of those edits and changes.
9) Repeat steps 2-8
Two steps telling you to repeat in a row? Yes. The deal now is that you want to make sure you’ve cleaned up any global edits before moving on to anything smaller. If you’ve been thourough thus far, this will be a very fast step. If not, think of this step as a safety net. There may have been ripples that you didn’t notice earlier on, and it’s a good thing you’re catching them now.
10) Chapter edits
At this point, we’ve cleaned up all the big edits. Now we’re going to look at each chapter. Within each chapter, there needs to be a mini-arc. A beginning, middle, and end. This is the time to really focus on that. Also focus on things like tightening up prose, combining or compressing paragraphs, making sure you’ve adequately set the scene, etc. If you’re over the word count limit regarding your genre, also focus on cutting a certain number of words from each chapter to put your story back within those limits.
11) The little things
This is about combing through your wip to find all of the little errors that have made their way through edits. Typos, weird or incorrect grammar, useless adverbs, things like that. At this point, everything is on a more superficial level.
Beta Readers
Given that this has gotten quite long, I’m not going to go in depth about beta readers here, but around step 10/11, you’re going to start recruiting beta readers (you’re going to want to try and have multiple rounds of somewhere around 10 betas each, which is why having a good author platform is useful: recruiting is easier). Between each round, you’re going to look at their feedback and make the necessary edits. After several rounds of beta readers, you’re going to look it over a few more times, and then if you’re going the traditional publishing route, you’re going to query agents. If you’re going the self-pub route you’re going to look to hire a professional editor. If you’re not looking to publish, this may be the end of the line.
Is there someone else who would be a better partner for either of them?
No not really. Nobody else would put up with Alexander's bullshit like Nathan does and Nathan is for Alexander only. And besides these two are freaky for the other and that freak would turn anybody else off.
Callisto and Marie are completely underdeveloped because side characters but I think they are good for each other. They match each others freak.
All righty, I posted this story a bit earlier today and got some input after on it. here is the revised and edited version. Tell me what you think, be honest. AU, where Cecelia is still alive (though do to him being the next weilder of the eye he still obtained it somehow), and he also still had the Duelist Kingdom tournameant, though in this case it was with out an malicious intent and just to see who really was the king of Duel Monsters, and Bakura wanting the eye still ripped it out of his head.
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“Wonder what this is?” Yugi said he put the rest of the mail on the table. Joey, Tristan and Tea had been sitting on the couch watching a Duel on the T.V. while Yugi had gone and checked the mail. “Hey guys check this out it’s a letter from Pegasus.” He said sitting down
Joey wondered what Pegasus might want “Hey you think maybe he’s throwing another tournament.” He suggested as Yugi opened the letter
Greetings Yugi-boy,
It’s been so long since we last saw each other.You never write, you never come visit. I’m inviting you and your little pals to help me celebrate my little princess’s fifth birthday. Oh I do hope you’ll come. A plane will sent over to pick you up accordingly.
- M. Pegasus
“He’s inviting us to a birthday party for his daughter.” Joey said a little surprised “So, you gonna go Yuug?” He asked Yugi. “I don’t see why not.”
Tea and Tristan both nodded in agreement.
Thankfully getting to the airport was no problem, since Duke had been headed in that direction anyways he didn’t mind driving them down to the airport.
“So you got invited too.” Duke commented “He sent me an email asking if I could come, unfortunately I already made plans today, so I promised him I would stop by some other time.” Duke told them as he drove
When they finally got to the airport they found there were already people waiting for them, ready to show them to the privet plane that Pegasus had sent to pick them up. “I wonder if he invited anyone else?” Yugi commented as they walked onto the plane
As they approached the island Tea looked out the window “Hey isn’t that Kaiba’s jet?” Tea asked pointing to the Blue Eyes White Jet that was sitting on the ground below. “Guess Pegasus made Kaiba come too.”
Joey laughed “ Kaiba at a party, I doubt that guy knows how to have fun.”
“The only way Kaiba knows how to have fun is when he beats someone at a game of Duel monsters.” Tristan joked.
Pegasus greeted them at the door and led them inside “Yugi-boy glad you could make it.” He said smiling brightly, Pegasus was wearing his usual flamboyant outfit and had some of his hair covering the left side of his face. He hadn’t noticed him at first when Yugi arrived, most likely because he had been standing in his blind spot, But he had now noticed Bakura had also come along with Yugi. He gave Bakura a funny look before turning around “Alright follow me, don’t want to keep the guest of honour waiting.” He had a large bright smile.
“You know I don’t think he likes he very much.” Bakura commented too Yugi.
“I’ll explain later.” Yugi told Bakura, realizing his friend didn’t know what the spirit of the ring had done last time they were here.
They turned a corner and soon entered a room that was covered in all sorts of duel monsters related decorations. And a small Dueling table off to the side. A girl with curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes, wearing a poofy pink dress, ran towards Pegasus when he entered the room
“Daddy!” She ran up and hugged his legs.
“And how is my little princess?” He asked picking her up “Enjoying your party so far?” He asked hugging her.
The girl just smiled widely and giggled.
Kaiba sat in a corner of the looking rather bored, as usual. “Why am I even here? I have a company to run I don’t have time for parties.” He spoke in his usual unimpressed and rather uninterested tone of voice.
“Oh now come on don’t be such a sour puss Kaiba-boy, you need to learn how to have a little fun.” He put Cyndia down, and snapped his fingers “I know why don’t you and Yugi-boy have a friendly duel while we wait for Cecelia to bring the cake.” He suggested “Maybe then you’ll lighten up.”
Having a rematch duel did appeal to Kaiba “Fine one match and then I leave.”
“You go big bro.“ Cheered Mokuba who had been sitting on the floor playing with Cyndia.
After moving a few things and putting the Duel table more in the center Kaiba and Yugi sat down.
"I duel Yugi next.” Joey said, he knew it was unlikely he would beat his friend but that didn’t matter.
Pegasus just smiled happily, picking up his daughter and placing her on his knee. She held on to a Toon Dark Magician Girl plush toy and giggled.
“This duel table uses the same tech as the Duel arena’s just on a smaller scale, this one is only a prototype so this is also a great way to test it out.” He explained.
The Duel started and everyone seemed to have a good time, well everyone except Kaiba. It was a close duel, there were a few times where it looked like Kaiba might win, but in the end Yugi manged to beat him.
“Come on Mokuba, we’re leaving.” He said walking towards the door. Mokuba looked a little disappointed
“Aww come on Seto, they haven’t even brought out the cake yet.”
But it was obvious by the look on his face Kaiba didn’t care about cake and just wanted to leave.
Cyndia hopped off her dads knee and picked up one of the plushes. “Here.” She said offering the plushie to him.
Kaiba stopped to looked down to see her holding up a Blue Eyes White Dragon plush. Not wanting to upset Cyndia or Pegasus for that matter he reluctantly took it. “Uhh, thanks kid.” For as big of a jerk as Kaiba could be sometimes, he’d always had a soft spot when it came to dealing with young kids, probably a big brother instinct to want to help those younger then him. Mokuba followed quickly behind his big bro
“Bye guys.” He waved and with that the Kaiba brothers were gone.
After Kaiba had left Pegasus gave a sigh shrugged “With Kaiba-boy gone I guess that means more cake for us.”
Joey laughed “I’ll have Kaiba’s piece.”
The rest of his friends laughed too.
Cecelia walked in with a smile on her face , she wore periwinkle coloured dress and was carrying a cake in her hands.
Still clutching the Toon Magician Girl in one hand she ran over to her mother, “Mommy.” Cecelia stepped to one side
“Careful sweety, I don’t want to drop your cake.” She placed it on a table.
Bakura asked Pegasus if there was any tea to drink, “Tea. Hmm there might be some.” He asked one of the people working there to go find some tea, “Oh and some wine for me please. And a glass of juice for my little princess.” He patted her on the head.
“Of course Mr. Pegasus.” The guy in the suit left to go get some drinks for everyone.
Yugi and Joey were two of the first people to finish eating their pieces of cake.
“Since everyone else is eating cake why don’t you and Yugi-boy, entertain us with an other round of Duel monsters.” Pegasus suggested
“Alright Yuug, but just cause it’s a friendly game doesn’t mean I’m not gonna go down without a fight.” He grinned.
During their duel, someone came and put the drinks down on the same table with the cake. “I do love a nice glass of wine.” Pegasus smiled swirling the red liquid in the glass.
Picking up one of the glasses of juice off the table he put it beside Cyndia’s piece of cake “There you go sweetie.”
Cyndia sat on a cushion in between her mom and dad, she put her Toon Magician girl beside her so she could eat her piece of cake. As long as she was happy, he was happy.
“That was a good duel Joey, you’ve gotten a lot better.” Yugi told him once the duel was over. It hadn’t been as close a duel as it had been with Yugi and Seto but Joey had put up a decent fight and certainly didn’t go down easy.
“Who knows maybe one of these days, you’ll beat Yugi.” Bakura commented.
Pegasus tried to convince them to stay the night, but since none of them had anything with them for an overnight stay, they decided it was time to leave.
“Alright but before you go I have something to give you.” He told Yugi and his friends. He left them at the door for a few moments with Cyndia trailing behind him. Pegasus had been delighted that Yugi had come to Cyndia’s party. When he returned he was holding a number of gift bags in both hands. There was enough for everyone to get one.
“Thank you so much for coming, here take these one for each of you, Think of it as a my way of saying Thank You.” He handed them each a bag that was covered in duel monsters pictures.
“Oh and Bakura, since Kaiba-boy didn’t want his you can have it.” He said “I had no idea you were coming, so I originally only had enough for the four of them.”
Bakura smiled “Thanks Pegasus, that’s really nice of you.”
Cyndia gave each of them a hug around their legs, except for Yugi who to lowered himself a bit so she could give him a proper hug.
“Thank Oo.” She said looking up at them.
“Please come by and visit anytime, we really must do things like this more often.” He said, waving goodbye to them as they entered the plane. Pegasus turned around closing the door behind him.
“So did you have fun?” He asked picking her back up.
She nodded “Yea.” giving him another hug “Love you.”
“Come on now, time for you to go to bed.” He told her, giving her a kiss.
