I’ve gotten to that part of the manuscript.
You know the part I’m talking about. I’ve written the first draft from beginning to end, and now it’s time to make some assessments.
Where am I with word count? (With my current project, I’m six thousand words short of the contracted number I agreed to write.)
Are my scenes in sequence? I frequently write scenes out of order (helps with writer’s block), so it’s good to go back for a read-through.
Did I tie up my loose ends?
Did I finish writing each scene? Or did I intend to come back later to finish one—and forget to?
Is my manuscript believable?
Will the reader get an image of each character in their heads? Or should I spruce up my character descriptions?
Have I described each of my settings? (The town, characters’ houses, various meeting places?) Brief is fine, but non-existent won’t do.
After I do a read-through on my checklist, I move on to the next stage—slicing and dicing.
This is a great list. Funny because just this morning, I started a list for myself of things I need to go back through after I’ve written the first draft. A couple from my list that you didn’t have here: Is the dialogue as good as it could be? Is there any more historical/contextual background I can add? (That one applies to mine because it’s nonfiction — Might not apply to yours.)
Good checklist, Elizabeth.
You may already do something like this, but I’ll pass along what I do:
When I know I’ll need to come back to something in the manuscript (a technical name or place name that I’ve left out, or something that needs some research, or if I don’t finish a scene, or if I may want to eliminate a certain plot thread), I’ll color code it, either with a background color or a font color. That way, I can spot it very easily as I page through the document.
Oh, yeah. This is the read the entire manuscript stage….again, and again, and again, ad infinitum. I don’t care if you’ve written The Great American Novel. After the 6th or 7th read through, you just wanna cry if you have to do it again. Which, of course, you do.
Gee, Elizabeth. 6000 thousand words short is a bunch. Did you plan it that way so you can fill in where you wanted later? Or, are you just such a tight and clean writer that you didn’t need all that extra word-clutter? Lastly, do you HAVE to come up with them, or if it’s good at say…2500 words shy, then it’s no problem? Your fans want to know? :>)
Best regards, Galen
GalenKindley.com
Galen,
It’s a bunch short. No plan for that to happen–more of a mistake. My first 2 books were both in the 65,000 to 68,000 word range. Now I’m contracted for 75,000….and I have to believe they MEAN that many. So I thought up some scenes that will have meat to them (because I can’t add 6,000 words of fluff or my book will be crap) and then I do need to put in setting (which I left out completely in order to wait for a July trip to Memphis, the town the book is set in.) Then I’ll have to see where I stand. Because I’ll really be CUTTING material next and, unless I add more, I’ll be in trouble again.
Elizabeth
This is a good post. I haven’t gotten yet to this point, but this will come in handy when I do. I would be freaking out a bit more though if I were facing your shortfall on wordcount. Or maybe I wouldn’t, if I were already as experienced as you evidently are :)
You’re not doing bad, Elizabeth. On a couple of my books I’ve only reached 35,000 to 40,000 words and discovered I was almost at the end of the story. I had to back up and add some characters and situations before continuing.
I’m a linear writer, so I don’t worry about something out of order. The character thing bugs me sometime, though. I’m never sure how much background to give a minor, almost walk-on character.
I’m with you on setting. Describe it briefly but with enough vim and vigor to make it memorable. I noticed your mention of Memphis Barbeque Mysteries. I had a friend who did the Barbeque Cookoff down there every year. I only went once. And then there was the Rendezvous. Interesting place.
Alan, good idea. I’m taking the kids to the pool this afternoon and think I’ll go with a printed out copy of my MS and some colored highlighters.
Eric….I probably should be freaking out, yes. But you know, just glancing through my MS, I see some holes. There were a couple of scenes that I didn’t set up particularly well, some abrupt transitions that need to be smoothed out. That will be about 3000 there. Then maybe 500 of setting (I hate setting fluff, so not too much.) Then….well, we’ll see. My deadline is Sept. 1. I’ll keep y’all updated.
Elizabeth
But isn’t it great to have a complete draft to work with? The revision and editing process is my favorite part of writing.
That’s a good check list for even an editor to use as part of the going over.
The Old silly