When I was a younger mom, I ruined several loads of laundry by forgetting to check my pockets before tossing my stuff in the washing machine.
Now I’ve gotten used to the drill of checking those pockets out.
There’s always stuff in them because when I vacuum I pick up marbles, Barbie shoes, crayons, Nerf bullets, and small metal objects off the floor and shove them in my pockets so I can continue vacuuming and won’t totally destroy the appliance (which has also happened before.)
At the end of the day, all kinds of craziness is in my pockets.
When I’m working on a first draft I just keep on going, too. The computer equivalent of my pockets is Word’s highlighting function. I just select the problem area.
Then I just keep on going.
What are the Barbie shoes and Nerf bullets in my manuscript?
Facts that I’m not sure of and need to research.
Character last names that I haven’t made up yet (I do *** for those)
Something that seems out of character
A setting that needs more of an in-depth description
Something I’ve realized isn’t in sequential place in the story
A continuity error I’ve noticed
When I’ve somehow lapsed into passive voice
Too many/too few dialogue tags
Bad transitions
Rambling
Boring. Lack of conflict.
The nice thing about the highlighting function, is that you can choose a different color for different things you need to correct. Or you can use Word’s Track Changes function to make comments to yourself in the margins.
What things do you put in your pocket for later as you write? Or do you jump in and make corrections while it’s on your mind?
Elizabeth – You have pocket stuff in your drafts,too? Oh, so do I! One of the things I always find in my “pockets” is clunky scenes. You know – the kind where characters act more like hand puppets than like real people. I usually try to flag them and come back. They’re there, though….
I love the highlights function. Between green (for new) and red (for possible deletion) and yellow (for think about this)–these are just a few of my standby color codes.
I like the idea of using different colored highlights. Right now I stick a comment in the troubled sections with a brief note on what needs fixing and a few idea. When I edit, I can use the function that moves from one note to the next to find those spots again. I like it more than stopping right there to edit and lose my momentum.
I correct things if it is going to change the entire direction of the story or a particular character, but normally I just scribble a note in the notebook I have in front of the computer about what I think needs work and after I finish the first draft, I go through and check each of those places first.
I like the idea that these things are just random things we’ve picked up and put aside for later – I think that mental image will help me as I try to not obsess about the number of changes still to make.
Thanks for sharing this.
When I was working on revisions on my last project (before I shoved that deep into the proverbial drawer never to see daylight again) I used track changes to leave questions for myself or to note where I needed to elaborate, etc.
I kept a separate (virtual) sticky note on my desktop for 2 things: continuity issues and unresolved plot threads.
Before shelving the project I did put those down in hard copy and put it in the box with all the notes.
Fun post!
I write my raw material long hand and wind up with all sorts of things scrawled in the margins. I often realize I’m missing something in a scene as a write it, but I don’t usually try to wedge it in. I just make a note to add it the next time around and keep going with what I’m doing. Other notes are usually about things that need to be added somewhere else in the manuscript or questions I suddenly have. I also make notes in my typed drafts, usually in all caps, although I occasionally use highlighting as well. I have a flaky memory, so I believe in making a note as soon as I think of it, but I don’t want to lose my writing momentum in the process.
I love this post. I use the highlight function and notes stuck to my screen or white board. Although, if I’m not feeling motivated to write anything new, that’s when I fix as I go.
Great analogy. Names of secondary characters are definitely in my pocket, along with descriptions – I tend to skip a lot of that.
What a great post. I use the highlighter feature. When something is unclear, awkward or out of place I highlight for later.
T
I just use the ^^ characters in my ms when I know I want to fix something. Easy to search for.
I also use document mapping to help me bounce around the chapters and can add notes there. There was a slight learning curve for using that function, but I can’t seem to get away from it, even with my storyboard tracking system.
I use the highlight function too and I also have a separate file or two called ‘details’ or ‘questions’. When I take this recent first draft out of cold storage in a couple of weeks – I’ll read it through in hard copy and write a list of questions in my notebook – like WTH is she doing in Alberta with no license or ‘more on Zeke’. I then will start the laborous process of getting it all sorted out. I’ll use anything because my first draft is really my 90 thousand word outline! I like this part though because I like systems. I also jopined up with Martha Alderson at blockbusterplots and got a scene tracker template that I’ll be using I hope. Gadgets -it isn’t like some of my other passions that are gadget heavy (knitting, gardening, painting, photography) but there are a few!
I use a yellow pad to make notes as I’m going thru a manuscript. Then go back and input them. I like your idea of using the track changes/comments function.
Karen
Oh yes. We’re much alike in the way we write first draft.
Repetition of words. When I revise later, I break out the Theasaurs.
Names are a big one for me. I have a nasty habit of choosing very interesting last names (must be the fact I have a very boring name) and I forget how to spell them! So I bold them until I get into edit mode :) I also do that with place names. Usually with some dashes or (look up place again)in its place.
Happy Wednesday,
Jen
I have file and post-its, on the computer and on the desk.
How did I miss the obvious with the highlights since I use it in my other work? That’s a real “DUH!”.
Thanks, Elizabeth. Very helpful.
Maribeth
Giggles and Guns
Stephanie–I love the sticky notes on Windows 7! I use them, too.
Kit–Yeah, my memory is horrid. I have to make a really quick mark, right when I see a problem or else I’ll never remember where the problem was, later.
Margot–Oh, clunky scenes. Yep! Got a few of those, for sure!
Paul–I like those categories. And it’s kind of nice, for me, during revisions to go back through and hit ALL the greens or ALL the yellows at a time. Then I’m really in the mindset for that particular problem to correct.
Kristi–Or when you’re collecting your thoughts in the middle of a scene? I’ve done that before, too…although it seems to mess me up, so I’m trying not to!
Lorel–So true! It is a momentum-loser, isn’t it, when we stop to try and fix something. I think it’s because I’m focusing on something I’ve screwed up…and then I get insecure about my draft.
Cassandra–It’s always such a big mess with the first draft. I actively hate both my first drafts right now, but I know they’ll get better. And if I just highlight as I go, I know some of the problem areas to focus on.
Jan–Ooohh…scene tracker template. That’s one of those gadgets that I’d love to tinker with…but I’d probably spend all of my writing time playing around with it!
Diane–I think it makes it easier to come up with different words during revisions, too.
Jemi–I don’t do much with descriptions until 2nd or 3rd draft, either
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Teresa–Isn’t the highlighter great?
Maribeth–Sometimes it’s easy to overlook something that’s right there…I do it all the time! :) Hope it helps.
We seem to work in a similar way, although you sound much more organized! If I see a huge error and I know how to fix it, I’ll make a note telling myself how to do it. Usually though, I try to catch things on the next go-through – or the one after that, or the one after that. I’m a big fan of the ***; my drafts are littered with them!
I’m not as organized as you, but I do highlight things I want to re-read and work on. Since I use Track Changes when I’m working on other people’s books, I tend to use that on my own when there are big problems I want to come back to.
Helen
Straight From Hel
When I’m writing, I usually insert [more] or [describe] in scenes that are a bit sketchy. Then I’ll know to expand them on a revision. I usually use the yellow highlight feature when I’m reading over my work and I come to a point where there’s something wrong with a word or passage but a quick fix isn’t immediately apparent and I need to noodle over it a while. At some point all that yellow gets annoying and I’m more motivated to eliminate it :)
Neat idea! I use Pages on my Mac. I don’t know if it has the highlighting feature. Checking it out now!
I put XXX in every place where I need to go back and work. This can be names, more details, more research, or just terrible, terrible prose. As I’ve reached the halfway mark, I’ve also started a word document that lists some of the bigger things I need to go back and work on – like how the book started in winter and all of a sudden the characters are grappling with a heat wave. ;)
When I am not sure the dialogue is convincing, I add a # which means: check this later. I may also leave out research for later.
Recently I read a good post on Elspeth´s blog about checking for suspense. Since then I have added an £ to mark suspense, and if there are too many pages between them, I will have to make changes.
Great analogy! I think my WORST is the as-yet unnamed characters–especially in my trilogy where I want realistic Romanian names that are easy to keep straight from each other! I use XXX but my first readers have acused me of using porn stars. (they know me too well). Usually when it is more significant content missing [i put the general idea of what should go there in brackets]–I highlight, since I do first draft by hand, I need another option…
Helen–I love Track Changes!
Terry–Document mapping sounds vaguely mathematical, Terry! But everything you do is so organized that it sounds like a good option.
Bluestocking–The worst is when I forget to take the hightlighted stuff out before I email the manuscript to my mom to read. Then she prints it out! And I waste all her colored ink in the printer…
Laura–You Mac people! I always have Mac envy when I hear about all the cool stuff you have.
Karen–Legal pads work well, too!
Carol–Peas in a pod!
Rebecca–Oooh…the wintertime heat wave! I think that’s happened in my book before, too. :)
Jen–It seems to take me a long time to come up with the right name. I think it’s a great revision-time task, actually, for minor characters.
Elspeth–I’ve got a ton of ***s, too. :)
Hart–And you’ve actually combined needing to do research with character naming! That would be hard. Fortunately, I only have to worry about authentic Southern names…something I’m all too familiar with. :)
A setting that needed more was mine – and tightening up the dialogue.
Nerf bullets. I think the worst thing that goes through our washer are my earplugs from weedeating.
Another great blog. I’m glad my son is past the age of toys all over the place. Now, how do I get him past the point of leaving his underwear all over the house?
Also, I’ve transferred the book review I did of your book on my last site – All Write With Coffee – and put it on my new one. Hope you don’t mind. If you have an issue, let me know.
CD
Alex–Be glad. :) I occasionally get shot by said son with Nerf guns.
Dorte–That is a very smart idea. A lot of my conflict is sort of a grating kind instead of chases, etc, but it’s conflict too…and it would be good to track it and see how it’s going.
Clarissa–You’re absolutely welcome to put it up…and thanks.
Alex–Be glad! Sometimes I get shot by those Nerf bullets. :)
Dorte–I think that sounds like a really smart idea. Sometimes my conflict is kind of subtle (maybe even just characters grating on each others’ nerves, but it would be good to track it.
Clarissa–Oh, thanks so much for reposting it. :) I appreciate it.
Thanks for the great tips! Can’t wait to use them on my next novel.
This is a great list to follow. I’m going through my MS and finidng a little of this and a little of that too.
And kids crayons in the dryer. Ruined clothes this way too.
Stephen Tremp
Research things. Sometimes I leave extra amounts of white spaces so I’ll find it later.
IRL, I washed my son’s cellphone. He’d had it just one week. We got it replaced. I slacked ONE day, and see what happens!
I use an excellent writing tool called YWriter, which I recommend to everyone. By breaking my writing into scenes, it allows me to keep notes attached to those scenes. Only when the ‘notepad’ is empty do I know I’m finished with that particular part of the book.