Redefining endless, aka the next level of rewrites

Somewhere on this blog in the not too distant past, I talked about my rewrites and waxed eloquent about my latest changes to 13 Demon Days.  This time, I’d really figured it out.  This time, I’d broken the code and sorted all the puzzles pieces so progress would go forward without any more hiccups or bumps.

Or that’s what I was thinking–hopefully I was smart enough to sound less cocky in public.  But I really did feel confident in the changes I was making to my novel and I still do.  The breakthrough was amazing and has totally restructured how I approach novel writing.  Here’s proof, in all its 3×5 card glory:

Ahhh, isn’t that the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen?  No?  Well, it was to me.  ‘Cause that breakdown of scenes represented a new way of looking at my book–all the way down to the bones.  And it made my very happy.

But, what is a writer without innovation and learning?  A corpse, that’s what, and I’m no zombie yet.  I dug deeper, read more, obsessed a little here and there–and came up with another fifteen or so layers to my novel that I hadn’t known were there.  This is the new board:

Many of the 3×5 cards are shifted around, and almost all of them has a sticky added which maps out the emotional changes the character is experiencing.  Then there’s the callbacks and continuity notes, the tiny bits of history to be woven in and the dynnamic signs.  It might look like gibberish, but it’s a thing of beauty to me.  A sign that this time, I’ve really figured it out.  I’ve broken the code and sorted out the puzzle pieces…

Oh.  Wait.  I said all that last time.  Guess I’d better save the rhapsodizing for the next breakthrough!

Share, share away:

6 Comments

  1. Reply

    The new board is more colorful and exciting to look at, which should translate into the story being more colorful and exciting to read. Right?

  2. Reply

    I sincerely hope so! Otherwise I just had a great time coloring up my wall, and didn’t even share the fun with any toddlers! 😉

  3. Reply

    Thanks! The best part is how much I’ve learned in the process, and will take with me into future novels. Yeah for productive rewrites!

  4. Reply

    So did you do three acts and all that jazz?? I would really like to know that works as I’m starting to lay out one (or two or three) right now.

  5. Reply

    This is the board outlined in Save The Cat, which uses three acts plus a break in the middle. You end up with four lines of cards and four segments to the novel, but you can still follow the traditional three acts within the structure. He’s got some other tips as well, about when to cut characters off from their support and make them fly solo, or when to start knocking off henchmen. All great stuff, and amazingly helpful for me!

Leave Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *