While attending life the universe and everything symposium, I attend the panel on revision. I got some great ideas and wanted to share my notes. Any inaccuracies or misinformation in any of these notes is the fault of the note taker.

• Revision is a reconstruction of work that may provide new information. Once you have a list of drafts you can go back through and see what you can keep, modify or take away.
• A revision can make the plot stronger if the reader does not get what you intended; There are alternate ways to revise.
• Some writers will read the previous scene before writing the next thing to get them in the mood of story
• Some authors will do succession of passes with each one dedicated to specific form of editing such as timeline, clothing, passive voice, dialogue and to make sure the dialogue is different.
• Also have a pass on descriptions and sensory details.
• Dialogue should match the characters and the tension. All dialogue should have a purpose.
• For each moment of tension in the story can change the direction of the story.
• See that each scene moves the story along. If it doesn’t then maybe consider cutting.
• Don’t put anything in the book that you don’t want your characters to do.
• People tend to gloss over long paragraphs.
• Some people read the last chapter first.
• Have someone else read your chapters to you. Ask yourself questions about how each character is different.
• Print a hard copy you will often catch more that way.

Do you have something to add? Please do so in the comment section of this blog.