FOCUS

I  was  recently asked: WHAT’S  YOUR FAVORITE REVISION TIP? 

There’s a lot to revision, but I do have a tip that’s a favorite…something that comes up a great deal in the conversations I have with other writers. I’ve had this very conversation with three writers  in the past week. 

My answer is FOCUS!

And I don’t mean yours, but the story’s focus.

Finding the focus. Or the heartbeat. Or the spine.

This is key.

And while you might think you might know what your story’s focus is, how clearly can you state it?

and…

Is everything you’re doing in the story connected to that focus?

There are two points of focus, this something we all learn and know, and they’re referenced in many ways.

-External/internal

-Action/heart

But my favorite is: (a take away from Kate Messner)

This story is about…

This story is  really  about…

Can you write each of these statements clearly?

Once you can, ask yourself: Are all the choices I’m making in the story connected to one of both of those?

And, friends, when it’s a picture book, you must be laser focused. The about needs to be clear  in the first pages of your  book and carry all the way through to the end.

It’s easy to say/suggest,  it’s much harder to do.

If you haven’t done this…give it a try.

Write these two sentences down and keep them where you can see/read them as your revising. 

Let me know how it  goes.

Do you have a favorite revision tip?