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02/02/23 Rewriting Revision

Three Ways to Conquer Revision Fatigue

Caitlin Maskowitz  novel editing, revision fatigue

As I wrap up the final edits on my novel manuscript, revising sometimes feels like a chore. I am checking off items on my revision plan, but I’m not enjoying the process like I did when I was drafti...

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11/28/22 Rewriting Revision

Two Approaches to Querying Your Novel

Caitlin Maskowitz  querying your novel, revising

In our recent Book Revision Lab meeting, we spoke about querying agents. We wondered: When is the right time? Do I start with my top choice? How do I know when I’m really done? And the question that...

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10/18/22 Rewriting Revision

Boosting My Motivation to Revise My Novel

Caitlin Maskowitz  revision, staying motivated, writing goals

Some people have an internal drive that seems to fuel them toward their goals at incredible speed. I am not one of those people. My motivation for revising my current manuscript has come in waves and ...

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09/27/22 Rewriting Revision

Fresh Reader Feedback Rocks

Caitlin Maskowitz  feedback, fresh readers, revision

Getting feedback from fresh readers (that is, readers who are new to my novel) has been instrumental in my revision process. Initially, I worried I wasn’t good enough to share my work with other...

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08/01/22 Rewriting Revision

Revising on a Blank Page

Caitlin Maskowitz  Matt Bell, revising, rewriting from scratch

Until recently, I’ve revised my novel the old-fashioned way—moving sections around and rewriting my prose. But in my latest revision, I felt stuck. Then, I read Matt Bell's "Refuse to be Done" and...

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07/11/22 Rewriting Revision

Drafting for Character, Revising for Plot

Caitlin Maskowitz  revising for plot, Save the Cat beats, writing characters

When my writing group began drafting our novels-in-progress, we explored using the Save the Cat! beats as a writing guide. I experimented with the beats but felt hemmed in by the idea of fitting my...

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06/13/22 Rewriting Revision

Time to Focus on the Writer

Caitlin Maskowitz  staying connected, writing break

Earlier this year, I took an unplanned but as it turned out necessary break from writing. I was in a productive routine, but then, an earth-shattering loss had me feeling that writing was pointless. M...

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05/13/22 Rewriting Revision

Revising is Hard – Strategies On How to Revise a Book

Caitlin Maskowitz  motherhood, revision, writing routine

I wrote the first draft of my manuscript in about nine months, at the beginning of the pandemic. If I can block out the traumatic memories of getting furloughed while pregnant and worries about bringi...

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