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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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11/17/22 Getting It Done

How Writing My Memoir Made Me a Better Doctor

Shanda McManus  memoir writing, revising

When I was a medical student at the start of my clinical training, a white-haired Marcus Welby look-alike attending physician sagely advised me, "The patient will tell you what's wrong if you listen."...

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11/14/22 Inside the Memoir Incubator

Overcoming Revision Block

Elizabeth Jannuzzi  memoir, revising, writers block

We’ve all heard of Writer’s Block, the condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing. But have you heard of Revision Block? The condition of being unable to st...

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11/10/22 Trust the Process

Writing Openings To Keep Your Readers Reading

J. Greg Phelan  novel writing, opening lines, revising

It happens every time you pick up a new book. You turn to page one with a mix of excitement and trepidation. Will it draw you in? Or push you away? After reading the book's opening lines, you know. Th...

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10/20/22 Getting It Done

Revision in Memoir: Pulling Baby Teeth

Shanda McManus  memoir, revising

My youngest son's baby teeth stayed in his gums for several years after they were expected to fall out. They didn't even wiggle with nudging. His adult teeth hovered in his jaw above his primary teeth...

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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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06/16/22 Getting It Done

Two-Timer

Shanda McManus  balancing multiple projects, drafting, revising, writing process

I had an uncle who had a Friday night date and a Saturday night date. Neither knew about the other. Sometimes I feel like my two-timing uncle when it comes to writing. I have two book projects going o...

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