Color-Coded Critiques
Color-Coded Critiques
Revision is a daunting task. Some writers love it. Others hate it. I’d like to share with you how I revise my manuscripts.
Maybe some of you do this, already, but when I met with my first editor and editorial director, they were fascinated by what I described as my revision process. The editorial director asked if she could use it in her writing class to help her students. Of course I said, “Yes.”
Then I thought maybe I should share it with you, too. It was born out of my obsessive need for clarity, thus color identification for each critiquer's suggestion.
1. I write the whole manuscript, not stopping to correct or change.
2. Then I let it sit for 2-3 weeks, while I work on something else, of course.
3. When I take it out to revise, it’s like someone else’s work and I can see it more objectively.
4. I make the first round of changes in red.
5. A second read through might alter a word or phrase in blue.
6. Then it’s ready to be sent to my critique group.
Each of my writing partners is assigned a color (although they are unaware of it).
Their comments and suggestions are added to the manuscript in green, purple, orange, and turquoise.
When I’m finished my manuscript looks like a rainbow, but it’s tighter, stronger and hopefully, more salable.
I change everything back to black and begin my submissions. In fact, I’m off to submit a new picture book, this evening.
GIVEAWAY .... If you would like to see a demonstration of my revision technique, send me the first page of you MG or YA novel and I will give it the rainbow critique.