Category Archives: Revision

What Novelists Can Learn From the Oscars

Posted on December 18, 2011 by chrisdevlin

I’ve recently torn apart my urban fantasy novel and tried to put it back together better, stronger, faster. The main character, our hero, had way too much support going into his final confrontation with the Big Bad. I’ve always loved … Continue reading →

Posted in Characterization, Fiction, Plot, Reviews, Revision, Scenecraft, Writing Craft | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Weekly Writer’s Round-Up; Week of 11/20/11

Posted on November 27, 2011 by chrisdevlin

My best of the web for writers this week. Hope it’s helpful. Social Media From the Red Pen of Doom guy, who’s name is actually Guy (Bergstrom), on Why Blog Hits DON’T REALLY MATTER. From writer Christina Katz: Platform and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Characterization, Commentary, Description, Dialogue, E-Publishing, Fiction, Grammar, Marketing, New Media, Plot, Query Letters, Revision, Scenecraft, Self-Promotion, Viewpoint, Writing Craft | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

My Origin Story Part 9: My Irish Novel

Posted on October 15, 2011 by chrisdevlin

Previously on My Origin Story: I power-wrote my third novel twice in under three months and vowed I wouldn’t try that again for a long time. Not so fast. A few months later, November of my senior year in high … Continue reading →

Posted in Characterization, My Origin Story, Pop Culture, Revision, Writing Craft | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

My Origin Story Part 8: The Obligatory Post-Apocalyptic Novel

Posted on October 1, 2011 by chrisdevlin

Previously on My Origin Story: I wrote a second novel and got bored with it. In the early 80s, I had my first nuclear war dream. I dreamed the Russians nuked the moon.

Posted in Characterization, Movies, My Origin Story, Pop Culture, Revision, Writing Craft | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

My RX For a Bloated Novel; Posterboard and Sticky Notes

Posted on September 24, 2011 by chrisdevlin

If, like me, you love to listen to yourself write, you’ve probably needed to cut huge swaths of words out of your novels. I’m rewriting my YA urban fantasy St. Vitus Academy Bk. 1; The Lazarus Rock. Word count: I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Plot, Revision, Scenecraft, Writing Craft | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Why Stephen King’s The Stand Was Better the First Time

Posted on August 13, 2011 by chrisdevlin

If you were lucky enough to be able to open a copy of the original 800+ page edition of The Stand, released in 1978, here’s what you would have read: Hapscomb’s Texaco sat on US 93 just north of Arnette, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, E-Publishing, Marketing, Revision, Writing Craft | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments