Characters are so important to a strong novel, but editing characters can be tricky. In this video I go over five things to look for to strengthen your characters while editing your novel, including character arcs and personality traits.
This is the last video for Novel Boot Camp. I hope you guys had a great time and learned a lot. I had a ton of fun making the videos and critiquing your work. Thanks for all of your support!
Working through each scene of your novel (I recommend using an outline to do this) is a great early step in the editing process. It can help you to grasp the necessary large-scale changes and it can help pinpoint where you need to brainstorm new ideas. As always, start with the big picture and then work your way to smaller details.
P.S. I hope you enjoy the Toby bloopers!
Editing a novel is a daunting process. This is the first of three videos on editing and revision. In this video I go over the two tools I recommend to assist in your editing process: the outline and the revision plan.
This query critique session is part of my Novel Boot Camp series. If you don’t know what Novel Boot Camp is, click here to check it out.
If you’ve already submitted your query and didn’t receive a critique or if you would like to now submit your query for critique, I will be posting another set of critiques as soon as my schedule allows.
I know I said in my original instructions that I was going to only post the query up until the point that I stopped reading, but I decided to include the full queries for clarity (and because I got overly ambitious with my feedback). Enjoy!
Skipping time is often necessary when writing a novel. You might need to convey different stages of your characters’ lives or you might want to jump over the time your character spends in a boring situation. In this video I go over how and why you might need to make minor and major jumps in time. If you have any questions about skipping time, let me know in the comments.
Scenes that involve the character thinking or talking (reactive scenes) have a tendency to become boring or meandering. In this video I go over how to structure your reactive scenes to keep them engaging.
When we talk about the middle of a novel, it often seems like we’re talking about one continuous lump of time, but the middle of the novel actually has two distinct parts. Understanding and utilizing the differences between these two parts can improve the pacing and help demonstrate your character’s growth.
Novels have a tendency to sag in the middle. After the setup and before the climax, writers often feel as if they’re simply filling up space with incidental conflicts or meandering characters. This is the first of two videos about strengthening the middle of the novel with stronger structure.
Agents and editors read a lot (a LOT!) of query letters. Naturally they have to make speedy quick decisions about which queries interest them. In this workshop, I will be simulating that lightning quick process.
On Friday (August 25) I will post each query up to the point that I lost interest with a few sentences of explanation and critique. If you missed the first page critique, you might want to check it out to get a sense of what to expect.
I will be critiquing queries on a first come, first served basis, so try to get them in early to guarantee your slot!
This workshop is part of Novel Boot Camp. If you don’t know what Novel Boot Camp is, check it out here. All writers are free to submit their query, even if they did not participate in other elements of Novel Boot Camp.
If you are self-publishing, feel free to send your back cover blurb instead of your query letter, but make sure to identify it as such in the drop down menu. Thanks!
Want to connect with other Novel Boot Camp Participants?
For more writing tips, follow or subscribe:
Welcome to the peer critiques. Below you will find a list of novel openings available for peer critique. If you submitted your opening, please critique at least five other submissions. If you didn’t submit your opening, you are still welcome to help out your fellow writers by leaving critiques.
While honesty is a good thing, let’s try to keep the critiques constructive and polite. Thanks!
The submissions are currently anonymous. Feel free to reveal yourself as the author of your opening if you wish or you can remain anonymous. It is your choice.
Ellen Brock 