Great Revision Tips

Hurrah! Your story is done and all you want to shoot off the manuscript to the publisher.

But wait! Not yet. Keep it away for at least a week. And then pull it out to re-look and to re-vise.

How does one revise?

The best way to do so is to read your manuscript aloud.  And by following  these simple 10 commandments of Revision.

1. Are the characters believable?

2. Does the beginning grab the reader's attention?

3. Does each scene advance the plot or develop characterization?

4. Is there the potential for visual images?

5. Is the plot too complex for the audience age?

6. Do we see the story through the child's perspective?

7. Is the language "muscular"? Are the verbs strong, word choices tantalizing, adjectives and adverbs carefully controlled?

8. Is the dialogue effective?

9. Is the story appealing to the intended audience?

10. Are there any scenes, characters, excessive descriptions that could be cut?

Contributed by Lisa Bullard

Lisa is the award-winning author of more than 50 books for children. Her published work includes picture books, chapter books, and nonfiction titles for a range of ages.

Her book Trick-or-Treat on Milton Street won several honors, including a Children’s Choice Award.

She is currently shopping around for a young adult mystery.

Lisa teaches writing to adults and young people in the USA. in a variety of settings and brings an insider’s view of the book industry from over 16 years of working as a publishing professional. http://www.lisabullard.com