Friday, March 1, 2013

Renovate Your Novel


There are plenty of shows on cable that encourage people to take an old house and breathe new life into through renovation.  What was rotten and outdated becomes fresh and modern within the span of a thirty minute television program. It looks easy. “Anyone can do it,” the hosts of these programs claim.

The truth is renovation is difficult.  It takes time, effort, and planning.  Most people can swing a sledgehammer but few have the patience to put it back together again.  As a writer that is exactly your job.

You need to reexamine the old manuscript that is shoved in your desk drawer or filed away on your computer.  Tear away the tired language and unnecessary characters, stripping it down to its bare bones. The flaws that were holding you back from moving forward are gone and you can now discover the true structure of your book.

Don’t just let it sit around collecting dust. 

Renovate it!


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