LIVE Workshop: Revision Tips and Techniques

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Resources mentioned in the workshop:

Rosalyn Eves grew up in the Rocky Mountains, dividing her time between reading books and bossing her siblings into performing her dramatic scripts. As an adult, the telling and reading of stories is still one of her favorite things to do. When she’s not reading, writing, or teaching writing at a local university, she enjoys spending time with her chemistry professor husband and three children, watching British period pieces, or hiking through the splendid landscape of southern Utah, where she lives. She dislikes housework on principle.

The first two novels of her YA historical fantasy trilogy, Blood Rose Rebellion and Lost Crow Conspiracy are available now from Knopf/Random House. The last book, Winter War Awakening releases March 19, 2019.

More About Rosalyn Eves

Janine

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February 10, 2019 at 11:57 AM

What do you think of the advice to do a revision/rewrite on a new document as opposed to doing it on the same document as the previous draft? I do the former, as I feel overwhelmed having to revise/rewrite on an existing draft, especially if entire scenes/chapters have to be deleted.

Sarah Brubaker

February 10, 2019 at 12:00 PM

Any tips on focusing on a specific element (eg: character development, setting, line edits) during a round of revisions? I’ve heard this advice so that you don’t get totally overwhelmed with a million revisions, but I have a hard time focusing on just one aspect of the story when I revise.

Hannah

February 10, 2019 at 12:05 PM

Some people say not to even look back at your first draft until it is entirely complete. Do you recommend revising while drafting or not?

janewrites

How often, and at what stages, do you give your drafts to critique partners?

Tamara

February 10, 2019 at 12:07 PM

How would you revise if you have had full requests, but the agents say positive things, but then say “they just didn’t connect enough”? Should you revise or should you just keep sending?

Carolyn

February 10, 2019 at 12:12 PM

How do you balance the main character being reactive in the scenes before the midpoint but still having agency? I’ve been told that my main character was too reactive and didn’t have enough agency.

Amy

February 10, 2019 at 12:16 PM

Do you have any tips for revising on tight deadlines? I do my best revisions when I have some time away from the manuscript, but when you’re working on a deadline, that’s not always possible. Thanks! 🙂

February 10, 2019 at 12:34 PM

Do you have any tips for how to revise the pace of a novel? It can be such a hard thing to do. Thanks!!

Averill

February 10, 2019 at 12:37 PM

I also do scene-by-scene reverse outlines, but I find creating them tedious. Any tips for making it easier or is it a necessary evil?

Debra

February 10, 2019 at 12:52 PM

Thank you, Rosalyn! This was just what I needed to revise my book once more. I had lost sight of where my revisions had left off and this structure has made them so much more apparent. Your examples where so helpful in illustrating the points you made. Sometimes, I feel too alone in this process and was glad to have you enter my cave to help!