Saturday, October 2, 2010

Quick Revision Checklist









Quick Revision Checklist

-Watch for repeat words and phrases.
-Avoid passive verbs.
-Make sure your novel is right for the market you’re targeting.
-Have you maintained the correct point-of-view?
-Does your dialogue sound natural or forced?
-Is interior monologue realistic? Make sure they really are thoughts and feeling the character would have.
-Are your characters motivations clear to the reader?
-Are your character names different enough so they don’t all blur together? Henry, Henrietta, Harry, Hampton.  
-Have you offered enough description to give the reader a sense of setting?
-Do you have enough conflict to keep the reader interested?
-Is the story as clear to your readers as it is to you?
-Have you used all five senses where appropriate?
-Have you attended or used an online critique group for feedback?

I hope you find this checklist helpful.  I’m sure you’ll have a few of your own questions as well. Good luck and happy writing!--Angela 


8 comments:

Claudie A. said...

That's a cool list, although there's a few you obviously can't know all by yourself (such as if it's as clear to the reader as it is to you).

Also, "Check your writing tics" We all have our unique problems, and I like to make a pass solely for mine. They're sneaky bast*rds. ;)

But yeah, useful! And checklists are fun.

Misha Gerrick said...

That is an insanely useful list.

Even though I'm far from editing, I can use at least half of the points in my writing, so that I make fewer of those mistakes in the first place...

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Excellent check list!

Nicole Zoltack said...

Great checklist!

Rena Jones said...

Great list! Thanks, Angela!

Susan York Meyers said...

Wonderful list, Angela. Thanks for posting it.

God bless,
Susan

Kell Andrews said...

This is a good list. I get stuck on certain sounds for names, but the biggest thing is "right for the market you're targeting."

Angela Ackerman said...

Helpful list, Angie!

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse