My son had his trumpet recital this past weekend.
He started trumpet lessons in middle school. While his band director was terrific at making the collective better, he recognized that my kid had some talent that could be nurtured more with individual instruction.
And no amount of him squirreling away in a room to “practice more” was going to move the needle on his abilities.
His private instructor customized his practice plan. She clarified his tone. She taught him breathing and tonguing techniques that improve his playing and sound. She challenged him on a personal level.
Now, “practice more” means something because he knows how to practice better and he knows when he’s reached a limit he needs to find help to expand.
Makes sense when we think about practicing an instrument or perhaps training for a marathon. “Run harder” doesn’t make it easier to endure the long miles of a long race.
Are you revising a story right now and thinking, “I just need to work harder?”
Block more time
Revise more pages
Find more filter words
Just do the thing “harder”
Writers come to the craft because they easily communicate in writing or are natural storytellers. That natural skill can carry you through a lot, but somewhere we hit our own wall. Self-teaching can only take you so far, because you don’t know anymore what you don’t know. Or where to look in your story for the flaws.
My son could be in the middle of a hard section of music and practice it more and more, but it’s his teacher who says, “why don’t you try X” or “the composer’s intent was Y” to get more out of the practice session.
You will get more out of a revision session with clarity and perspective.
No amount of prettying up sentences is going to fix that giant plot hole or a lack of stakes.
The fact is, as writers, it’s hard to see our own forest for the trees anymore. We’re deep in it, holding entire story worlds and back of the house writing techniques at the same time. It can turn our revision plan into a mumble jumble and working harder at a plan with no clear direction doesn’t put out better work. Instead, it puts you on the hamster wheel of revise, review, revise, review, until you can’t catch your breath or, worse, you give up.
Go back to your story point. What are you trying to say with this story? What’s the question you want a reader to ponder? What’s the action or new thought you’d like the reader to have at the end of the story?
Take the 30,000 foot view. Back up. Read your story as a reader. Where are you bored? Where is the writing flat? When are you skimming? Make a note as you read, then go back and check for what those scenes are missing. (Hint: It might not be missing in that scene, it might be a few scenes before where something went off the rails, so really be patient and curious during this step.)
Get support. That can be a beta read, a critique partner, or more in-depth support and analysis with a book coach (🙋🏼♀️)
Make a plan. Don’t pants your revision. Be strategic based on the previous three steps and make a plan to execute your revision with intention and precision.
Work harder isn’t working for you. Otherwise, you’d be done already.
What is the Wait List?
Just like putting your name on the list for a table at your favorite restaurant, I will seat you as soon as a table is cleared and ready for you so we can dig in on your revision!
Not ready when your name is called?
No worries. We can chat first to see if that’s true (sometimes we are more ready than we think) and if it’s really not the right time, you can decide whether you want to come off the list, or simply move to the back of the line.
I hold a few VIP Day spots open for writers ready to jump in to revision faster. Want to see if you’re a fit for a VIP Day? Let’s chat.
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