In coaching a client last week, I articulated a trio of guidelines for what to keep in piecing together a revision. Now that I have to take my own advice (always a bitter pill no matter how cheerily helpful or accurate the advice), I thought I’d share this with any of you who might also benefit from some revision guidelines.
Keep it if:
1) It fits with your thematic statement. Be sure you come up with this thematic statement by reading through your actual material, not by forcing it or wishing it into being.
2) It presents an good and true obstacle between your protagonist and her desire.
3) It is required, on a “need to know” basis, for set up or because the question it answers has become so big, it’s time to answer it.
