Planning the Plan

I've decided that I want to accomplish two things by the end of October, 2010 (November is NaNo and December is R & R = Regroup and Reassess).

1. I want to revise and edit a previous years' NaNo draft with a goal of submitting it.
2. I want to be ready to write a better first draft in November.

To help me accomplish the goals, I've decided to work from two different books.

1. Novel Metamorphosis: Uncommon Ways to Revise by Darcy Pattison
2. Novel Shortcuts: Ten Techniques that Ensure a Great First Draft by Laura Whitcomb

One of the most educational and rewarding writing events that I've been to was the Novel Revision Retreat Darcy headed up a couple years ago. I could pick apart a plot and build key scenes to write between; I had a plan for getting a novel on paper. But I never could quite hit on a plan for getting that draft polished. I came away from that one weekend with tools that I know I will always use. I'm looking forward to using her book to get me through the revision of another NaNo baby.

The Novel Shortcuts book is one that I've had on my shelf awhile. It intrigues me.

So join me, won't you? I'm planning to use these two books in the weekly writer's workshop I've been neglecting as well. I think I'll devote the first two weeks of a month to the Shortcuts book (hoping some of the information will carry over into revision) and the second two weeks on Novel Metamorphosis.

Sounds like a nice balance right?

According to the "experts" this resolve should last till the end of January, perhaps into February.

Let's prove the experts wrong!

If you're interested in my detailed monthly schedule, let me know in the comments and I'll e-mail it.