Story Building Blocks: Game On!: March 2020

Once your draft is done, the hard work starts: the revision process. In addition to grammar and sentence structure, these revisions tips can help you identify plot holes and speed bumps that affect the reader's enjoyment of your story.

Revision is Half the Battle

Speed Bumps

The Reaction Plot Hole

Find and Replace Tool

Proofreading Tips Part 1 of 2

Proofreading Tips Part 2 of 2

Give Your Book A Listen

Backing up your Babies

Tips for Managing Your Files

More tips on revising your draft can be found in Story Building Blocks III: The Revision Layers available in ebook and print. Much of the material from my Story Building Block books is available in my blog posts and website www.dianahurwitz.com along with free forms.

The elements that make prose "good" are subjective. It can be lyrical or plain. Your readers must be able to understand your words to enjoy the story. Grammatical and word usage errors are speed bumps. It is important to smooth them out so the reader's trip through your story is smooth. You don't have to waste time on perfecting your words until you have a solid draft.

Think of sentence structure and grammar as the melody to the lyrics of your words.

Here are articles on sentence structure, basic grammar, rhetorical devices and other story elements.

Ten Tasks of the First Chapter

First Lines

First Lines Don't Have to be Complex

Prologue and Epilogue

Backstory with Bite

Layering Backstory to Create Conflict

Avoid Backstory Plot Holes

Memories and Flashbacks

Description Exercises

Crafting Rules of Magic

Perils of the Paranormal

Universal Themes Part 1