Believing These 6 Myths about Revisions Keeps You from Growing

Myth #1 – You must take a long break from your draft before beginning the revision process.

While it is nice to rest your eyes and take a step back before diving back in, there is no set amount of time writers should wait before tackling revisions. Especially is you’re a one-project-at-a-time writer, that would mean idle time without producing. The key to effective revisions is a fool-proof system. In my book, Revision Runway, I explain a systematic approach to revisions known loosely as the Layering Process.

Myth #2 – Revisions should focus on the large issues, rather than the small ones.

I divide revising into two categories: stand-alone layers and over-arching layers. The over-arching layers cover the large, structural issues with manuscripts. Things like character arcs, plot arcs, and conflict arcs belong in this category. But there is another side of revisions that focuses on the small things like dialogue, setting and sensory details, and character action/reaction.

Myth #3 – Revising takes an enormous amount of time.

Not if you use a systematic approach. Think of it as an assembly line for revisions. There’s a reason large corporations and manufacturers streamline and organize; it increases productivity and profits. The same is true for writing.

Myth #4 – Revising is re-writing my whole novel.

As a die-hard plotter, I can tell you that major re-writes can be prevented with proper planning. I’ll be happy to present my workshop on plotting using a three-act structure. If you train yourself to be a careful plotter, then the revision process becomes a breeze.

Myth #5 – If I revise my draft, I will end up cutting much of what I love.

A piece of advice: don’t fall in love with your words. Unless you want to die a broke and unknown writer. Writing is a creative process for sure, but it’s also a business. Knowing when to let go of something that doesn’t work is smart business. It can be painful, like a child leaving home, but deep down you know it’s natural and it’s for the best.

Myth #6 – I revise as I go, so I don’t need to make any formal revisions at the end.

Even if you revise as you go, you can’t catch everything. Mainly because you’re so caught up in the creative writing process. In my book, Revision Runway, I talk about how you can’t send the right brain to do the left brain’s job, or vice versa. Save the revisions for the end

How much does a publishing contract cost?

So you're a wanna-be bestseller. No big contract. No agent. Only an unpublished manuscript and dream. Publishers won't give you the time of day because you don't have an agent. Agents won't give you the time of day because they are only picking up clients at writers conferences, and even then, only the ones who have done some things and know some people and have a proven track record with a self-published book are making the cut. What things do you need to do? What people do you need to know? Just how much does a publishing contract cost anyway?

Things you need to do yearly:

1. Attend a workshop
2. Attend a conference
3. Join a local writer's group
4. Join a national writer's group
5. Establish a web presence
6. Book promotion

People you need to know (no specific names):

1.  book reviewers
2. librarians
3. writer's group presidents/ vice presidents
4. established authors with agents and contracts
5. mentor authors

Now let's talk numbers:

Average workshop cost $75-200
Average conference cost $300-500
Local writer's group dues $20-100
National writer's group dues $80-400
Website (not optimized) $100-200
Book promotion $500-1,000

Okay, math people - not me, that's what calculators are for - let's see what this all adds up to. If you factor in just 1 workshop and 1 conference per year, joining 1 local and 1 national group per year, and only promoting 1 book per year, you come up with:

$1,075 - $2,400 / year.....just to put yourself out there in hopes of talking to the right person who will lead you to the right event with all the stars aligned in your favor.

Oh, but it gets better. This blog post is full of sunshine, isn't it?

50% of all published authors (non-NY) make an average of only $500/book. Kinda disheartening.

Okay, very disheartening.

But there is light at the end of this dark, depressing tunnel. It will pay off. The system is set up to weed out all but the best writers. The good news is that great writers are making great money. They put themselves out there, got the attention of an agent, landed the big contract, and now they are living the dream. If you believe in your writing and invest in yourself, then it will happen for you eventually.

The best thing you can do is accept that you will have to spend money (or be a very smooth talker) until you land an agent. Getting the agent is essential. Whenever I think about how much money I've spent versus how little money I've earned so far, I remind myself that this is how much an agent costs. And repeat.

Agents are expensive these days. I still don't have one. And I'm still spending more money than I make as a writer. But I have hope. I pray every day, and I know that writing is my calling. God is going to make a way. Hang in there, writer friends.

Beware of those who try to scam writer hopefuls. If there is any 1 specific area I would recommend spending your limited dollars, it would be attending a conference and scheduling time with an agent.

Until then, I'll pray for you and you pray for me. Keep the faith!