Revision and inspiration: polishing your story
Review and inspiration:
Polish your story
The first draft is often the raw expression of your ideas. It is rare that a story emerges perfect and complete from the first writing. Here's why:
- Stream of consciousness : Writing the first draft is similar to emptying your mind onto paper, allowing ideas to flow freely without the constraint of perfection.
- Emergence of inconsistencies : In this first draft, inconsistencies may creep in, whether at the level of the plot, the characters or the setting.
- Possible improvement : No matter how good the first draft is, it can always be improved, refined, and tweaked.
Revision techniques: How to eliminate the superfluous and reinforce the essential elements?
- Reading out loud : This allows you to spot awkward sentences or dialogue that doesn't sound right.
- Look for redundancies : Eliminate unnecessary repetition and superfluous descriptions to tighten the story.
- Check consistency : Make sure the plot holds together, the characters are well developed and the setting is coherent.
- Request returns : The advice of friends, family, or fellow writers can be invaluable in spotting blind spots.
Inspiration and sources of ideas
Daily Observation: Finding inspiration in everyday life.
- Street scenes : A simple moment, like an argument in a park or a couple holding hands, can inspire an entire story.
- Personal events : Lived experiences, happy or tragic, are a gold mine of inspiration.
- News : Real-world stories can serve as the basis for compelling fictional narratives.
Reading: The importance of reading other short stories for inspiration and learning.
- Broaden your horizon : Reading allows you to discover new styles, structures and themes.
- Analyze the structure : By studying how other writers construct their stories, you can refine your own technique.
- Direct inspiration : One story can inspire another. A theme, a character, or even a simple sentence can be the starting point of a new story.
In conclusion :
writing is a journey. The first draft is simply the first step, and revision is the process by which your story is polished and perfected. Furthermore, inspiration is all around us, and reading other works provides us with both tools to improve our own writing and sparks to ignite our imagination.
To be continued
Tags: direct and indirect characterization | novel definition and characterization | the narrative outline | The secrets of a short story | the structure of a story | plot diagram | an imaginary story how | how to write a story | Publish my story | News Editor | Submit a story |
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