While reading my manuscript, I realized to my embarrassment that I apparently have difficulty depicting the difference between weeks or months passing, so it's not always clear when everything is happening. So one of the first things I did before diving in to revisions was print out blank calendars! Fun!*
I then proceeded to fill in every major event, the exact day it occurs. It was dorky but made me feel settled, and ready to edit.
P.S. The photo is deliberately blurry as opposed to my usual "accidentally blurry." Can't give away all my plot secrets.
*I'm not being sarcastic. It was really fun!
You are not a dork! I use a calendar as an outline. Here's my evidence. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://twitpic.com/6lg08f
Nice!! I love it.
ReplyDeleteI have that problem. That is a great idea. Thanks for sharing. And you're not a dork.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ladonna, glad you found it helpful :)
ReplyDeleteI think that is an excellent tool! I have to jot down dates of when things happen, otherwise I will botch details up for sure. The calendar makes a great visual. I've used index cards for events, but when you accidently drop them ... not fun :-(
ReplyDeleteOh gawd I've been going through the same thing - compiling my master timeline as I go through my novel. I go by hand at first, but now I'm using an excel spread sheet. Printing out actual calendars seems most fun, though!
ReplyDeleteWriting isn't for lazy people. And I can be so, so lazy. SO LAZY. And because I regularly forget the time frames on stuff, I really should print out a calendar. But I'm LAZY. Aaargh.
ReplyDeleteI think I've finally accepted that it must be done so I'm going to look at the positive and realize that in the end, it will make my life easier and just get it done.
Teacherwriter, I used to use index cards for my screenplay outlines, but as you say, the calendar provides a true visual, which better helps me imagine the passing of time. Thanks for your note! Hope you were able to re-organize those cards :)
ReplyDeleteSophia, it makes everything in the plot seem more "real" to me if I can point to specific dates and pretend the calendar is my protag's. :)
Melanie, thanks for commenting! You're so right, it's hard to get motivated to do it, but once you get the hard part out of the way my making yourself commit to certain dates, everything else is easier to depict.
Haha. You're not a dork. I think it's fantastic and brilliant! Nothing wrong with being organized w/revisions.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I might tuck this away for when it's my turn in the edit box. :) Good luck, Sarah!
That is such a smart idea! I think most of us struggle with the time passing thing. I think it's a consequence of writing scenes instead of journal style.
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