Revisionland: The Rides

You made it in the gates of Revisionland! Congratulations. Now get to work.

Since revising styles vary, the order in which you’ll ride and even the choice of rides will vary too. Let’s take a look at a few of those available.

THE ROLLERCOASTER/KIDDIE COASTER

This ride is a wonder right out of a Harry Potter movie because it’s constantly changing (like those Hogwarts staircases). Each person will experience something different on this ride, though it takes everyone up and down and around and has some twists and turns along the way.

Your ticket for the rollercoaster is a manuscript that needs anything from major overhauling to changing little things . . . and let’s face it, we will all ride this one at some point.

If your manuscript changes are minor, your rollercoaster ride will resemble the kiddie coasters in a regular amusement park. If, however, your manuscript needs some major changes, your ride will be a bit more frightening. The more you need to change, the higher up the tracks will take you. When you plunge, screaming, down the long drop on the other side hold on tight and don’t jump out. Let the safety bar of determination and love of writing keep you in your seat.

THE GRAVITRON/TEACUP RIDE

These ride spins you around and around, looping over and over and over. The ticket for this is a beginning or other section of the MS you can’t seem to get right. Jump aboard this ride and send yourself (and your mind) spinning.

If it’s major problems you’ll have to hop on the Gravitron. Smaller issues get you a ticket on the Teacups which still spin you about, but aren’t as gut wrenching.

You may have to ride several times before you’re ready to move on. Eventually, you’ll emerge with a revision you like, but don’t be too excited. You aren’t through yet.

THE DROP TOWER/THE SLOWER DROP TOWER

Happy with your work, you send chapters or maybe the whole MS to your trusted critiquers (or agent or editor) and climb aboard this ride. It takes you up, up, up. You’re feeling nervous and excited. Once at the top, you look down and wave to everyone below. You’re sure the critiques will come back glowing, telling you all is ready for submission. You’ve worked hard and have done wonderful work, after all. And then it happens . . . the critiques come in and the ride plunges you back to earth.

If you are among the lucky whose critique does come back with only minor changes needed, the ride will drop slower and you won’t have the fast plunge the major changes will bring. But no matter how you get there, you’re brought down to earth. You aren’t even close to done. Choose your next ride and keep going.

These are only a few of the rides you’ll experience in Revisionland. You may enjoy the rides or you might get sick (or burned out or whatever). You may even spend a long time riding (or writing) in Revisionland. Other writers might take a few spins on the rides before leaving the park for the bus terminal at Submission Central . . . which is another adventure all together.

Write on.