Reading the Vision Out Loud: Part III (or Slowing Down)
I’ve slowed down. Reading aloud the first eighty pages whizzed by, but now it’s dragging a bit. This is as it should be. As the story grows, more strands are woven in, and I must be more analytical to make sure I don’t drop a stitch (how’s that for a knitting metaphor by a non-knitter?). I notice things my characters, living the plot, would notice that I, merely writing the plot, overlooked. I see repetitions, some good (ahhh, Jesus first public reading was about setting prisoners free) and some bad (did I really just say ‘then’ again, dammit?).
Trying to work out the description of physical actions can stall me for a half-hour. First, I revise so I can actually follow what’s happening, then rake out two-thirds of the top-heavy revision, then review to make sure it’s still more accurate. (see all those ‘thens’?).
As I read dialogue aloud, I notice where my tongue is amending the words. That’s my brain, trying to help. It knows what dialogue sounds like, and it’s providing the right words. When that happens, I stop and amend the words on the page.
As I read for the first time the revisions I’ve made that Gretchen my editor suggested to clarify the plot, I see the manuscript deepening as well. The metaphors are swirling, rising into view and submerging. The theme winks in and out. It’s there, hovering, waiting to come together in an inevitable way at the end.
Also, it’s been quite a while since I read the whole work out loud, and coming to it somewhat anew, I notice this: a lot of work has gone into this novel. The throw-away lines about prior Marian visitations represent many hours of researching Marian sightings through the ages. Even one word—the correct name for a section of a steamboat—reminds me of the time I spent studying steamboat illustrations. The boiled chicken eggs reminds me: I had to research to see if ancient Nazareth had chickens.
All this work—correcting grammatical tics, refining physical movement, softening dialogue, researching for veracity—is for one reason alone: to allow the reader to believe she is following a Jesus who has returned to earth, his celestial energy shaped by a fleshy covering that, unfortunately, has hidden from him the reason he sent himself back to earth again. The goal is to not do anything that pierces the willing suspension of disbelief that Mary and her obstreperous Guardian Angel are in Memphis, searching for her son but running smack dab into a nefarious private prison project when all she wants is to find her son before harm comes to him—again.
Revising to retain the reader’s vision. I’m half way through. Wish me luck on the rest of it.
novel revision, re-visioning your novel, reading your manuscript out loud, revising, revising your novel, revision, rewrite
Luanne
OOh, it sounds like you are doing fabulously (is that a word? if not, it should be)!! Good luck and get back to work!
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Yes, I thought, you are taking time off to write this post. But it helps me to organize what I’m doing and then (!–I have to get over my addiction to this word) I can do it more intentionally. Thanks for the support!
Joanne Corey
Good luck! Although I’m so far behind in reading this that you are probably done by now…
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I have finished! Now I’m awaiting feedback on a drafted query letter and synopsis. Also researching appropriate agents, my least favorite thing. 🙁
Joanne Corey
Ugh! I know novelists need agents. Poets generally don’t use them, so at least that is one thing I won’t have to deal with. Of course, it would be good if I got my act together to research possible journals for submissions, which has been delayed for months…
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I understand that, particularly when life has been as busy as yours has been lately. Submitting in general is such an eater-upper-of-time, and often so non-productive: it’s hard for me to get psyched up to do it.
Joanne Corey
Yes. More the stuff you have to slog through, teeth gritted.