National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), the online writing community in which November participants pump out large quantities of unedited words, also sponsors the less intense Camp NaNo during April and July. Camp begins in a few days and like many others, I’ll be revising and editing a work in progress. Learning to write a novel is an ongoing process for me. I began with a loose plot outline and a cast of characters. Then I wrote the most exciting scenes and compiled them into a chronological draft. Last month, I re-read the draft and created a six-page list of editing notes.
Fortunately for me, a novel isn’t created in a void. Feedback from others has helped tremendously to recognize areas and approaches that need editing. The most impactful feedback made me realize that my novel’s tone was passive, not active. April will be busy, but everything I learn and do for this book will make the next book stronger.
