With only one new submission from my critique group I was able to focus on finishing the full novel critique for a friend. I took some time, and 3k words, to talk about ways to improve the story. Many of these suggestions can be applied to any novel, so I thought I would share them with the rest of the world in a three post series about editing. Without further ado: Editing Plot.


Strong plot comes from having the reader know what each character wants and feels. The anticipation of two characters taking actions towards opposing goals lets the reader believe there will be future conflict, and that creates tension. This can also happen inside of the character, by having a character want one thing, but feel something else. Eventually the character will need to decide between the feeling and the want, and the reader will eat that up.

Applying these to Harry Potter:

• Harry Potter wants to stay with Ron over the summer, never seeing the Dursley's again. But Dumbledore wants him to stay with the Dursley's so that he can be safe. Someone is going to get disappointed.
• At the beginning of 'The Half Blood Prince' Harry wants Dumbledore to pick him up from the Dursley's. But he feels that the meeting between Dumbledore and the Dursley's is incredibly awkward. Harry wanting to leave, and the feeling of  awkwardness might not conflict, but they still create tension in the scene.

The more of these kinds of conflict the better. When someone confesses to someone (whether that confession is love or sin) the tension will be significantly higher if there is a previous scene where the character goes over what they want, what they feel, and what they're scared of. In the case of romance they want to continue to have a good relationship with someone, but they feel like they could go to the next step, and if they act on the feeling then they can get what they really want; a romantic relationship.

One mark of a well paced story is the natural division and placement of action and reaction chapters. The reaction chapters are the best places to add more about the wants and feelings of the characters, particularly as the characters change throughout the book. While it might not naturally seem it, these chapters can really increase the tension.

I started 2016 with seven writing goals:

1. Finish the three novels I started in 2015.
2. Write and submit a short story each month. (These can be separate stories.)
3. Edit a novel and send it out.
4. Do all the “homeworks” from season 10 of Writing Excuses.
5. All of the NaNoWriMo’s.
6. Join and continuously participate in a critique group.
7. Author visibility.

I have decided to add one new goal since then:

1. Listen to all of the currently posted Youtube video’s of Brandon Sanderson classes.

I have decided to delete one of the original goals:

1. Do all the “homeworks” from season 10 of Writing Excuses.

Simply put I decided that writing and editing were going to help more than those homework's were. I've already listened to all of the podcasts from that season and they were useful, but have decided to refocus by deleting this goal.

As of this point the new goal will be replacing the old goal as #4.
 
Progress since last month:

1. I reread what I had of Animal Companions. It'll need a radical rewrite before I can get to finishing it. Mind Magic is currently simmering on the backburner.
2. Did a major edit on Selfie. Still needs two more rounds before submission. I have minor outlines for another three pieces done, and one anthology that I want to write something for. No idea for that particular story yet.
3. I, finally, decided that I need to do a radical rewrite on Moon Murder. Now that the decision is made the rest of the year should be much more straight forward. This is the novel I plan to finish this year. (Also an important decision that I've been delaying on.)
4. I am up to date on all posted Brandon Sanderson videos, including notes from each class.
5. I finished Camp last month with just north of 20k words. I consider that pretty respectable for a summer Camp, wish I had been a bit more realistic about that goal from the start.
6. I submitted my first week submission on the 7th, and I haven't sent in my second week submission yet (it's currently the 15th). So I'm running a little behind, but still within the realms of catching up. There has only been one other submission from others so far and I have critiqued and sent it back.
7. I made an Instagram account! I also added buttons for my Twitter, Instagram, and FB to a couple of my website pages. Please consider following me! (I promise more doggie photos!)

 
Quantifying goals for the upcoming month:

1. I'm going to try making a Wiki for my outlines. It's out of the box, and it should put my love of adding unknown information to good use.
2. Write a first draft of one short story each week, totaling four.
3. Make a full Wiki for my Moon Murder novel. This will include all information presented in the first draft.
4. Continue to watch and take notes on the videos. Once they are all posted I'd like to compile my notes and print them into a "writers toolbox" reference piece for myself.
5. Not applicable this month.
6. Submit 4 pieces and review 12. If the critique group doesn't submit then continue to critique the full novel I'm reviewing for a friend. She'd like to have my full review back soonish so that she can work on her outline for the next novel. I'm going to aim to finish it this month. Currently on page 76 out of 155.
7. Make an author page on Google+ and Tumbler. Continue to post on all accounts. Then start working on an emergency supply of blog posts.

Bonus goal:

1. Read and review a piece for an indie author friend of mine!

I've updated my website with a couple of "cheat sheets" for critiquing and self editing. I made them two years ago now, so they could probably use some updating with some of my newer techniques, but they are still a great starting place for both topics.