Our last meeting focused on what to do next with our novel drafts, how to edit them and become even better writers.

1. NaNoWriMo
Young Writers
Program
4th MEETING
NOVEMBER 30, 2020

2. Congrats on completing 29% of our shared word
count goals for our classroom!

3. 112,100
56,936
It’s actually
almost 51%
of the original
goal that we
set on Nov.
2nd!

4. Congratulations!
You’ve written a first
draft of a novel!
Now… let’s get to
work editing it!

5. FIRST:
TAKE A FEW DAYS OFF.
Then, PRINT your story and READ
it from beginning to end, to see if it
makes sense.

6. Ask yourself:
Would someone reading your novel be able
to follow the sequence of events without
any confusion or difficulty?
Think about movie bloopers where
something inconsistent or incoherent
happens. Are there any inconsistencies in
your novel?

7. A noveldoesn’thaveto berealistic,butit shouldfeel
to thereaderlikea long,continuousdream.
Is thereanythingyouforgottomention?Arethere
placesinyournovelthatfeellikea disruptionof the
continuousdreamyouarecreatingforyourreader?
Anypartswhereyourreadermight“wakeup”andsay
“Thatdoesn’tmakesense!”or“Huh?What?”

8. Is thereanythingyoucouldaddthatwouldmakethat
long,continuousdreammoreVIVIDandLIFELIKE?

9. Nowdo it! Findone scene
in yourdraft that needs
more vividdetail, andadd
that. Thinkabout what your
character shouldbe seeing,
feeling, tasting, smelling, or
hearing.
Ready, Set, GO!

10. Tip: Is thereanythingin your
draft whereyouforget the
maxim“Show, don’t tell”?
Make sureyouare letting
events unfoldina dramatic
wayandreallyshowing
them, insteadof just
recountingthem.

11. Anyone want to
share your revised
scene?

12. Next, read your draft again, from
beginning to end, but this time,
READ IT OUT LOUD.
(Audience optional.) 

13. In this phase, you’re listening for how
your novel SOUNDS.
• Does the dialogue sound believable, like real
people talking?
• Does the dialogue always move the story
forward?
• Do descriptions take too long, or take away
from the action?
• Is the pacing right? Are there spots that seem
too slow or too fast?

14. Is everything accurate? Is there anything
you might have gotten wrong?
This is really hard and you may want the help of one or two readers you
can trust. You want to make sure that you haven’t made any assumptions
about society, nature, science, people or animals that are incorrect and
easily disputed.
• If your story has a dog in it, give it to a dog owner to make sure the
dog’s behavior sounds realistic.
• If your story is about a person from another culture, give it to
someone from that culture.
• If your story takes place in outer space, give it to someone familiar
with science and physics so that they can make sure your scenes are
plausible.

15. When you’re giving your story to someone,
BE HUMBLE. BE GRATEFUL.
Don’t argue with them. Take everything they say as
a GIFT. It truly is a huge gift of their time and their
trust in you, to be brave enough to tell you what
they think of your story.

16. After you’ve fully investigated any inaccuracies
or inconsistencies, and made sure your plot is
believable yet suspenseful, you’re done with
Draft #2. TAKE ANOTHER BREAK!!
During this break, read at least:
• 20 poems
• 3 short stories

17. Immerse yourself in great literature that you like,
and read it OUT LOUD.
Listen for the lyricism of the writing. This is a good
time to read “classic” or “award-winning”
authors—universally acknowledged good writers,
not beginners. Let these master craftsmen sink
into your subconscious so that you will internalize
their wisdom.

18. Joseph Brodky, How to Read a Book, 1988:
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/12/books/how-to-read-a-book.html?pagewanted=all

19. CHAT CHALLENGE:
List three poets that you like, and that
you’re going to read during the break
between your 2nd draft and your 3rd.

20. Can’t think of
any? Here’s what
your peers
suggested – write
these names
down!

21. CHAT CHALLENGE:
List three fiction writers that you like, and
that you’re going to read during the break
between your 2nd draft and your 3rd draft.

22. Can’t think of
any? Here’s what
your peers
suggested – write
these names
down!

23. After you’ve read some poetry and stories, read your book
again. This is the time to get out a thesaurus and look up
some of your most common words and phrases to see if
you can find a new way of expressing the same thing.
Look for:
• Clichés
• Expressions you’ve heard before
• Metaphors you’ve read before
• Any words, phrases or punctuation you repeat a lot

26. Now, check for spelling and grammar errors.

30. Use different types of sentences.
Highlight each instance of passive
voice and consider maybe changing it
to active voice.
• The forest fire destroyed the whole suburb.
(active)
• The whole suburb was destroyed by the forest
fire. (passive)

31. Change these examples!
• The man was bitten by the dog.
• The savannah was roamed by beautiful
giraffes.

32. Proofreading symbols:

33. Once you’ve revised it this time, you’ll
have a strong 3rd draft and it’ll be time
to start seeking the opinions and
feedback of readers!
REMEMBER YOUR CRITIQUE
ETIQUETTE. BE HUMBLE. BE GRATEFUL.

34. That DOESN’T mean that you have to revise it the way
someone else tells you to.
This is your book. You’re the only person who can revise it
while preserving the original intent. If they say something
is inaccurate or incorrect, fix that.
But if they say: “Why don’t you write it like this…” DON’T.
JUST NOD AND SAY THANK YOU. Then rewrite the way
YOU would rewrite it.

35. Whenyou’rereadyto finda readerto give youan
honest critique, use the “Forums”tab at the top of
the NaNoWriMosite to findthe “Critiques and
Feedback”discussionboard:

37. Again, congratulations
on writing your first
draft! Take your time
with editing and
revising it and let me
know if you need
help!

38. And don’t forget the library
when you’re rich and famous!
I know you all are very
talented and will go far in your
writing. I hope to see your
published books in the library
someday. 