Revision made easy! slightly better than before
Tara Lazar
This interview will expire in…
In this session, you’ll discover:
After a decade and 15 published books, Tara shares her best tips and tricks for revising your picture books. Revision is never easy, but hopefully these insights can help you rewrite that manuscript with aplomb!
Session Links:
Comment Below With Your Key Takeaways Or If You Have Questions About The Session.
Wonderful tips! Thank you!
Key takeaways: Love the “start a new document” suggestion. Thank you for reminding me to check for word choice. I especially appreciate the “revision list” I can use regarding word choice.
Great tips. Thank you.
Enjoyed the session
Loved this… especially appreciated the idea of having someone read your story to you and the observations that can result from that. Great idea! I also liked the suggestion about making art notes action notes. There was LOTS of good information in this session; these were the highlights for me.
Dear Tara, thank you very much for an excellent and fun presentation!
I’m about to self-publish my first children’s picture book, Good Pixie Bad Pixie, in September.
My second one is ready for the second round of revisions now.
I particularly needed to hear your tips about using different critique partners, “action notes” and using Power Thesaurus and RhymeZones.
Warm wishes, Simona
Thanks, Tara! You always make “learning fun’! It’s good to hear familiar topics presented in this manner❣️
Tara –
You are absolutely fun and right-on with your tips & tricks for revision! I could listen to you speak for hours – but sadly, I have to revise! It is a wonderful idea to START A NEW DOCUMENT for revisions! Not only does it benefit by giving new ideas, but your original is preserved and not “erased” like you do while revising on the same doc. Thank-you so much again for all you give to the kid-lit community!
Thank you, Tara, for an informative talk. I am writing a young adult book, but I am also considering starting a picture book. I was an elementary school teacher and would like to try my hand at writing in that genre. You have given me inspiration to try.
Tara,
The 2 biggest take-aways for me were: “I only have fresh eyes once!” And, stop and stare. It’s human nature that wants to fix things right away. I’ve discovered that whenever I go down this path, it leads to frustration and is counterproductive. As for “stop and stare,” it’s giving oneself the gift of time to ponder and think. We are our own worst enemy. We are in control of our own time. Thank you for the validation! NGHo – Gong Ho for Books!
Ah yes, have the critique partner read your ms out loud to you. Makes sense. Makes me nervous! Good advice.
Loved the tip about checking your middle of your end doesn’t seem satisfying.
Thank you Tara ..this session was interesting and fun .. I am starting my writing career.. so these tips are so valuable to me.
Such an engaging discussion! I appreciate so many of the tips, and especially starting with a blank page to revise and only use a critique partner 2 times for a manuscript. 🙂
Fabulous! Thank you.
Dear Tara, every time I hear you talk I can’t stop smiling from ear to ear. The funny thing is, I keep smiling the rest of the day. Your smile is contagious, and that’s one bug I’m glad I caught! ;)) I greatly appreciate your suggestions for revision. I’ll keep the list close by as a reminder. During my next revision, I will try reading it in funny voices and wear a big smile in Tara fashion. Surely, it will help make that tedious process a little more fun. Thank you for sharing your insight. Sending love your way.
Thanks, Tara. I like learning about RhymeZone and having a critique partner read your book aloud to see how other readers might use their inflections when reading to children.
Thank you Tara. I liked the fresh ideas of look to the beginning, middle, end. Also, start a fresh document for rewriting is a great idea!
Thank you for a fun and informative session, Tara. You shared so many great tips. I especially appreciated your thoughts on looking to the middle of the manuscript if the end is not satisfying and the use of art/action notes. I’m going to check out your website for more on the latter. Having a critique partner only read a manuscript once or twice makes so much sense and is great advice. Thanks again!
I love the idea of “fixing” the *ending* by revising the middle.
“Let it marinate in your brain.”
Aloha Vivian
from many years ago in Warrensburg
Dorinda (The Pearl Harbor Child)
Thank you, Tara! Having multiple critique partners is a great suggestion. And I loved the balloons! 🙂
Thanks for your tips, Tara. I really like the “start a new document” one and will implement it immediately.
Thanks for a fun presentation! I’m happy to know someone besides me also likes “staring!” And I like your suggestion to start a new document while having your original at hand for reference.
Fun presentation! Thank you for sharing! I had no idea about Power Thesaurus and Rhyme Zone. Great resources. Looking forward to finding some critique specialists!
Great tricks from a “tippy” expert! I like the idea to share your work with a new critique partner who has “fresh eyes”!
The hardest task of writing is letting your work go out to someone new, but I’ll be brave and try sending it to someone who has complimented me. They are a true writing friend who understands we need a pat on the back to keep going.
Thank you for your enthusiasm and fun spirit.
Add WordHippo to your list of word resources.
THANK YOU for confirming difficult words should be used in PB!!!
Fun session. Thank you.
Love the idea of doodling, Tara. I wrote that one down and posted it above my desk!
Thank you Tara. That was really fun and informative. So many great tips. I never thought about having someone else read aloud what you’ve written. I also found it reassuring that it’s ok to use difficult words with context clues.
Tara, I especially loved ‘Your critique partner only has fresh eyes once’. I agree. In one of my critique groups, an author posted her MS several times, tweaking here and there, but honestly, I can’t give her any more support. I wish only she would write something new. I may seem harsh to say so, but when I see the same manuscript tenfold, I can’t help the author improve it further. Sad but true. Thanks for sharing your tips.
Thank you, Tara! I would definitely benefit from doodling more, and I love the idea of having additional critique partners who can give fresh perspectives!
Thanks for your presentation. My takeaway is to look at the beginning to see what has happened since the beginning of the story. Also, look at the beginning to see if something has come full circle in the end.
Another takeaway is using fresh eyes after two critiques from the same partner.
Thanks for sharing! So good to be reminded that the person reviewing my story only has fresh eyes once!
Thanks, Tara! I particularly appreciated “look to the middle” for help with an unsatisfying ending. That makes so much sense. That works for MG, too, I think. Also, I’m now quoting a poem I learned in ninth grade: “A poor life this, if, unaware, we have no time to stand and stare.” I need to take more time to do just that. Thank you!
Thank you for an interesting and energetic presentation. Great tip to stop and stare, and to plan that time in. Also using stronger verbs! Excellent!
Thank you so much for all the insights. I am especially glad to learn about Rhyme Zone. Many thanks!
Excellent advice, thank you so much. Good solid takeaways!! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it Sean!
As always, Tara has given such great advice and useful insights. “Revision isn’t a science”, but her tips are timeless and masterful!
Tara: thank you so much for these valuable tips. Great advice. Appreciate your reminders that we tend to forget.