Critique Sandwiches

I've written in Yellow Pencils about critique sandwiches. 

No, they're not for lunch. They're better than lunch. This type of sandwich is for the revision stage of writing.  

When we make a critique sandwich, we comment on someone else's writing in a helpful and positive way. 

First, the bottom piece of bread. What is something you liked about the writing? Maybe it was the terrific character who rescues the stranded whale. 

Second, the filling. What are some things you had a question about? Maybe you couldn't picture the setting. Or the dialogue seemed a little stiff.

Third, the top piece of bread. What is another thing you liked about the writing? 

We usually make a critique sandwich for other writers. But what if we make one for our own story?

It's hard to be objective about our own writing, but a critique sandwich may help. 

Take out a story you'd like to revise. It's time to make a sandwich! 

First, the bottom piece of bread. What is something you really like about your story? It's not bragging to find the positive things in your own work.

Second, the filling. What are some things you need to work on? Try to look at your story with a clear eye. "Re-vision" means "re-seeing." Can you add more details to the description of the junkyard? Can your verbs be punched up? 

Third, the top piece of bread. Find another thing (or things) you like about your story, then give yourself a pat on the back. 

Now you know what's working well in your story (the bottom and top pieces of bread), and you probably have a list of things that will make it even better (the filling). 

See? I told you this would be better than lunch. 

Revision!

Revision is my favorite part about writing. But I know many writers don't agree with me. How about you?

This weekend I went to a workshop on revision led by author Ann Hood. She said, "If you're a writer, you're a reviser."

She added that we writers spend 90% of our time revising. That's a lot of time!

So how do we learn to love revision?

I think of revision as re-vision, or "re-seeing" my story. What works? What doesn't? How can I make my characters deeper, funnier, more alive on the page? 

How can I tighten my plot and make my dialogue snap like a sail in the breeze? And while we're at it, how can I add a simile or metaphor to spice up the story's language? 

Try this exercise. Take the first page of your story, or write a first page. Then read it out loud. Better yet, have someone read it to you. 

Listen. Really listen. 

Then mark places where a character seems dull, the plot has a hole, the dialogue drags, and the language makes you yawn. Type or write in your changes. 

Reread. See the difference? 

Get snappy! Try some revision today!