You'd think I'd have this whole novel-writing thing down. You would be wrong.
In January, I took Darcy Pattison's Novel Revision Retreat Workshop. It lasted three days and there was a lot of pre-work. Before it even started, you had to read two books on writing, and read three manuscripts from people you would be in a small group with during the conference. And of course you had to have your own book done so you could finish it with them.


I learned so much at the workshop. One was that there was a decided lack of conflict in the early chapters. In the book, the main character is mainly trying to figure out who killed her parents. It's not a thriller (which is what I usually write) where she is on the run, but rather a mystery where she tries to collect clues. So in the last two weeks, I worked to put conflict in those spots - or cut them.
I also realized I needed to call out emotions more.
And that I had an opportunity for a symbolic object - in this case, a necklace that Nora gives the main character - and I didn't use it at all.
I realized my final scene did not make it clear that the character had come full circle, even while she had changed internally. Now her epiphany is there on the page.
All this and I haven't even talked about Darcy's most famous idea for revision - the shrunken manuscript.

But if do get a chance to go, take it!
