Rewrites and Stewart Ferris

A while ago I saw this at the Saltaire Bookshop in Bradford and didn't buy it because I thought I'd be able to pick it up anywhere. I couldn't. So I was jolly pleased it was still there when I went back last week. The reason I wanted it was because I was attracted by the approach it offered for re-writes. I'm a person who needs a very structured approach to follow and Stewart Ferris offered a ten step one which appealed to me. At the moment I'm on the first version of his scheme. The full list is:

1 An approximation of the whole work

2 Tightening the structure

3 Development of the characters

4 Improving the dialogue

5 Working on the language and imagery

6 Restructuring parts of the work

7 Adding layers of conflict

8 Improving the crucial opening passage

9 More work on character development

10 Proofreading

The danger is, of course, that there is an inevitable tendency to put off things to a subsequent re-write that should be done now. But, if I guard against this, I think that it will keep me focused on the immediate task. At the moment it is to grind on until I have a story to work on. I hope when it comes to the next rewrite I shall not have such a mess with the plot that the task is too herculean. So far I don't think it is too bad but there is no doubt it gets harder as I go. 

I'm going to use the above numbering system for my scene structure first digit, so it helps there too.