Revise, revise, revise...

With the novel resting - first readers are busy providing feedback - my writing time is devoted to revising my short stories rejected by publishers. I use the revision techniques provided in the book Manuscript Makeover written by Elizabeth Lyon that were incredibly helpful when working on the novel. Four of my short stories are in the revision process. Mostly I focus on 'riff writing' to flush out details previously confined to a phrase or brief narrative. My focus is breathing life into my protagonist that helps the reader understand what motivates the character. In my story, Golden Purifiers, I need to answer the question - why would Patsy embark on her solo journey across the country? Without her motivation revealed, the reader is clueless about why Patsy reacts as she does. Her inner struggle and how she overcomes it is critical for the reader to understand the overall story plot. I use my writing time to rev up these short pieces and will then submit them to publishers.