How do you, dear Wrimos, navigate the boring, annoying, and sometimes icky parts of the revision process? How can you/do you gamify it?
Lindy West, writer and comedian, wrote an essay that appears in Suleika Jaouad’s nonfiction work The Book of Alchemy. In it, West talks about becoming addicted to video games, and how they are designed to keep you going by optimizing the reward cycle or the “compulsion loop.” In response, Jaouad suggests the readers create a gameplay cycle for their own lives to help them thrive during difficult times.
I immediately applied this idea to revision in writing. How could I optimize the rewards in such a long complicated process? What is the incentive to polish a work when I can just go on to another? Where are my dopamine hits that will keep me progressing through the yucky bits sprinkled throughout the entire book cycle from idea generation through sales? (With the understanding that there are as many places to get stuck as there are writers.)
Here at NaNo 2.0, we have decades of experience in maximizing the rewards to help you get that first draft out. We provide an almost ridiculous time limit, all kinds of writer swag, writerly resources and tools, lots of great pep talks, and even a Young Novelist Challenge for writers of all ages.
Yet, what are the logical “save points” in revision? Places where you might need a reward? The obvious ones include: second draft, third draft etc., finding beta readers or critique circles, but what about the business side of writing like researching markets, editors, and agents? What about submission? Keeping up your social engagement via Instagram, Substack, or your own website? What about all the promotional stuff once a sale is made? Shouldn’t I get a badge for every so many queries or rejections?
I’m aware that everyone’s motivations and rewards are different. However, I’m curious as to what yours are. Is there one you use that I might want to try? How can I divide up all the tasks that go into revision to better get me through the dungeon that is publishing? Be it the Big Five, small press, or self?
What parts of the revision process are your boss monsters (i.e. the big stoppers). Where do you feel like all you do is slay lame-o slimes to build up gold and health points (i.e. the boring work-a-day stuff)? What rewards do you give yourself that make you light up and go back for another round? Please share your revision boogie monsters and your rewards with us through the NaNo 2.0 site, Instagram, or Bluesky.
And while you’re there, please share with us anything you would like us to do to support you during revision. I’m thinking I need both a rejection badge and a query badge. What about you?