Writing Exercise: Reverse Uno

Have you ever Reversed Uno a writing exercise? Why? Did it give you insights? Or muddy your pensive processing?

Dabble, one of my writing subscriptions, recommended a writing exercise where authors write their ideal book review. Many authors share the dream of becoming the number one bestseller, but Dabble challenged that even this goal was too broad and dependent on factors such as audience, trends, timing, gate keepers, who you know, dumb luck, and others. Dabble encouraged to "zoom your goals WAY in" down to the reader who stays up until 2 a.m. reading your story and proceeds to write a rave review. What would this review look like for your book?

This exercise was designed to give insight into our true publishing goals on an individual level. Personalizing our perspective with a single reader's review, albeit fake since it's written by us, but intended to encourage us and to focus our goals.

I won't bore you with the text of my self-written rave review. I cooed over the protagonist Kya's struggles, the parallels between my story and on-going wars, how neither side is portrayed as "bad," but rather war itself was the biggest harm to both sides. I raved about my invention of language and influence of other languages and cultures in this story... but it felt flat. Fake.

I then, felt pulled to write a review that I didn't want to receive. I unleashed my doubts and Inner Critique. And found gold. Here's what I wrote:

This story did not retain my attention, save for the fight scenes. The training segment was lacking of plot substance and Kya changed loyalty to Ikievy too quickly. The battle at Haefert didn't seem impactful enough to change her allegiance. The segment of Kya trying to decide if she's an umbra-vir or shadow wolf is muddied, especially with her dreams flip flopping her views. The Nauver fight had a good pace. The spicy scenes could have been spicier... WTF with the ending? Why end on such a low point ... And WTF Ikievy? Why would you do that?!

Of course I had to omit spoilers, and of course some of these review points would be personal preference depending on the reader. For example, the level of spiciness, which is a fine line to toe when this book is intended for a younger audience. The reaction to the end is good. I WANT a strong reaction from my readers. I want them to clench this book trying to understand it. After all, there are two other parts destined to follow this book. Not all questions are going to be answered in this first book.

What I did gain is insight into three areas that felt lacking to me as a reader and author. I returned to these areas and rewrote multiple sections, strengthening imagery, reconfiguring concise sentences and time lapses, while retaining active energy of the protagonist's struggles. The results put me at peace with these areas of improvement.

I encourage you to take five minutes for an occasional writing exercise. And if it doesn't resonate with you, reverse uno the exercise. Allow your subconscious, Inner Critique, or shadow self to speak truthfully in order to strengthen your work. Shying away from your shadow self is akin to stopping your ears to growth opportunities. Embrace growth; embrace you and your book's Highest Self.

Shadow Cat's Revised Manuscript