Back Quote by Neal Shusterman
“I have a color-coded computer spreadsheet that divides things down to chapter fragments. Each character's point-of-view is a different color. The text of the manuscript is color-coded the same way. The last thing I do before submitting the manuscript is turn all those colors back to black.”
About This Quote
Organizing a manuscript by color-coded perspectives helps clarify narrative structure before finalizing.
In simple terms: Color coding characters clarifies story flow.
Use visual cues to organize complex writing.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- screenwriting
- academic papers
- editing process
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does color coding affect your creative process?
- Can you maintain clarity without colors?
Over-reliance on colors may hinder flexibility in later revisions.