Me getting back to the book!

Turns out that editing isn’t just correcting the spelling and using the delete key liberally. Learning to write better involves learning to properly edit, which involves digging through the detritus of the manuscript and discovering the story within. Right about now, I’m realizing that my smooth shiny manuscript might need me to do some serious rethinking. And the way my editor has suggested to do this is for me to do a little outlining. It seems late to be outlining an already finished and accepted-to-be-published novel, but it’s actually the perfect time for a writer like me to triple check spots in the structure that need work. This is when I push the manuscript from good enough to (hopefully!) as good as it can be. Excellent, even. Wish me luck!

When you edit, what steps do you take? Perhaps try my editor’s tip and outline the story – even if you think it’s finished. Use the outlining process to notice where the story could be improved.

Another great article from Writer’s Digest!

The 7 Deadly Sins of Self-Editing | WritersDigest.com.

I’m at the editorial stage of a book and I’m spending my days asking myself questions and re-reading scenes to make sure they all serve my story. Also, I asked two good friends of mine to give the manuscript a read and they both gave me excellent insights and asked really good questions. One thing to think about when you’re editing your own work is who would be the right person to read it to help you move forward. You need a reader who is kind, but not too kind, one who is smart but not so sure of themselves that they try to rewrite the novel for you. You need someone to ask good questions, someone who makes you consider the work in a new light and who energizes you, rather than making you feel like you’re ready to give up and never ever ever look at the project again.  A good editor will do all of these things, and if you’re lucky they’ll still be your friend afterwards.  Thanks, Leona Theis and Jen Budney for helping me with this draft.

This week, try and figure out who would be a good reader for your writing. Are you in a writing group or is your partner the best person to ask? We all need good readers to help us move from first draft to polished manuscript. Who is yours?