Sometimes you have to give your reader information by telling it directly, but most of the time it’s better to draw them into the story by painting a word picture that helps them imagine the scene vividly. Click here to download your copy of the ultimate self-editing checklist. My current bugbear is dialogue. …like smiled slightly, almost laughed, frowned a bit, etc. In this article, our focus will be the structural edit. And they’re only good if you’re trying to get laughed at. Be flexible. She pounded the table. They’re called. Apply as many of these book editing hints as possible to the first page of your work-in-progress. If you’ve heard it said before, it’s probably a cliché. Even if I decide that editing will have to be an aside instead of bread and butter, I’m ready to start looking for people who need my service. You don’t need to tell every action of every character in each scene, what they’re doing with each hand, etc. They’re called Tom Swifties. It doesn’t even have to be good. She sat [down] on the couch. “He proved a scrappy, active fighter,” is more powerful if you settle on the stronger of those two adjectives. An editor can tell immediately whether a writer understands what it means to grab a reader by the throat and not let go. And yes, many writers get the jitters about the quality of their work when they’re rewriting and editing. If you’re struggling with the editing process, something like an editor’s checklist might help you out. The Editor's Blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Click here to create your FREE account now. I will let you know how that turned out in the coming days. Just as with your prose in general, when you’re self-editing fiction, get rid of as many adverbs as possible. Thanks soooooo much for the helpful advice! Editing Checklist–Check! The list is helpful whether you are […], […] out the very detailed Editor’s Checklist for specific editing suggestions for the major elements of […], […] Articles I consider must-reads While I write all my articles as a means of helping or encouraging either writers or editors, I do have a few I consider must-reads for either or both writers and editors. Use them sparingly. But if you get the worst of your writing struggles tackled first, you’ll be able to focus on those big picture edits to make sure your characters are relatable and your plot is strong. There’s too much to think of to keep it straight in your head, so it's good to use a checklist and work your way through it. _____ Pace yourself. The bad news is that it sometimes is that bad. Currently I have my first novel edited exclusively by auto-crit and my wife at the Publishers undergoing review. Thanks for stopping by and sharing. At less than $1 per day, we think it’s a great investment in your writing, but we completely understand. Rely on experience, but be open to the unexpected. They meet the criteria for a satisfying story, but they’re not truly satisfying. Bonus: A printable checklist for how to edit your work. Prem, I’m glad you found it useful. © 2020 - Jerry Jenkins | Proven Writing Tips | All rights reserved |. – The Hunger Games (Book 1). So today, I want to zero in on tight writing and self-editing. What’s holding back your writing? Thanks a lot. Sometimes you have to give your reader information by telling it directly, but most of the time it’s better to draw them into the story by painting a word picture that helps them imagine the scene vividly. Stories are similar in makeup, yet no two will require the same edit. It should be in a bookstore near you in say about 7-8 months. I’ve added a downloadable self-editing checklist below to help you master these 21 tips. The stories makes sense and come to an ending point. Make sure your language isn’t trite. Our online manuscript editor automates much of the revision process and helps you spot potential trouble areas. Your email address will not be published. Check out this essay titled, “Tips For Editing Fiction.” It may not be straight from the horse’s mouth, but it has some excellent editing […], […] Checklist for Editors (theeditorsblog.net) […]. Sorry to hear that AutoCrit isn’t within your budget right now. Decide how you’ll approach your suggestions. But no one wants to overlook other important elements simply because they focus on certain other elements. Definitely adding it to our best posts round-up this week and going to go tweet it right now. Edit for folks in a writers group. For more information on the novel editing process as a whole, check out our epic guide: How To Edit Your Novel: The Ultimate Crash Course. If you’ve got something to add to this list, please share. This is often the event that makes it impossible for the protagonist to go back to his normal ways and normal life. Try to eliminate your weak areas by studying the craft (both writing and editing). This is very helpful. “I hate you,” Jill said, narrowing her eyes. This manuscript will form the basis for his first book. A greatly expanded version of the Checklist for Editors Write often. Not only does it help you edit your work but by editing your work you learn to write more efficiently and automatically begin to stop using redundancies, filler words, LY adverbs and one of my biggest faults is repeated words, such as using Car and car several times in one or two paragraphs. 7. I love how the website that you linked the Tom Swifties to literally contradicts you…, Your email address will not be published. I’m simply going to split the elements into big-picture areas and fine-detail areas. Sometimes sentences all sound the same. Share them in a comment below. where do you even start this checking and polishing, this editing? Feedback on plot and characters is always helpful. I’m a teenager going about writing my first book and I know how to write, but editing is new to me. Udemy Editor. Is my skill anywhere near sharp enough? Joseph, I’m glad you found a resource you could use. Is resolution and the end the same thing? But the odds of landing a traditional publishing contract are slim. Failing to do so is one of the most common errors beginning writers make. But short stories must get to the point much sooner. But I hope it gives you a helpful list of the areas to look at when you edit. Editors also focus on weeding out distractions from the core story—characters who don’t fit, settings that don’t work, dialogue that adds nothing, sub-plots that dilute the main plot, and digressions and rabbit trails and non-productive elements that either neuter the power of the story or actually detract from it. We like our writing like we like our bed sheets — clean and crisp. Am I ready to have clients? But, of course, checking these items off your revision list is not the only step. and see if you can rewrite to make the sentence more active. They’re the way we understand our world and they’re a key in fiction as well. Thanks so much, Munsey! These days, anyone can get anything printed. One way to get started editing is to just start editing. _____ Keep adverbs out of dialogue tags. (Remember, AutoCrit stands ready to guide you through the process if you need a hand!). So I would have both Microsoft word up and running with the chapter being edited in the background while I looked over AutoCrit’s summary of each category, switching to the appropriate place in the manuscript and making changes. “He…was…DEAD!” doesn’t make a character any more dramatically expired than “He was dead.”. I wish you great success with your career—editing is challenging and fun, and the variety of stories makes it always interesting. This is wonderful! Check dates, technology and inventions, historical events. Be sure that the passage of time is both clear and possible. . I was able to edit Cassis Lightening, a manuscript of 86,166 words in about forty five days. And if you’re a stickler for details, wouldn’t you like a refresher on how to consider the big-picture items? Remember the reader—don’t edit in a vacuum. I will add some of my other questions later. Second Person Point of View: What Is It and How to Use It. But throw in “she effused” or “he guffawed” and suddenly we’re aware that there’s a writer at work. Good writing is a thing of strong nouns and verbs, not adjectives. And action. Do all the points you mention under the plot section apply to short stories? I am in the throes of developing a freelance career for myself, and this clear, concise list has cleared a good amount of fog. The Magic of Fiction _____ Whether you’re a professional editor or a writer going through your own work, you probably either have a system you use to evaluate each manuscript or wish that you did.. I like knowing the articles are helpful. Does the story catch either the reader’s mind or heart, perhaps both? That’s not necessarily underhanded. “She nodded her head in agreement.” Those last four words could be deleted. Enter email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. Our online manuscript editor automates much of the revision process and helps you spot potential trouble areas. But throw in “she effused” or “he guffawed” and suddenly we’re aware that there’s a writer at work. I can tell you that my answers to those questions are based less on guessing now than they were just moments ago. Know the items to look for and know how to address problem areas. As for your question about plot and short stories—yes. We know who’s speaking.]. Editing can be art, but there are standards and practices and even tips and tricks you can bring to your edits to ensure you’ve been complete in your evaluation. Just some quick notes for now . There’s a reason writers chuckle when they hear the phrase “It was a dark and stormy night.” It’s the most infamous writing cliché there is. Copyright © 2010-2018 E. A. Hill     Visit Beth at A Novel Edit Write well. “He clapped his hands.” What else would he clap? He dropped onto the couch and exclaimed tiredly, “I’m beat.”. Many thanks to AutoCrit. Are you repeating yourself without meaning to? Make dialogue advance plot and reveal character and up the conflict level. A complex story filled with multiple story lines needs a climax that’s full enough to satisfy the buildup to it. Whether you’re going to hire an editor, or be assigned one by a traditional publisher, your responsibility is to get your book manuscript to the highest level it can be before you pass it on. And you definitely don’t want a lot of sub-plots in short stories. Know the rules, yet allow your writer (and yourself) freedom and flexibility. Amateurs often defend themselves against this criticism by citing classics by famous authors who violated this. I have an article on Resolutions that provides more information on story endings. I realize there will be overlap and I’m sure we wouldn’t all arrange the areas in the same way. Make sure you’ve used description and action. because I think your site is terrific in so many ways. Why not strengthen them, help yourself to be an even stronger editor? Yet, if you can’t stand to read a manuscript with typos and weak word choices, don’t feel that you can’t change them as you edit and rewrite. Be ready to evaluate the manuscript again after making large-picture changes. Thanks for this resource. Or, you may find that some areas are not those you think an editor should be concerned with. Hi The emphasis, however, may be a bit different. The end is just a general term. Each must be checked; never assume they’re correct. Put the elements to work—make each do double or triple duty. You also wouldn’t want the resolution of a short story to be twice the length of the events needed to reach that point. I will appreciate whatever help I can get from you on the best possible approach as I listen to his flash-drive recording. Have fun with the rewrites—I hope you have some good insights as you work through your manuscripts, tweaking and adding great flourishes to your fiction. Wendy, going through an edit in a systematic way not only helps with that manuscript but, as you said, it help with the planning for the next. _____ Show, don’t tell. First Person Point of View: Definition, Examples, and Tips! It can refer to the final third or so of a novel, it can mean the climax and the events just prior to it, the fallout from the climax, and the resolution. Metta. Excellent! “I literally died when I heard that.” R.I.P. Thanks. Get out of the way of your message. If George says she can do it, we know he was encouraging. So if you want them to print your unedited book in the exact form you give it to them, they’ll say, “As you wish.” And if they wont, you can easily find someone who will. So maybe it's not only about the words. Some fine-detail issues can have great impact on the story as a whole. On the flip side, don’t overlook the simple. Have you avoided overly long sentences that might be confusing and hard-to-read? Just as with your prose in general, when you’re self-editing fiction, get rid of as many adverbs as possible. Something must happen in the very first pages to gain the reader’s attention and shake up the protagonist’s world, and something should happen just a little bit later in the story to set that protagonist on his way. Editing Checklist–Check! The great thing about AutoCrit is it actually teaches you to correct your mistakes as your writing your rough draft or doing your second and third rewrites. _____ Get rid of excess dialogue tags. Tip: Do not waste the editors time by sending a 2000 word article to a publication that requires articles between 500-750 words. Never settle for, “That’s the best I can do; now fix it for me.”. I’m printing this and putting this with my manuscript to make sure I don’t miss anything in rewrites!! Not sure what I was doing as this is the first time I have done it, but I think it worked! Depth has to do with the layers of a story and maybe the importance of the issues covered. They’re thin. I wish you great success with your writing career. We’d pay for the training in a school—why not get both an edit and training for one price? Write better, right now. If you’re ready to learn how to edit a book, here’s what you need to do: Or at least to pretend to. Those are phrases that unnecessarily repeat themselves, like baby puppy, future predictions, and dilapidated ruins. Look for tell-tale “to be” words like was and were and see if you can rewrite to make the sentence more active. I used your tip for placing the document on the Kindle to have it read out loud to me. (See what we mean now?) Could you please explain what you mean by ‘whether you consider the opening event or the protagonist’s acceptance of his call to action the inciting incident make sure you have both’? I was looking for a precise guide and this is a fantastic find. It's about putting the words together to touch, to entertain, to move the reader. So you can write: “They walked in and sat across from each other.”, And avoid quotation marks around words used in another context, as if the reader wouldn’t “get it” otherwise. The reader will focus on what stands out. Each sentence is the same length. […], […] Tips for Editing Fiction – An Editor’s Checklist – The Editor’s Blog […], […] http://theeditorsblog.net/2011/06/07/checklist-for-editors/ […], […] Checklist for Editors – theeditorsblog.net […], […] ← 25 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘The Great Gatsby’ Posted on May 1, 2016 by lynniew13 Checklist for Editors […], […] techniques that have worked best for them.” Can’t attend? Which would you choose? Internal & External Conflict: Balancing the Fight, Catch More Mistakes with These DIY Proofreading Techniques, How to Write a Book Synopsis That Stands Out, Script Writing: 6 Tips for Writing a Movie Script that Sells, What’s the Score? In fact, avoid even the same first initials. This guide is meant to give you a quick head start, but there are points you’ll need to address with character development, conflict, action, theme, and more. I’d like to look at areas you’ll want to consider as you edit. _____  Clear out the clutter. “My eyes literally fell out of my head.” There’s a story I’d like to read. I may need to pull back from full bore, and that’s so good to know before the cart passes the horse! It’s available to download and print. You may find a unique dilemma that will require a fix you haven’t tried before. I have the Kindle Fire (first edition), I placed it under the docs and was able to get it to read to me from there. I love using AutoCrit for self-editing. Corinna, I’m glad you found some info you could use. Is it a normal reaction due to over-editing or what? It’s satisfying to see that sentence shrink, snap into place, and ultimately emerge in a more polished form: clear, economical, sharp. Wouldn’t you like tips for checking out the details? There are so many, many areas to a piece of long fiction, how can you be sure you’ve checked each, weighed the value of each, polished each? Realize that one story or one writer’s style may require an approach different from any you’ve undertaken before. Did you vary your sentence length to keep things interesting? Check the strength of your writing on your first self-editing pass. Our checklist is meant to help you strengthen your prose, which is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers 101. They may also consider what additional characters would mean for the story or what a sub-plot could add. Allow yourself to think beyond one-step fixes—you may need to layer your corrections in order to fix or change a problem area. You may have your specialties, as most people do in the tasks that they perform often. Sometimes sentences all sound the same. . Be bold in your prescriptions. So if punctuation is a weak spot, that may be where you begin your edits. For any writer, the ability to look at a sentence and see what’s superfluous, what can be altered, revised, expanded, or especially cut, is essential. And when she nods, we need not be told she’s in agreement. They have a sing-song rhythm. There’s no room for fluff in short stories. “Said” and “asked” slip invisibly into the background and let your characters do the talking. You may find that you take every area mentioned here into account each time you edit. Sometimes people whisper or shout or mumble, but let your choice of words imply whether they are grumbling, etc. Look at options. The explanations might need to be more detailed. Could you please explain what you mean by ‘Make sure the ending is sufficient in terms of length and depth for the story’? Is there enough to sustain the story through the final page, Are there too many sub-plots, not enough sub-plots, Are there hooks; are they logical; are they related to the rest of the plot, Is the plot full enough or does it feel thin, Is the premise right for the story that’s been written, Has reader expectation been whetted and then satisfied, Is there a focus or is the plot scattered, Whether you consider the opening event or the protagonist’s acceptance of his call to action the inciting incident, make sure you have both, Make sure the ending is sufficient in terms of length and depth for the story, Make sure the ending doesn’t drag; make it satisfy the reader, Make sure the black moment and climax are strong enough for the story, Use back story sparingly and blend it so it doesn’t stop story momentum, Are lead characters interesting enough for the story, Do lead characters have sufficient motivation to move through the plot, Is the antagonist strong enough, a good complement to the protagonist, Do characters have strengths and weaknesses, Are all featured characters vital to the plot, Is character motivation appropriate for the story that developed from it, ~  Steps to take/what character should do—, Make sure there are enough characters to carry the plot, Make sure there are no unnecessary characters, Give the main character secondary characters to support him, Give the main character characters strong enough to challenge him, Give characters appropriate and sufficient habits, quirks, favorite words, speech patterns, dreams, goals and motivations, and hot buttons that other characters can push, Make characters three-dimensional—include thoughts, actions, and reactions, Is setting used to advance plot, to create tone, to increase tension, Are readers given a clear sense of place and time for each scene, Make sure setting details are appropriate to story and scene, Make sure setting doesn’t overwhelm action and plot, Include props that characters can handle and use, ~  Steps to take/what dialogue should do—, Ensure that characters sound sufficiently different, Make sure it is dialogue and not conversation, Keep adverbs in dialogue tags to a minimum, unless genre allows them, Make sure there are a sufficient number of scenes, Make sure individual scenes satisfy and that they are different in terms of action events, character combinations, dialogue patterns, and type of conflict, Give scenes variety in length, format, depth, and pattern, Use a variety of settings for scenes (or play against variety and stick to only a few settings), Make sure scenes are in the best order to cause problems for the character and induce tension in the reader, Is it the right POV for the story and for the scene; would another be better, Who should be the viewpoint character in each scene, ~  Steps to take/what point of view should do—, Make sure that viewpoint character doesn’t change within scenes (no head-hopping), Make sure viewpoint character knows only what he could really know, Use a change in POV or viewpoint character to bring story and character closer to the reader or to hold the reader at a distance when necessary, Is there sufficient conflict in each scene and between characters, ~  Steps to take/what conflict should do—, Make characters and readers uncomfortable, Increase conflict as the story progresses, Ensure conflict between characters and between protagonist and himself and within the antagonist, Ensure balance between elements; make sure no one element overwhelms, Balance character thoughts, dialogue, and actions with setting and description, Balance sections, scenes, chapters, and acts. Thin stories may be missing subtext. It’s likely that you easily catch problems and errors in the areas where you’re strongest as a writer or editor—if you nail character goals and motivation, you might want to start your edit there. Thanks, Beth. (It’s not, Passive writing often lacks specificity and clarity. That is, if editing the detail stuff along the way helps you, then do it. Or, consider a good substantive edit as equal to several classes of a writing course. Good dialogue moves the story along and captivates the reader. My downfall is passive verbs. Does your manuscript have a good blend of fast and slower-paced sections? is available in. Make sure you’ve used description and action. The Ultimate Checklist for Editing a Book. Drone on with lengthy passages of description or exposition and we’ll fall asleep. Thanks for a comprehensive list. And a good book deserves an outstanding edit. A good edit deserves the time. Or at least to pretend to. That’s where beta readers, developmental editors, and your own knowledge of how stories work comes into play. Take this free assessment now and learn to unlock your true potential: make your manuscript as publishable as possible. How long should an end be? […] couple of days ago I posted the Editor’s Checklist, an article about items editors should consider as they edit. Turn the reader's attention where you want it to go. Ideally, someone else would be editing your manuscript. _____ Stick to “said” and “asked.” Seriously. I hope your readers find the info helpful as well. There’s a reason writers chuckle when they hear the phrase “It was a dark and stormy night.” It’s the most infamous writing cliché there is. Need to know how well your writing, editing and revisions are going? (Remember. Marian was mad. We’ll keep offering up lots of expert advice on our blog every week. If it is, there’s no need for a dialogue tag. So informative! F. Armstrong, the senses are vital, as you’ve said. Now I have one, thank to you but there are a couple of points in the plot section I would like to clarify please. Make sure words are character, era, scene, and genre appropriate, Understand how humor affects character, scene, tone, and plot, and use humor when appropriate, Take out clichés and the writer’s pet words, Use variety in construction and in sentence length, Ensure variety in rhythm without producing annoying patterns, Consider giving characters unique sentence constructions. It might seem that there’s enough story to the story—events and conflict that reach to the final page—but the story isn’t layered, doesn’t have depth. (See what we mean now?) We’ll have an article coming up about that very topic soon, Kat! Example: “They walked through the open door and sat down across from each other in chairs.”, If they walked in and sat, we can assume the door was open, the direction was down, and—unless told otherwise—there were chairs. Recently I found a great post on The Editor’s Blog that offered some helpful guidelines. If it is, there’s no need for a dialogue tag. If you don’t say these things happened, we’ll assume they didn’t. AutoCrit: The Smarter Online Book Editor for Fiction and Non-Fiction. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing what other editors consider important. You provide all the tools a writer needs (except for good eyes and knowledge of good writing). The program is thorough and teaches me better word choices. Readers’ tastes change. I have ‘pressed’ this onto my blog linking back to your article. (Notice how subtly insulting that is.). Self-editing is a challenge for even the most skilled fiction writers. And remember that you may have to work backwards. Almost any independent publisher would be happy to offer all the services you’re willing to pay for to make your manuscript as publishable as possible. Have you decided on the length of the article? I have skills, but a few classes are definitely in order. No place for digressions and unnecessary characters. If you’ve heard it said before, it’s probably a cliché. It’s just that the reader is left wanting more. When it comes time to edit a story or novel that you’ve been working on for a long time, you may not know where to begin. It’s a safe bet that many other writers will relate. Editors are often concerned with the elements of the story that are not yet on the page—they look to see what’s missing. But, as the famous writers’ expression goes, you must kill your darlings if you hope to create a work of fiction readers will love. Drone on with lengthy passages of description or exposition and we’ll fall asleep. Before you go, be sure to grab a FREE copy of my ultimate self-editing checklist that will help you make your writing lean and powerful. Some consider the event of the opening pages, the one that grabs the reader’s attention and gets the story engine turning, to be the inciting incident. If you find yourself saying, “But they didn’t even get to the good stuff,” then you need to put the good stuff earlier in your manuscript. You probably look at big-picture issues first and work toward the fine details. This will require several run-throughs of the whole manuscript, and the editing checklist is perfect to use then. Your editor, agent, and readers will thank you. If you’ve not truly edited your manuscript, start with these steps before moving to those listed in this […], […] Editor’s Checklist http://theeditorsblog.net/2011/06/07/checklist-for-editors/ […], […] got a detailed checklist for editing as well as other articles on editing here at the blog, but I haven’t done one of these lists […], […] #Sometimes you just need a system. But more often than not, we are our own editors. …unless they’re really needed. Some writers lean too heavily on certain turns of phrase. If Marian pounds the table and chooses those words, we don’t need to be told she’s mad. Thank you for this article! Keep an eye out for it. _____ Find and squash redundancies.

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