Editing That Precious Book

Tell Me A Story - Advice

Okay, so the hard work is done. Your manuscript is hot off the word processor and you sit back to bathe in glory ---- Stop!

Your work is only part done, my friend. You now need to edit that beautiful manuscript and turn it into a thing of beauty.... How?

How To Edit A Book - 20 Ways To Edit A Book to Make It Better


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more articles from ajbarnett

• Submission Guidelines - 20 Things You Should Know
• The Plot Of The Book - How to Write a Plot
• A Guide to Getting Published - Write High, Aim Low

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Without Reproach -a romantic mystery - try it.
Short Moments - 'Feel good' short stories

How many time do authors rewrite manuscripts

Tell Me a Story - anwers.

Hi, AJ. I’ve heard that most authors rewrite their manuscripts before getting published. But just how many times does an author rewrite a manuscript to get it to the point where they are pleased with it?

Hi, Jonathan, nice to hear from you. The thing is, it isn’t often an author simply dives in to rewrite the whole thing, well at least none I know, does.
Most authors make adjustments here and there which over time could build into major changes. Just occasionally they scrub out whole passages and redo them. If an author doesn't like the way a section sounds, or like the way the story has developed they simply have to tweak.
Panic.
'Without Reproach' was re-written several times - I lost count. I even rewrote the first three pages on the VERY morning I was to hand the manuscript over. As you can imagine, it drove me into panic. The publisher’s editor was very good though and not only allowed me to do tiny adjustments whilst it was in the editing stage, but to change the way it ended just before the editing was complete.
However, when the book hit the market, I wished I wished I'd done it all differently.
Like most creative people, I don't think authors are ever satisfied.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story - JK Rowling.

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Looking for a good read? Try:-

Short Moments - collection of 10 short stories

or

Past Sins - Contemporary fiction

When to submit your manuscript

Tell me a Story

I'm always telling newbie writers to edit, edit, and edit again. Too many writers submit their stories in the full flood of passion - believing their words to be magical.

Submit your manuscript

The moment of high-passion is the wrong time to submit your precious manuscript, you should put it away for a period of time - a couple of months if possible, then read through it again with fresh eyes. It's surprising how those magical words suddenly appear rather timid and powerless.

It's not the time to throw the manuscript away though. It isn't the moment to discover you can't write worth a jot. It's a moment of revelation. You have become a writer. You now see your mistakes. You perceive the error of your words. It's a time to rejoice because you've seen the light. Now is the time to edit the damn thing until it shines.

Be your own Critic

Self-analysis is the state writers should strive for. Become your own worst critic, and you'll not go far wrong. Search for those awkward passages, for the dreaded 'purple prose' and dump them.

You MUST hone your work, you must edit and edit… but when is the right time to stop all this polishing. I can’t answer that. I just know there’s a time when I say, enough is enough and send the damn thing off. I always want to change it afterwards, mind….

To put it in context, I came across a pearl of wisdom today and I simply have to share it….

• “When one tries TOO hard to seek perfection, the most apparent thing is the blemish.”

So polish it until it shines - but there's a point when it can't gleam any brighter... the trick is knowing when....

• Next post on Tell Me a Story - BookSwim.
• Kindle Romance

End of the post - When to submit your manucript

Editors maketh the writer

I’m privileged to know and be in touch with lots of writers. I’m captivated by how they write, how they fashion their stories and characters, how they organize and research information for their novels. One thing that comes from this is that editing is a very touchy subject.

Writers have said repeatedly, that going back to correct the little things in their writing is an unremitting and thankless task. The thing is, our text is never as good as we want. We constantly seek perfection, we twiddle, we cut, we polish. But only when we get to the editorial stage with the publisher does the real novel start to shape up.

You think your manuscript to be perfect? Think again!

When a professional editor starts putting your manuscript into a logical sequence, and starts helping with character or story development, your story starts to read like a real book.

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If you’ve never worked with a true professional, then you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Editors help writers establish their voice and improve their writing. A good editor is worth their weight in gold.

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Be nice to your editor. She might just make you look like a proper writer!

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Next post, wannerbie writers.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
20 Things You Should Know About How To Format A Book
Mastering Conflict In Your Story Characters

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Editing and the wannerbie writer

No sooner has a writer put the finishing touch to their work, the pregnancy period over, the birth a spectacle of awe, than the whole euphoria starts slipping away.

They must now strive to lift it to a higher level. The editing must start, but as a wannerbie, most writers’ potential is obscured by awe of the process of writing. They’re overwhelmed by their own creation.

The manuscript they’ve produced, seems an exquisite mix of thought and disclosure. Afraid of damaging this splendid prose, the wannerbie nudges at words and twiddles with punctuation, without considering changing a single expression – which is why they remain, unpublished.

With experience, comes an understanding of their deficiency. The wannerbie gradually becomes aware that their work falls short of perfection. They realize writing is not simply the process of organizing fine words onto paper, but the practice of raising ideas to an interesting and readable level.

This is the bottom line of all artists’ dreams, the camouflaging of their muse. Simplicity is the key to success. The age of capricious words is over; flowery shit is out. Be down to earth, talk in simple terms and you just might get on the right track.

Successful writers dump restrictive ideas of editing, they apply themselves to cutting.

The very enchantment of successful books comes about because of an attempt to rise towards a higher point. No good writer is ever satisfied. This struggle breathes life into their work.

Cut, cut, and cut again – and you might just make it.

My next post, the opening.

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To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
20 Things You Should Know About How To Format A Book
Mastering Conflict In Your Story Characters

How Many Times to Edit?

Tell Me a Story - writing tip.

AJ, how many times professional writers edit? I was under the impression that professional authors would edit a piece upwards of 10 times before it appears in print.
My friend, however, who has read many interviews with writers, thinks that most professional authors revise only a couple of times before they are done and sometimes don't even do any. I'm confused.

Thanks for writing in, Alice. It's no use submitting a piece of work that you're not happy with. ALWAYS edit until you're satisfied. If you ain't happy, gal, the publisher sure as hell won't be ....

When I'm writing I check over the previous couple of pages before I start (and generally spot something to correct); but reading the previous days work puts me into the correct frame of mind - keeps me on track.
Once my precious work is complete, I edit numerous times. I really can't say how many, probably five or six complete checks. I ruthlessly chop away all excess baggage, every word has to count otherwise it's thrown out.
I check grammar, spelling, timelines, and such things as consistency of names and words (don't use mister at one point and Mr. at another). I make sure all loose ends are tied up, and that all changes have been smoothly incorporated.

As an aside, on the morning that Without Reproach was to be handed over to the publisher, I changed the whole of the first three pages - PANIC!!!
Leaving a story in a raw state.
Some writers brag on internet sites that they don't edit - they claim that editing robs the story of life. I've NEVER subscribed to the idea of a story being at it's best whilst it's RAW.
I shudder at the thought my work in it's raw state. In my opinion that's a lazy writer making excuses ... but when their stories are rejected they say it's because the publisher doesn't understand their ART. Rubbish!
Good editing is what moves a story from the realms of amateur scribblings into that of a professional piece of work.
Polishing your work is vital to make it acceptable to a reader. Hone, hone and hone again. Make your work gleam before offering it to the public - they'll tear it to pieces if you don't.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story

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Looking for a good read? Try:-

Short Moments - collection of 10 short stories

or

Past Sins - Contemporary fiction

Writing Tips - A Cut in Time

Tell Me a Story - advice .

I was recently asked advice about getting a book published. The writer had been working on a book for over a year and was worried about the time taken, asking was it their responsibility to hire an editor to correct the manuscript.

I have to say, first off, a year is NOT too long to be working on a book, it’s about par for the course, some take several years, especially a début, when you're striving for perfection.

Hone, hone, and away.

If you’ve invested all that time and effort in the writing, why not take a little more time to re-read and polish it until it shines. Adopt a professional eye and hone away ALL unnecessary adverbs and adjectives, before thinking about sending to a publishing house. Nothing screams amateur more than purple prose. Cut, cut and cut again. I know you're losing words, but you're gaining quality. It's far better to have a thousand words less but accepted, than a thousand words more rejected.

If your manuscript is accepted, the PUBLISHING house will assign an editor to make sure your book meets their high standard, it's their responsibility.

Professional critique.

However, that said, you might purchase the services of an external editor if you want a professional critique (someone like Hilary Johnson - find her on the web) before you submit your work. This service will cost approx one hundred pounds for the first three chapters - only use them if you really don’t understand what's wrong with your work.

A lower level of critique but quite genuine, can be found for free in most on-line writer’s circles such as My Writers Circle - but don't expect to submit a whole novel, just a taster.

Can it be better?

When you’re certain you can’t make your manuscript any better, trundle down to your local library, borrow ‘The Writer’s Handbook” and make a note of publishing houses who publish your genre. There seems to be a gathering trend in the UK and almost certainly in the USA to go through a publishing agent, but the same process should be adopted.

Send the selected publishing house or agent a short note asking if they'd be kind enough to read your manuscript. Enclose a very brief synopsis of your book (look to the blurb on a book jacket for guidance), explain the number words it contains, and what genre you've written. A longer synopsis should only be sent if they ask to see the first three chapters.

Then sit back and pray.

• Next post on Tell Me a Story

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Writing Tips - Delete and feel better for it!

Tell Me a Story - writing tip

I was recently asked whether I spent more time on the start of the story, the middle or the end. I had to admit I really squirm over the start. The whole story has to be good of course or there will be nothing, but the start of your story has to be more than good, it has to be brilliant. It has to hook the reader.

The secret to a good start is to cut it out. Learn how and why on my Redgage article

• Next post on Tell Me a Story

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