All About Editing: The How

This subject is nearer and dearer to my heart right now because I've finished the first draft of the new romance novelette and I started the editing process (with any luck and a lot of hard work, it will be a novella when I'm done). So I thought that I would share my editing process.

The first thing you should know is that I absolutely hate sending out a manuscript unless I think it's ready to be read by people who don't like me. That intense aversion to mistakes and bad writing led to the development of an editing process that is far more involved than the writing process (and my writing process is pretty involved).

Read the whole story.
Read the whole story, beginning to end, as a reader. You can make notes about what to edit, but just read it first. See it for the whole piece that it is because you're about to break it down into its most basic parts and it will be easy to forget the whole.

Read each section/chapter.
Each individual part should stand on its own. Not, you know, totally on its own, but each section should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. It should move the story along. It should add value to the story. It should be complete.

Read each paragraph.
Each paragraph should be consistent. It should be about something specific. It, like each section, should add value to the story and move it along. Each paragraph should be a shining example of your writing. It should be excerptable. (That is a word now.)

Read each line.
Like each section and each paragraph, each line should be valuable. It should also be different from the one before it and the one after it unless you're going for something specific that requires repetition and similarity. Sentences, lines, have rhythm and flow. I'm not musically inclined, but I know that variation in sentence sound and structure is much more pleasing to my inner ear than a bunch of the same thing over and over.

Read each word.
Each and every word in your manuscript should be the right word. Not almost the right word, not sort of the right word, not close enough. It should be the exact word you mean to convey your meaning. I strongly believe that every writer should spend some time writing poetry. Nothing teaches you to use the right word better than writing poetry.

Search for easily-misused words.
This is a technical detail. Search your manuscript for words that are easily misused. Your/you're, their/there/they're, through/threw and the like. Spellcheck won't catch this because you've correctly spelled the words. Chances are that you'll catch any of these mistakes when you read each word, but it's never a bad idea to be safe.

Search for overused words and phrases.
We all have pet words. We probably even have pet words that change, or words that we associate with a particular story. I had one story that was very lush, very padded, and I used the word "plush" repeatedly throughout it. My beta wanted to beat me with the word. So what I'm saying here is: search your story for overused words. Unusual words and phrases--words like exacerbate and loquacious, phrases like "come with" and "piss-poor"--will stand out to the reader, so using them even more than once in a short piece, twice in a longer piece (unless, again, it's a conscious choice vital to the story/formation of the story) is going to stand out.

Search for -ly words.
Really. Lovely. Squiggly. These words are filler words. They have their place, but the chances are that they've been overused, abused, and treated as a crutch. It's okay, it happens to everyone. Use them sparingly. Think of them as a potent spice, or an expensive one. The more you use them, the less precious they become.

Search for very.
Mark Twain said it best when he said to replace every instance of "very" with the word "damn." It has the same effect and your editor will take them out. If you're DIYing your writing (or you just don't want your editor to think you're overly fond of swearing), change every "very" to "damn" for fun, read your story, and then delete the damns.

Check your details.
The Internet is a great place. It has websites like Google and Wikipedia and communities like Little Details. It's full of people who are experts on something and they're willing to share their expertise. Use them. Check your own details, first. Make sure your protagonist doesn't suddenly change hair color halfway through the story. Or cars, or location, or whatever. Trust me, the reader notices these things. Then check the other details. For example, I had to change my hero's job in the Marines based on some information I found at Wikipedia. Also--and this is a tip from my days as a researcher--it's a good idea to have different sources of information, sources that don't call on each other for backup. I like three sources, personally.

Check your characterization.
You can tell your readers that your hero is a good guy, but if you're writing him being a dickface to waiters and kicking puppies, they're going to know that he isn't. Make sure that you're showing the character traits you want your characters to possess. If he's kind, show him doing something kind. If he's an ass, show him being an ass. And be consistent. Unless, of course, the point is that your character completely changes who he is throughout the story. Then you can do whatever you want, I guess. Just make sure that your character is behaving in the ways you would expect from someone who is like him. This is where observing people becomes a useful skill.

Check your plot.
Are there any holes? Sew those suckers up. You don't want the reader to be halfway through the story and saying, "This doesn't make any sense." Remember: the difference between reality and fiction is that fiction has to make sense. It has to. You can't rely on your readers to say, "Ah, well, that's just how it goes." That is not how it goes. How it goes is exactly how you write it and you need to be the God of your written world. You need to keep track of everything and make sure that everything has a purpose and a reason.

Check your subplot(s).
If you're writing anything longer than a short story, you probably have subplots. Do the same checking for them that you do for your main plot. Resolve them however you want, but a resolution is not abandoning them mid-story because they're inconvenient.

Read it out loud.
Reading your work out loud forces your brain to relay information to your mouth. Because it has to work harder, it notices things it missed when you were just reading silently. I don't know if that's true because I made it up, but reading your work out loud is just one more way you're guaranteed to find things you wouldn't have found otherwise.

Ignore it.
I know that every list of advice on writing tells you to ignore your work or leave it alone. This is good advice. You gain some distance and some perspective. You return to your work with a fresh eye and a fresh ear. Let it sit for as long as you need, then come back to it and repeat the editing process.

Read it again.
Read it to yourself and then out loud one more time. Make changes as needed, but this time, it doesn't need the machete it needed before. It just needs little tweaks. Sound good? Look good? Feel good? Great. Only two more steps left to go!

Send it to someone else.
No matter who you are, your writing can always benefit from someone else's perspective. That's why publishers employ editors and that's why good fanfic writers use betas. If you value your writing at all--and of course you do, you're reading this post--you will hand your work over to more than one someone else. These will be people you trust. These should also be people who are not butt-kissers. They should be just as hard on you and your writing as you are. (But not harder. No one should ever be harder on your own work than you are.)

Make changes accordingly.
Once you get your manuscript back from your editors and beta readers, you should have feedback to consider. The changes you make are entirely up to you. You're the writer. Your word is law as far as your writing goes. But, again, if you care at all, you will consider the feedback you get and you will make changes.

Read it one more time.
Okay, I lied, there's one final step. Read it again. All the way through. Resist the urge to make any more changes as you read and simply read it as a reader. It should be as perfect as you can make it now. This should be your best possible work. Congratulations!http://parchmentplace.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/red-pen.gif

Not-So-Monday Miscellany: Tim Armstrong

Yesterday, I spent the whole day working to finish the first draft of the new romance novelette. I succeeded! It needs three to five thousand more words, though, so I still have quite a bit of work to do, but the second stage of the writing process is complete.

For this week's miscellany post, I thought I'd share some fangirl-worthy work from Tim Armstrong. Tim is the frontman for California-based punk band Rancid (they're amazing, you should check them out) (but if you're not into punk, he also co-wrote most of the songs on P!nk's Try This and he is involved with/has been involved with Operation Ivy, the Transplants, solo work, and a film) and I love him. The summer my husband was deployed, I saw Rancid four times. I have three Rancid-inspired tattoos with plans for a fourth. And I wore an Operation Ivy t-shirt to my wedding reception. Tim is a fantastically talented musician and artist. I'm a fan, is what I'm saying. 

Recently, he rolled out Tim Timebomb's ROCKNROLL THEATER. There's music. There's dancing. There's scantily-clad girls, a timeless story, and a terrifyingly-mustachioed Davey Havok. You can watch the trailer here. Unfortunately, it's not available in my country. There are ways around that (an IP masker, for example; or an online bootleg) so if it isn't available in your country and you want to see it, some Google searching should set you up. 

If none of that interests you, there's always this: 

Unfortunately, I have no idea who took this picture. I wish I did, I'd like to bake him/her some cupcakes.

The man belongs on a romance novel cover.

Blog Roundup: October 17 - 23, 2011

I stumbled across this post at Chuck Wendig's blog that is an entertaining, colorful assortment of insults aimed at making me feel bad about my crappy self-published book. I laughed. It's got a lot of good points. He also had this guest post on his blog this week that is all about getting your book--you real dead-tree book, be it self-published or traditionally-published--into bookstores. And, as usual, he has a fantastic 25 things post.

Stella Deleuze posted about dialogue attributes. If you're uncertain about your dialogue skills, or if you just want a refresher, it's an excellent post.

Angel Zapata's publisher has gone under, so she's asking that readers not buy her book.

Isis Rushdan hosted J.L. Campbell, who wrote about what she has learned from blogging and publishing.

James Killick wrote about five ways to banish drama from your scenes. The tongue-in-cheek quality of it made me chuckle even as I mentally filed away the lessons he's sharing.

I thought this guest post at Keystrokes and Word Counts was interesting. I'm always fascinated by the way other writers work, so seeing that Melissa Dominic uses a sketchbook was pretty cool.

This post at Paperback Writer discusses and shows the results of a really fun-looking writing exercise. I think I'll be trying that the next time I'm suffering the dreaded writer's block.

Sirra posted another round of #writetips from her Twitter feed.

If you're not reading The Bookshelf Muse, you're doing yourself a disservice. This recent guest post about promotion, in particular, is quite helpful.

SitRep Saturday: Vampires, Romance, and Secret Projects

The new working title for my vampire WIP is The Guest. I did some Googling and there shouldn't be much confusion between my novel about a bad vampire and the main notable work with that title. So that's settled. I have also decided not to worry about classifying it yet. I struggled with the fact that the story seemed to be demanding material that was not appropriate for a YA audience, but my most recent project--as well as some reading I've done--has convinced me that it's okay. I have to be true to the story first and foremost. Then I can worry about everything else.

My romance novelette is coming along nicely. I'm about 40% through the action draft. I had hoped to be more done by now, but life had other plans. I'm not worried. I know I'll have it finished and I'll start editing next week. It still doesn't have a title.

The third bit of work news is a piece I'm in the action-draft stage of now and it's amazing because I feel like I'm getting back to who I am as a writer. I feel like I'm really finding my voice with it. For a number of years, I was kind of lost; I let life sidetrack me, confuse me, and lose me. Not anymore. The piece I'm writing now, when it's finished, will be hot, funny, sweet, and make the reader vaguely uncomfortable. I am very excited.

Oh. I will also probably keep up the All About Editing posts next week. I have a few more ideas to write about.

All About Editing: Beta Reading

A beta reader is a test reader or an unofficial editor. You, the writer and first reader, are the alpha reader. She, the second reader, is your beta. In fandom, a beta reader can do everything from a read-through and feedback on the overall story to in-depth editing. Beta reading is a good way to hone your editing skills in the same way that self-editing is a good way to hone your beta reading skills.

Familiarize yourself with the rules of writing.
If you're not already comfortable with the basics, get comfortable. A practical handbook and a good dictionary or a trustworthy website on grammar and writing are invaluable. For your first few betas, you may end up consulting these resources frequently.

Don't apologize and don't be offended.
Resist the temptation to apologize for the quality of your critique. Your critique is valid--regardless of your experience--because you are a reader and you have opinions. The writer will take or leave your comments as she sees fit, so don't be offended if you see the finished project and realize that "problems" you identified weren't fixed. Remember that the writer has the final say in her own work.

Pick your projects carefully.
Identify what you like to read and take on those projects. Identify aspects of your own writing that you need help with and take on projects that will let you learn. Beta reading is work, but it should be work that you can do without having to force yourself.

Read twice.
Read it once as a reader. Make notes if you have to, but wait for the second read-through to critique. Read it the second time with a critical eye and a red pen.

Be thorough.
However you decide to beta read, be thorough. Give all parts of the manuscript your attention. This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine, as when I first started using beta readers, I had a couple of them who started off each beta with many, many notes, but once they got to the last half, they just sort of... stopped making notes. Be consistent with your critique throughout the manuscript.

Be prompt.
If you have offered or agreed to beta read, turn the story around as quickly as possible. Chances are that the writer is counting on you. She may be working on some sort of deadline, she may be anxious, she may just want to finish the story and move on. Returning your notes quickly is appreciated just as much as the notes themselves.

Be honest.
This is the single most important tip for beta reading. Be honest in your critique. Be honest about what you liked and what you didn't like. Don't give false praise or flattery. You're doing a job and that job is not butt-kisser.

For more beta reading resources, check out the following links:

• How to Beta Read
• Tips for Beta Readers
• Tips on Beta Reading from a Beta

All About Editing: Self-Editing

Self-editing is the final bit of work you should do on your manuscript before you send it off to your editor or your beta reader. Self-editing is also something you should be really, really good at--especially if you're going DIY the whole way. Compared to editing your own work, editing someone else's work is ridiculously easy, so if you're interested in editing for others, learning to self-edit well is one of the first steps you should take.

Identify your problem areas and focus on those.
I tend to abuse the em dash, the semi-colon, and the comma. Maybe you confuse your and you're, or you abuse the ellipsis. Whatever your weakness may be, focus on it. Scour your manuscript for instances of your weakness(es) and eliminate them. If you're anything like me, this will get frustrating and you will, eventually, learn to stop being so abusive of language.

Compare your manuscript to a traditionally published manuscript.
Especially if you are a "new" writer (read: a writer who has just set pen to paper/fingers to keyboard), compare your manuscript to one that has been traditionally published. If you write fiction, pick up a fiction novel. If you write non-fiction, pick up non-fiction. Really look at the published work. Do your quotations look the same? Do your paragraph styles look similar? Are your chapters roughly the same length?

Focus on the basics.
Spelling. Grammar. Use your word processor's spell check. If you use MS Word, give the sentences with the green squiggly a second glance, but keep in mind that MS Word is not programmed with the Grammar Bible. Speaking of the Grammar Bible, it's a good idea to learn the rules of grammar. You are not too old or too smart or too big to go back to third grade (or fifth grade, or whatever) and re-learn elementary English. Keep in mind that you can't effectively break the rules of grammar unless you actually know those rules.

Don't jump heads.
Nora Roberts is notorious for this. You're probably not Nora Roberts, so don't do it. Pick one point-of-view (POV) and stick with it. Many first-time novelists choose first-person narrative, and that's fine, but whichever POV you choose, make sure you don't slip into Author Narrative and tell the reader things your POV character can't possibly know. Don't mix things up until you're confident that you can do one style consistently and well.

Check your tense.
Examine your manuscript for consistent tense use. If you start off in present tense, don't suddenly start using past tense. It is entirely too easy to switch back and forth while you're writing, so be very careful.

Hardcopies are your friends.
The best way to edit your manuscript is the old-fashioned way: a printed copy and a pen that can double as a machete. If you can read your work out loud as you edit, that's even better. If you absolutely must edit on the computer, read backwards. Start at the end and work your way back, word by word, then sentence by sentence, then paragraph by paragraph.

For more self-editing resources, click the following links.

• Self-Editing by Lori Handeland
• How To Edit Your Own Writing: Self-Editing Checklist
• Self-Editing Success by Carole Moore
• 10+ Ways to Improve Your Writing by Self-Editing
• Before You Submit: Tips for Self-Editing
• Seeking the Write Life tag: Self Editing Tips and Tricks
• More Self-Editing Tips
• 10 Tips for Self-Editing
• Three Tips for Self-Editing
• Self-Editing Tips at the Novel Doctor

Guest Post from Nicole: "Editing in English"

Language fascinates me. I'm interested in how we use it, how it shapes our thoughts, and how people who know more than one language think and work with words. For our first All About Editing post, freelance editor Nicole wrote some about language and some about editing, satisfying my curiosity and--I hope--piquing your interest in the professional editing process. 

***

How will she be able to edit my manuscript; she's not even English!

That's what I get a lot. Maybe not directly, but people do think that way. To many English-speaking natives it's impossible to understand that a person with German mother tongue is editing English manuscripts.

The answer is: I just read it, make comments as I go along and I make you work hard. To me, reading English is no different to reading German. There might be the odd term I don't understand, but that's what dictionaries were invented for.

I've been in the UK for five years and spoke English from day one. Of course I had learned it at school for many years, which is a big advantage, but being in the country is what makes your brain switch. I speak, write, dream and breathe English. On the other hand, I'll admit it wasn't easy in the beginning. I remember the first book I bought over here: the biography of Jamie Oliver – or better one of them and I had difficulties reading it. Although I read English before, I never read a book, only music magazines. Those problems didn't put me off; instead, they posed a challenge, which I happily accepted. I've loved reading all my life and since I moved over here I wanted to read in English, one of my favourite languages. I've not bought a German book since then and, in April 2009, I've even started to write in English. The transformation from a German speaker to an English author was hard and a steep learning curve, but certainly most useful. I've learned that when I write in English, I seem to think in English, then compare what I want to say with German the same time I'm typing. It happens in a matter of seconds, but still shows in my syntax.

Reading is different: as far as I know, there's no comparing or double checking. Which is why it doesn't have an effect on my editing. Since I'm specialising on synopses, character- and plot-development, my focus lies on anything but grammar. To be honest, I never knew about my editing talents, I didn't even know I could do it at all. It's when I started to critique others on a writers' site, that my talent surfaced; people told me I've helped them a lot and that I should pursue it as a career. After a few months of editing for free, I started out as a freelance editor and since then I've helped quite a few writers to transform their manuscripts into a state ready for submission. Same goes for synopses. I've yet to meet one that defeats me.

I'm well-known for my machete skills and I chop up every piece that is put in front of me, meticulously looking for inconsistencies and glitches. And to be able to do that, you don't need to be perfect at grammar, everyone who's got a good eye for details, common sense and logic – some of the most important assets an editor has to have – can pick up on them. My clients respect me for my picking apart their books, for my suggestions on how to fix problems, for helping them to see. They don't disrespect me for not being a native. Once they trust me with their novels it's clear that I'm more than capable of doing my job as good as a native with a degree hanging on the wall. The only difference is that I may charge less.

As for copy-editing: here's another challenge for me and I'm determined to learn the grammar, not only for my own sake, but for my clients' sake, for I would love to be able to offer all services in future, including proofing. I do a bit already; dialogue attributes for example. I've learned how to use them the hard way: by comparing my own writing to traditionally published books. As a result I'm teaching my clients how to use them correctly. They've become one of my pet hates: if used incorrectly, it will throw the reader out of the story. Talking of pet hates, I've got a few more.

Many writers start sentences with present continues form: Running down the stairs, she pulled on her jeans. I really would love to see that. What the sentence really says: She runs down the stairs while pulling on her jeans. Quite complicated – if not impossible – if you ask me. You would not believe how many times I have to highlight those and it drives me mad. Of course they have their place in writing: Walking through the park, she thought about what happened last night, would be a correct use of the form, but if every third sentence begins like that, it becomes a rather tiring read.

***

You can contact Nicole at her editing blog, Synopsisandbookfactory. While you're there, why not read what her clients have to say about working with her?

Monday Miscellany

After my SitRep Saturday post, I ended up writing another thousand words or so on the vampire WIP and then inspiration really struck and I set the novel aside to action draft one short story and outline a novelette.

The short story is the first I had planned to write for another three-story erotica/romance anthology. I've had the basic outline and plot for it written for a while, I just hadn't gotten around to writing it.

And then, once I was finished with that, inspiration really took over. Between Saturday evening and yesterday, I ended up writing 6100 words of an action draft of a romance novelette. Hence the photo you see to the left (available here): I'm looking for another book cover. I mean, I still have work to do; I need to finish the action draft, then draft it, then go through the revision and editing process, but since book cover design is such a tricky thing, I thought it couldn't hurt to get started.

But wait, there's more to this post!

This week is All About Editing week here at From the Writer's Desk. I'll have a guest post from an editor going up tomorrow, then we'll discuss self-editing on Wednesday, then beta-reading on Thursday. Right now, the Friday schedule is still a little open and I may very well decide to discuss editing next week, too, but I'm very excited about this. Editing is such a huge part of the writing process. It's just as important as the idea and the actual writing itself. I want to share tools and resources. I want to direct you, my lovely readers, toward some wonderful editors.

And I want to do this now, before NaNoWriMo, because while writing a novel in a month is a really great thing, chances are that novel is going to need some editing. Sharing the information I have, giving a couple of editors the chance to shine a little, is going to get you thinking (I hope) about how you're going to edit (should you choose to participate in NaNo).

Having this specific series of posts to think about is also serving to kick my lazy butt back in gear. The husband will be home from training this week and that means my vacation is over. I've slacked so much that my blog hits have really taken a nose dive. How am I ever going to meet my goal of 600 hits now? Le sigh. This just means I'm going to have to work harder.

Blog Roundup: October 10 - 16, 2011

In honor of Halloween (I guess), Chuck Wendig posted 25 Things You Should Know About Writing Horror.

Stella Deleuze made a fun post about the behind-the-scenes of novel writing. It made me smile.

Amanda Hocking posted a rant (sort of) about the whole "million books sold" deal. She makes an excellent, simple point: write well. The sales come later, the writing comes first.

If you write erotica or romance or some combination of the two, Erotic Romance should be on your blogroll. The industry information is invaluable.

Into The Morning has a useful "mini rant" on blogs. I, for one, am always looking for little things to improve and tweak here and at my website, so I enjoy finding these posts.

If you're reading this blog, you're probably a writer. And you probably have people in your life who don't "get it." Direct them to this post at James Killick's blog. It's a good summary of the creative process, I think.

Keystrokes and Word Counts, in their new home, had three posts on preparing for NaNoWriMo. If you're going to participate, I strongly suggest preparing.

I recently discovered Sierra Godfrey's blog. This is another one I recommend you add to your blogroll for posts like why blogging works for writers and writerly afflictions. Any place that combines humor and information is my kind of place.

Sirra shared another round of writing tips.

Written Words is doing a series on "GRIP" (goal, reader, idea, plan). If you're a plotter, especially if you're a new plotter, it's worth checking out.

Your Cover Uncovered has a new cover review up.

SitRep Saturday: WIPs & Real Life

That image is my new desktop. I found it here when I was searching for potential covers for the vampire WIP. That story, by the way, is definitely no longer called Strawberry Moon. Anyway, I really like this image. I like the texture and color of the rocks and the vegetation contrasted with the bright blue of the water in the background. This looks like a place I really want to visit.

On the subject of the vampire WIP, I'm proud to say that I've at least been productive there: I have completed the action draft of the entire novel and I've drafted half of the second chapter. (The first chapter was already done.) I managed to write nearly two thousand words between yesterday and this morning, so as long as I keep it up, I should be on track to finish the draft by the end of this month. I have goals. I just have to meet them.

The problem I'm having now, though, is that the novel is most definitely not young adult anymore. At least, not in the sense that it could be aimed at the 13 - 18 year-old crowd. It might be appropriate for the 17/18 crowd, but there are parts of it that have become much, much darker than I first expected. I had such a hard time action drafting the last several chapters because the darkness was getting to me. It wasn't what I first intended at all. I've come to the conclusion that I just have to write what the story needs, even if it makes me incredibly uncomfortable, and I can worry about marketing it once it's done.

I've been a lazy blogger and Twit the last couple of weeks. I just haven't felt like being online much. With my husband away at training, I have access to the car whenever I want it and I've been taking advantage of that. The kiddo and I have gone out and seen a little more of Germany (including a trip to the Frankfurt zoo). There's also the issue of Daddy Is Gone. She's old enough to understand that he's gone but not old enough to understand why and since she's a total Daddy's girl, she's been really needy and clingy.

Sometimes, I think we just have to step away from work. I'm fortunate enough to have the luxury of staying home with my daughter. It was nice to step back and recharge.

But now, I have plans for next week. I already have one guest post and I'll send off the Q&A for another. I'm planning two of my own posts, which I will get to researching and starting this weekend. I think it'll be really exciting and really useful. I can't wait.