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| Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print |
It seems like everyone hates editing. I like editing. When I’m editing I’m reading my novel, and I like my novel, so I enjoy reading over it again and crafting it into something better. Maybe I’m weird.
After I had already edited my novel to what I thought was
near perfection, I read a book called “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to
Edit Yourself Into Print” by Renni Browne and Dave King. This book helped me a
lot. When I read the first few chapters I thought I’ve got this, but when I got to the chapters on dialog mechanics
and resisting the urge to explain everything, I realized I had a lot of work to
do. So I did another couple of rounds with those things in mind.
The book also suggests that you read everything aloud as part of the process. I did this too and I was amazed at the things I hadn’t noticed in all my silent readings, like words that were repeated three or four times in one paragraph, and sentences that didn’t have quite the right flow.
I feel like the whole process has been really good practice. Learning to edit makes your writing better.
The book also suggests that you read everything aloud as part of the process. I did this too and I was amazed at the things I hadn’t noticed in all my silent readings, like words that were repeated three or four times in one paragraph, and sentences that didn’t have quite the right flow.
I feel like the whole process has been really good practice. Learning to edit makes your writing better.
Enjoyed this book, too. Great info.
ReplyDeleteI love editing too mostly because it means I actually have something done enough to edit :).
ReplyDeleteI love editing. I think it's the former language arts teacher in me getting to use red pen (okay not on screen) again. ;)
ReplyDeleteI wish I could read more of my stuff out loud. Alas, I do most of my writing and editing at night, and I'm afraid I'd wake up the kidlet. 'Course, I guess I could go into a farther away room- but the couch is sooo comfy! =D
ReplyDeleteInteresting post:) Thanks for the comment:)
ReplyDeleteI've heard the advice that we should read everything aloud, but I just recently heard a writer say that we should have someone ELSE read our work out loud to us. Wow. I'm sure it would help, but I don't know who would be willing ;)
ReplyDelete