tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post6678361988779579638..comments2024-03-28T06:16:39.508+00:00Comments on Help! I Need a Publisher!: SELF-EDITING - MY GUIDENicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-85032954239706089162010-07-30T22:05:56.879+01:002010-07-30T22:05:56.879+01:00I really enjoyed this post and follow a similar st...I really enjoyed this post and follow a similar structure myself.<br /><br />As much as I loathe reading aloud, I find it to be an essential service to my writing.Brad Jaegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12672047492091058737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-14732058305437803372010-07-30T21:37:20.000+01:002010-07-30T21:37:20.000+01:00All great tips -- so interesting to hear the proce...All great tips -- so interesting to hear the processes of other writers. Oh, and I LOVE how your comments box says, "all sensible and measured comments welcome." You said it, sister!Average Girlhttp://misadventuresofaveragegirl.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-66351484734777640972010-07-30T11:41:21.952+01:002010-07-30T11:41:21.952+01:00Thanks, Nicola. I'm currently editing the firs...Thanks, Nicola. I'm currently editing the first draft of my WIP so this is beyond useful. And yes, reading aloud to an empty room can feel a little awkward at first but after a few chapters you don't even notice. Plus, I live on my own so I'm always talking to myself, anyway! ;)Tanya Byrnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17683336389946542805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-59450524640034614602010-07-29T21:27:20.198+01:002010-07-29T21:27:20.198+01:00I like editing, because I get to see the book come...I like editing, because I get to see the book come together from a big mess to something tighter and better that actually resembles a finished manuscript. <br /><br />Somewhere I read that learning all this makes your writing better. I tend to self-edit as I go to the point where it drags me down. So the harder thing for me is not learning how to properly clean up and rewrite, but to free up Elizabeth Westhttp://aelizabethwest.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-91672285519892314462010-07-29T20:59:53.348+01:002010-07-29T20:59:53.348+01:00Excellent post as always! Yes, I find leaving the ...Excellent post as always! Yes, I find leaving the first draft to stew, + reading it out loud (well, a sort of mumble) helps me a lot.<br /><br />:-)David John Griffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01524610087056533062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-29580231515281143792010-07-29T18:06:02.923+01:002010-07-29T18:06:02.923+01:00Reading aloud is key to a good edit, in my opinion...Reading aloud is key to a good edit, in my opinion. I use a program Natural Reader. But I must admit, my internal editor never quite shuts up. Even as I read the umpteenth draft, my IE thinks, "Now, you know you can improve that sentence." Helpful, but annoying at times.Lisa J Yardehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05111498397731973454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-69386161374430005302010-07-29T11:23:07.444+01:002010-07-29T11:23:07.444+01:00Nicola,
Your timing is impeccable, as I'm curr...Nicola,<br />Your timing is impeccable, as I'm currently editing my crime novel. So thanks for your time and advice, Nicola. It's greatly appreciated.<br />Regards,<br />ColAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17913040012695421077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-31143429781487182362010-07-29T10:49:17.900+01:002010-07-29T10:49:17.900+01:00Great tips - I am a huge believer in reading aloud...Great tips - I am a huge believer in reading aloudHannah Stonehamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11139146341592918233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-3157113707272101942010-07-28T23:12:04.761+01:002010-07-28T23:12:04.761+01:00It is nice to know that this wise human can now se...It is nice to know that this wise human can now see again but be warned everyone - Nicola now has new glasses and is aiming her paws at MY tuna. :-)catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-115607611155525692010-07-28T22:42:23.581+01:002010-07-28T22:42:23.581+01:00I find that one important technique is to leave it...I find that one important technique is to leave it sit for awhile.<br />You need to separate yourself from the work to a point where when you read it, it all sounds new to you.<br /><br />Maybe not as long as King does his, but still long enough that you will see new errors and maybe even learn something new that you didn't remember about your work.John M Poindexterhttp://www.johnpoindexter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-75154859191638421682010-07-28T16:32:42.073+01:002010-07-28T16:32:42.073+01:00This is a great article, and heartening to see tha...This is a great article, and heartening to see that it more or less outlines my own process. <br /><br />I have just done the final copy edit of my novel CUCKOO before it goes to the typesetters, and I was shocked at how many little typos and inconsistencies the eagle eyed copy-editor picked up that had been missed by both me and my editor through two edits beyond my own final draft. There was Julia Crouchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13100989646858778410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-47499409515799425232010-07-28T15:43:03.486+01:002010-07-28T15:43:03.486+01:00This is absolutely wonderful! I can give my new be...This is absolutely wonderful! I can give my new beta this check list and use it when I beta for others. Thank you so much!Alleged Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869021184116123477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-83277523757189558502010-07-28T14:53:43.428+01:002010-07-28T14:53:43.428+01:00Some can read aloud, some can't. I can't b...Some can read aloud, some can't. I can't because my jaw begins to ache after a minute or so.<br /><br />For those who can, I think it's a good idea. If you can get an audience, it's easier.Karen Schwabachnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-46655536120014608492010-07-28T14:49:51.561+01:002010-07-28T14:49:51.561+01:00"# If you can leave it out and retain the sam..."# If you can leave it out and retain the same meaning, do.<br /># If when you’re reading aloud, you sense your imaginary audience yawning, tighten it up."<br /><br />Those are both going up on the ol' quote wall right next to "the story is king". Thanks!Karen Schwabachnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-56971496443747907872010-07-28T14:16:28.570+01:002010-07-28T14:16:28.570+01:00I'm certainly going to give a few of these a t...I'm certainly going to give a few of these a try come editing time. I've forced myself to turn off my contstant editor as I'm writing. I know several things that need revision back at the beginning and I'm having a hard time leaving them until the first draft is finished!Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01391867546599335769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-19334955938371118622010-07-28T13:45:06.619+01:002010-07-28T13:45:06.619+01:00Phew - I'm glad someone else can't help bu...Phew - I'm glad someone else can't help but note changes that need doing as they go! I note them on The Plan (AKA, my WIP bible that bullet points each scene), and refer to it while writing and editing. Naturally, that document ends up dog-eared and ever-expanding!<br /><br />As an aside on the 'their' thing - I always consider that if it was good enough for Jane Austen (and GentlewomanThief/Clarehttp://gentlewomanthief.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-74083181437136257082010-07-28T12:46:34.699+01:002010-07-28T12:46:34.699+01:00This is a personal thing and people often pick me ...This is a personal thing and people often pick me up on it when I write things for work - I need an extra, final stage of editing to expunge the word 'probably' from my text! Fortunately it's easy to track the word down and destroy it in MS Word, so I just leave it until last and then zap them all at once.sheilamcperryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444979085877277654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-66954633366361863132010-07-28T12:13:10.433+01:002010-07-28T12:13:10.433+01:00Reading out loud is recommended by a lot of people...Reading out loud is recommended by a lot of people and it will do a lot more than find errors. It will help the flow of the story too if read well. Robert E Howard was notorious for this; some of his neighbours thought him odd when passing his house and hearing him booming out his stories, but it worked wonders for his writing, which is still in print seventy plus years after his death.<br /><br j purdiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07141166257366384474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-60362144191996580072010-07-28T12:06:09.535+01:002010-07-28T12:06:09.535+01:00The read aloud thing is essential, I think. It'...The read aloud thing is essential, I think. It's the best way of picking up repetition and poor rhythm.Keren Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-4188346406240389722010-07-28T11:11:40.614+01:002010-07-28T11:11:40.614+01:00Buffy and Mark - doh! Now I do feel silly. I didn&...Buffy and Mark - doh! Now I do feel silly. I didn't find the mistake because I'd already changed the whole sentence before looking for mistakes! Also - believe this or not - my "appointment" was with the optician because i can't see the computer screen properly! I have now been prescribed computer specs and will soon have no excuse...Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-22692500021463496982010-07-28T11:06:17.243+01:002010-07-28T11:06:17.243+01:00Welcome back!
I write a column on rewriting/self-e...Welcome back!<br />I write a column on rewriting/self-editing for Writers' Mag Words With Jam - the back issues are online for free (my pieces seem always to be on page 26)<br />http://www.wordswithjam.co.uk/#/back-issues/4539850023<br /><br />I take a piece from original through the different stages one at a time with track changes and little comments as well as longer explanatory texts. My Dan Hollowayhttp://danholloway.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-18223965106590357592010-07-28T11:02:53.793+01:002010-07-28T11:02:53.793+01:00"moot point but I always take the view that t..."moot point but I always take the view that the subject of "switch off" is "writers" and so requires "their". (I presume that's what you're talking about?) I also think it sounds more natural. I do hate the usual mistake regarding single subjects follwed by disagreeing plural pronoun, but in this structure it works. Do you disagree?"<br /><br />ThatMark Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183394221961369630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-81672622102680652052010-07-28T10:58:41.908+01:002010-07-28T10:58:41.908+01:00Hah, no, I think Mark meant you'd written '...Hah, no, I think Mark meant you'd written 'of' when you should have had 'off' :).<br /><br />Pace always eludes me. That's where I need help. I don't think I even understand how to change it.nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-76072973935894150082010-07-28T10:50:19.511+01:002010-07-28T10:50:19.511+01:00Marc - moot point but I always take the view that ...Marc - moot point but I always take the view that the subject of "switch off" is "writers" and so requires "their". (I presume that's what you're talking about?) I also think it sounds more natural. I do hate the usual mistake regarding single subjects follwed by disagreeing plural pronoun, but in this structure it works. Do you disagree?<br /><br />CharmaineNicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-28099494699201186292010-07-28T09:02:38.279+01:002010-07-28T09:02:38.279+01:00Oh yowl! I cannot read aloud. I actually dislike b...Oh yowl! I cannot read aloud. I actually dislike being read to unless the reader is very, very professional. Oddly I can hear it in my head. <br />The most useful self-editing exercise for me is to leave it alone for a while and then go back to it. I cringe when I see some of the misplaced cat hairs and the clumps of cat hair that should have been removed. The temptation to keep working on it hascatdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.com