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Aug 02, 2008

Taka rated it:

Great tips--

As a writer, I winced at every amateur mistake they listed that applied to me. The book tells you how to write a story and edit it so that the reader can identify with the characters and enjoy the story.

It's not catering to the mainstream.

It's about the craft.

Sure, they cite many obscure and minor authors and bash literary giants like Melville et al, but frankly, many of literary giants come to their prominence not because of their sto More...

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May 14, 2008

Kim rated it:

This book came recommended to me so I bought it and then didn't have time to get to it until it came recommended once again. I took it on vacation with me for six weeks and worked on a chapter a day. This worked out great because it gave me time to absorb the information and do the exercises at the end of each chapter.

It's definitely filled with practical advice any new writer needs to know. If you're more experienced, don't let that sway you. We all need reminders from time to time. More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Dec 06, 2011

Carol rated it:

The "bible" for all writers, the most-recommended of all the many how-to-write books out there. You'll still want your Strunk and White if you don't understand grammar and syntax, but this book is the most articulate, easy to read and understand of the fiction writing manuals. A great investment. Funny thing is: you'll read this and think, "I know exactly what they mean. Of course I don't write like that." Then you'll submit your manuscript to a critique group (most likely, a More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 18, 2010

Jacqui rated it:

I am a big self-editor. I don't want a professional editor or even my writer's group to see my writing before it's as good as I can get it. I'm like that in all parts of my life. I clean the house before my house cleaner shows up so she never knows how messy I really am.

I have a long list of self-edits I go through (checking for passive, the use of 'was', repeated words, etc.), but I found a book I like called Self Editing for Fiction Writers, by Renni Browne and Dave King. It covers More...

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Jul 22, 2009

Rebecca rated it:

There are three kinds of writing books.

* Those that try to tell you how to get published. These books generally claim to have found the magic formula to get publishers to accept your book. The problem with this - as the blog entry I linked in my previous post pointed out - is that there is no magic formula.
* Then there are those that try to tell you how to write in the first place. They tend to be a formula the writer found worked for them to get the words out and there More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 12, 2011

Malin rated it:

Even though I think there's a need for a book that explains the basic "how-to's" for beginner writers, this book had too many good "bad examples" and too many bad "good examples" to be objective. The authors seem to have their own fixed way of seeing good writing without making room for the stylistic variations that occur between genres. The give no leeway for different tastes either, and I'm afraid they'll force many new writers into boxed-in space. They do state t More...

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Oct 23, 2010

Josephine rated it:

This book didn't exactly cover what I was hoping for, which was a more general overview of how to go about editing a long manuscript for structural problems. There is some advice about proportion, but on the whole it focuses on polishing your writing scene by scene (or word by word). That said, it is a very useful resource and I've certainly learnt about a few ways I can improve my writing.

The strengths of this as a writing book are in the clear explanations and numerous examples to More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 12, 2012

Pretorios rated it:

While it has some great advice for writers, it also contains some advice of which writers ought to be deeply cautious. It seems to suggest editing with the vigor and recklessness of a brush mower through a field, and, to be frank, the section that edits Fitzgerald demonstrates the low regard of the writers for voice. If there's a problem with modern fiction that I've seen, it's abandoning style in favor of story, and this book is yet one more shove in that direction.

The chapter on s More...

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Sep 25, 2010

Joshua rated it:

In this day and age, whether your are trying to get published through traditional routes or especially if your are self-publishing, it is crucial that a writer knows how to edit their own work to professional standards.

If you turn in a sloppy manuscript to a traditional publisher, you really need to have it polished as possible or you'll get passed up before the editor gives your book a chance.

If you self-publish, you need to have a professional quality book, or you will lose More...

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Aug 28, 2011

Lisa rated it:

The minute I finished this (library) book I went on Amazon and purchased it. This is a must-have reference book, workbook and good read for every fiction writer out there.

The topics are spelled out in the table of contents:
1. Show and tell
2. Characterization and Exposition
3. Point of View
4. Proportion
5. Dialogue Mechanics
6. See how it sounds
7. Interior monologue
8. Easy Beats
9. Breaking up is easy to do
10. Once is usually enough
11. More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 23, 2010

Jae rated it:

It's a very good guide to avoiding looking like a hack writer. One of the most important lessons you can learn is to treat your readers intelligently. You may not even be doing it intentionally, but over-describing, over-attributing, among other things insults them, even if subconsciously and they'll yawn and say your book sucks (and at the time it may).

I don't agree with everything it said, but it had some great eye opening moments and I believe it's improved my writing. I'd also More...

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Apr 02, 2011

Jane rated it:

There are lots of writing craft books around, but this one has an excellent reputation among writer groups. I can see why. It's a thorough, yet not overwhelming, primer on how to look at your own work with critical eyes and edit the living daylights out of it. The authors emphasize that you shouldn't follow their prescriptions too rigidly (as, so they say, people tended to do with the first edition of this book) and thus stay on the fine line between allowing writers the freedom they need to be More...

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Oct 12, 2009

Kevin rated it:

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers proves to be a valuable tool from the first paragraph to the final word. The book is separated into 12 chapters, each chapter ending in Checklist and a Exercise.

Chapter's:

1: Show and Tell Chapter
2: Characterization and Exposition Chapter
3: Point of View Chapter
4: Dialogue Mechanics Chapter
5: See How It Sounds Chapter
6: Interior Monologue Chapter
7: Easy Beats Chapter
8: Breaking Up Is easy T More...

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Feb 28, 2010

Michelle rated it:

What a fantastic book! I think I learned more in the four days I spent reading this book than any other book I've read on writing. I feel like my eyes have been open to mistakes I was making but not quite understanding exactly what was wrong. Showing not telling, dialogue, repetition and sophistication-it is amazing how the small things but such a huge difference in your writing, and the writers of this book have done an excellent job or explaining all of these things clearly.

I'm fig More...

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Jan 08, 2011

Shayne rated it:

I found this very readable, and surprisingly entertaining. The authors have down-to-earth advice on identifying and correcting common problems, with useful examples and exercises.

I like the fact that Browne and King don't talk in terms of hard-and-fast rules, and they give cogent reasons for why they recommend/don't recommend a particular usage or method. They also embrace the idea that different works have different needs - stark, distanced prose is not automatically "right" More...

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Jan 25, 2012

Crys rated it:

I wasn't going to leave a review until I'd used the book's recommendations to edit my novel---after I write it, that is ;-)

But I'm reading some fiction now and it's safe to say Browne's book is danged effective. I'm on the 7th or 8th book in a series, and only now am I noticing how shitty the editing is. I can't blame the writing...the story is solid, interesting characters.

But Heaven deliver me from the repetition, telling instead of showing, and other sins I forget the name More...

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May 08, 2011

Horton rated it:

Everybody has to start somewhere, and this book is probably better than most for helping you to do a good job with your editing. But 1) You can't do it all yourself. You have to have other eyes on the text, and 2) Your publisher (if an indie) or your acquiring editor may have a totally different opinion as to what comprises the English language. You can't rely on everyone to be using the Chicago Manual of Style or any other major style guide. They may have their own style guide that may disa More...

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Jun 27, 2011

Ernest rated it:

Definitely a great book for every writer. Although titled "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" I think this book also teaches a great deal about the process of writing itself. Most of times I feel unsure about my writing but don't actually know what to do about it. Mistakes are sometimes not obvious enough that I can't tell about it straight away. This book simply get rid of that problem.

Craft is what the book all about. Essential tricks, clever tips, that I can actually use More...

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Dec 16, 2010

Tammy rated it:

I hate this book. I hate the idea that any editor could make a classic like The Great Gatsby a better novel. It's actually my life's goal as a writer to do everything this book says not to do and win a Pulitzer Prize. That's how horrified I was at the ego of the two editors/authors. It's a mediocre book of advice in the first place, giving out prescriptions as thought there can be such a thing for artistic work. It also reminds me of teachers I had who would say, "I'm starting everyone More...

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Aug 11, 2011

Jessica rated it:

Want to improve your fiction writing skills? Then this is the book to buy. The editors discuss the most common problems they have to fix when doing their jobs - and give the aspiring author the skills necessary to make their work more professional and become better writers.

The book's chapters each focus on one issue, giving examples of how to and how not to use the techniques, a check list of things to watch for in your writing and exercises to make sure you understand what they're tea More...

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Sep 30, 2011

Dannie rated it:

Self-Editing For Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King is a book all writers—especially self- publishing fiction writers need to read! It might hurt a little—I know it did for me but in the end this book helped me more than anything I’ve read about copy editing.

Having said all that I want to say that it must be taken with a grain of salt. Some of it is right on and some of it comes from someone who—I think—doesn’t like writers that much. The authors continually talk about the ‘ More...

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Jan 25, 2012

Jonathan rated it:

I've just reread this, browsing through it quickly to refresh my memory. It's very good and I am very grateful that someone recommended it to me. You'll probably reread it too. It is impossible to read once because its contents resonate differently after more and more writing practice. I took away a lot from it the first time I read it but there is just too much good advice in it to keep in mind all at once. When I reread it, I kept thinking "Oh, yeah, try to do that." Or I thought: " More...

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Feb 11, 2009

Deborah rated it:

This is an excellent book that I periodically re-read, and I'd recommend it for any writer who's starting out. However, that recommendation would come with a warning since newbie writers often take the book's advice as a series of strict rules.

The advice given by the authors will help make your writing much stronger, but you'll note that pretty much every published writer breaks one or another of these "rules." So read the book and apply the advice were it's helpful, but More...

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Jan 16, 2011

London rated it:

I've read about a dozen books on writing and almost always end up disappointed by either how obvious the advice is or how little attention given to how to implement it in your own writing. This book excels where the others have failed. As I read, I had to fight the urge to open my manuscript and start editing right away.

Nothing about the authors editing principles are leading: they aren't giving techniques to write a particular type of novel, other than a well-crafted, engaging one.
More...

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Dec 27, 2011

Chad rated it:

SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS - In the writing reference book, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King, the editing-authors teach the would-be writer to apply editing techniques they developed. There are important distinctions in writing reference, for example: 1. Writing craft and 2. Fiction mechanics. My favorite book on the topic of craft is Book in a Month; my favorite book on the topic of mechanics is Self-Editing. Self-Editing has a focus on fiction mechanics: More...

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Aug 18, 2011

Marissa rated it:

This book focuses on the nuts and bolts of writing. The authors assume that you have already developed your intriguing plot, your in-depth characters, your climactic scenes, your fabulous opening hook, and written and revised your novel until all the pieces are in their perfect place... and now all you have to do is make the writing sing, in order to distinguish yourself as a professional in a world full of amateurs.This book focuses on the nuts and bolts of writing. The authors assume that you More...

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Jan 16, 2012

Denyse rated it:

As this book states in the introduction, "self-editing is probably the only kind of editing your manuscript will ever get." Gone are the days when editors actually edited or gave suggestions on edits the manuscripts they felt worthy of publication. Now days writers are on their own.

Written by two professional editors, Self-Editing For Fiction Writers covers some of the most difficult characteristics of writing that authors need to think about: showing vs. telling, point of More...

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Jan 28, 2012

David rated it:

The first thing I always want to know when I'm reading a book that purportedly teaches you how to improve your writing, especially if the intent is to be published, is "Okay, how many books have you published?"

However, this isn't necessarily a fair question. My own publication history is pretty thin -- basically, I have written a lot of roleplaying game supplements for a major RPG company. (See my author page for details.) My writing was generally well-regarded, but that's More...

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Oct 11, 2010

Jared rated it:

The most common advice that writing teachers give to writers is "show, don't tell." It's so much of a cliche that every time I hear those words, it makes me want to throttle the speaker and demand specifics. In Browne & King's Self-Editing, I never get that feeling. In teaching how to improve your writing, Browne and King show; they don't tell.

They break writing down into the basic food groups: point of view, characterization, dialog, beats, etc. Within each chapter are More...

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Jan 14, 2012

Donna rated it:

If you’re even considering the thought of editing your own work, whether it’s a full length novel, novella, short story, flash or whatever other piece of fiction you have, go out and buy this book now. Read it cover to cover. Take notes. Read it again. Do the exercises. Relate it to your own work. Read it again. And again. And again.

This book highlights what really are some of the most obvious fallacies a writer can make and it does it in the most poignant of ways. Everything they say More...

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