Shanda Trofe's Blog, page 4

Six Self-editing Tips to Tighten Your Copy

During the self-editing process, it’s a good idea is to have a thesaurus handy to replace any repetitive words with a synonym. You also might want to grab a copy of the Elements of Style, by by Strunk & White if you need help with grammar and punctuation or to polish your prose.

Here are six self-editing tips to tighten up your piece:

1. Always edit with fresh eyes. Once you finish your first draft, it’s a good idea to put it away for a few days before you start the self-editing process. Take some time to relax and recharge your battery. You will come back to your project rejuvenated and ready to tackle the self-editing process with fresh eyes and renewed motivation.

2. Read it aloud. Chances are you will hear things your eyes did not see. Take note of where you stumble while reading your first draft. These are the areas you may want to consider rewriting. Any sentence you have to go back and read twice is a good indication of an area that needs to be reworded. If you stumble, chances are your readers will, too. Be mindful for longer sentences that may be exhausting to readers. Consider breaking longer sentences into shorter ones for reading ease.

3. Eliminate. Make your writing more concise and easier to read by eliminating unnecessary words and unneeded prepositions. See which words you can omit without losing the clarity of the sentence. For example, you can make your writing more concise and easier to read just by eliminating the word “that” in most sentences.

Here’s an example:

I’ve decided that I am going to write a book.

Versus

I’ve decided I am going to write a book.

Which sentence reads better for you? Other extraneous words to watch for are: just, very, really and some.

If writing fiction, watch for weak passive language such as: the “ly” words, “to be” verbs, especially when used with “ing” words. Use strong, active verbs to “show” rather than “tell.”

We’ve all heard of show don’t tell, but what does that mean?

Here is an example of telling:

It was easy to see Salina’s comments were making John angry.

Here is an example of how you would “show” John’s anger instead:

As each bitter comment rolled off Salina’s tongue, John’s jaw clenched—his face a flushed crimson shade of red.

Can you see why the showing sentence is more appealing to the reader than the telling sentence? Instead of telling the reader John is angry, show the reader what John’s anger looks like.

Tip: To learn more about this concept, I highly recommend Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View, by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.

4. Perform a line-edit. Carefully edit each line separately individually, then each paragraph, as well as each section. One trick is to edit each out of order and then go back and look at the piece as a whole.

5. Watch for Redundancy. Use a thesaurus to replace repetitive words with synonyms. A thesaurus can be a writer’s best friend and are often built into most writing programs. If you are using Microsoft Word, click the Review tab from the Toolbar.

6. Do a spelling and grammar check. Use your discretion when using the grammar check tool in Word. Be mindful of suggested grammar corrections so that you don’t lose your unique writing voice. For example, sentence fragments are sometimes used to gain an effect. Your grammar checker will likely advise against all sentence fragments, but sometimes they are necessary and should be used at the author’s discretion.

Tip: If you don’t mind paying for a good online grammar checker, try Grammarly.com.

 

 

This excerpt is from Chapter Five of my book, Write from the Heart: A Step-by-Step Writing Guide to Get Your Message from Idea to Publication.

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Now taking pre-orders for Write from the Heart

Finally! The long anticipated day has come when I am able to announce the launch of my book, Write from the Heart: A Step-by-Step Writing Guide to Get Your Message from Idea to Publication.

I am now taking orders for the print edition for only $12.95 with FREE Shipping within the US for a limited time. If you would like to order, please visit my products page for details. Expected ship date: September 1st, 2014!

Book Description:

Shanda Trofe, The Write from the Heart Writing Coach™, specializes in working with aspiring authors to get their message from idea to publication. Through her coaching practice, she urges clients to delve deep within and put their most heartfelt writing forward. This book is a compilation of her coaching techniques, including exercises, challenges, tips and resources designed to inspire you to share your own unique message with the world.

Here’s more of what you’ll find inside:

Inspirational quotes, exercises and tips to keep you motivated throughout the writing process
Alternative techniques such as meditation and journaling to help you develop your story idea
Learn how visualization and words of affirmation can actually help you realize your writing goals
How to build an author platform while writing so you have an audience of readers upon publication
The many publishing options available and how to choose the one that’s right for you
Clever ways to market your book to optimize exposure
Workbook pages so you can do the exercise as you read

…and much more!

Now that my book is complete I will be concentrating on the launch of the Write from the Heart Membership Club as well as my upcoming podcast. To stay informed on what’s to come, be sure to sign up for my newsletter on the right-hand side of the page!

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Fancy meeting YOU here…

I LOVE the synchronicity of the universe!

Somehow you have found your way to my website for a reason, and I don’t believe there are coincidences in life! More than likely you have a message inside you, a story to share that needs to be told, or heard by someone out there who could benefit from YOUR words. Have you found yourself thinking, “Someday I’m going to write my story,” but haven’t known where to start or how to set aside time? Perhaps you’ve already started writing and you’ve found yourself stuck or have abandoned the project?

Well, never fear … I am here to help!

Publishing is my life, but what I have found along my journey is there are many writers and aspiring authors out there with a fear of the writing process, don’t know how to begin or keep stamina, and ultimately abandon their goals and back-shelf their dreams. By holding your story within, you are depriving yourself of a very healing practice … the practice of writing! More importantly, you are also depriving someone out there who could possibly heal and learn by hearing your message.

We all have stories within us, and if there is an idea that keeps coming to mind while you’re reading this, then you know exactly what you need to do. It’s time to tell your unique story and share your message with the world, and I can help you do just that!

I invite you reach out and share your fears and goals with me. Together we will create a coaching program tailored to your individual needs. We all need someone to hold us accountable from time to time, and I am prepared to do that for YOU!

Are you ready to tell your story? Send me an email and we will set up a complimentary phone consultation or select a coaching package here.

I’m waiting to hear from you…

Best wishes to you on your writing journey!

 

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