Helpful techniques for an author

[D.]

I'm currently in search of an editor. How has everyone gone about doing this?
I should note: I'm writing books as a hobby, not a profession. I'm not looking for an expensive editor.

[Melissa]

D. wrote: "I'm currently in search of an editor. How has everyone gone about doing this?
I should note: I'm writing books as a hobby, not a profession. I'm not looking for an expensive editor."

Check out these threads as they might be helpful - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Melissa]

D. wrote: "I'm currently in search of an editor. How has everyone gone about doing this?
I should note: I'm writing books as a hobby, not a profession. I'm not looking for an expensive editor."

Oops, here's another I missed - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

And don't forget you can use the search discussion bar for a specific topic, so there may be more threads on editors I didn't catch.

[G.G.]

D. wrote: "I'm currently in search of an editor. How has everyone gone about doing this?
I should note: I'm writing books as a hobby, not a profession. I'm not looking for an expensive editor."

A better place to ask such a thing would be in the showcase, our other group. There is a folder especially to ask for help. Here's a link:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Make sure to read the pinned post first.

[Justin]

Amie wrote: "Yeah...I totally didn't know how my story would end until I was at least halfway into my rough draft. I could map out a lot of where it was going but I purposely waited until it revealed itself to ..."

I've never written a true series when it comes to novel wise so I may end up thinking about this. I imagine I'll put stuff in book #1 and ask, hmm maybe I should save that for book #2 or book #3.

[Robert]

Justin wrote: "I've never written a true series when it comes to novel wise so I may end up thinking about this. I imagine I'll put stuff in book #1 and ask, hmm maybe I should save that for book #2 or book #3."

I keep a OneNote notebook with different sections for "plot", "history" (backstory of the setting), "characters," etc. Every time I introduce new characters, even just a quick mention or because I need a plot device, I add them to the OneNote in case they would fit in again later in that book or the next one.

Since I write off a very thin outline and generally just see where the story goes, as I add specific background details to the world I paste them into the OneNote in case that fact becomes relevant again later in the story.

I also have considerably more detail in my notes about the setting, character motivations and biographies, and (because I'm writing fantasy) the "rules" of the magic system than will end up in the book. I find it helps keep the writing a little bit tighter.

Hope that helps. Anyone else do something similar?

[R.K.]

When I finish writing for the day I outline the next scene in parenthesis at the bottom of the page so I know exactly where I want to take the book the next time I write and dont have to waste anytime re-reading the previous chapter.

[Noor]

That's a great tip R.K. I think I need to start doing this. It would help me with this current novel I'm working on which has had a lot of stops and starts!