Editing Tips

[Stoney]

I recently subscribed to writer's digest and got my first magazine. I'm not much of a magazine reader but actually found a lot of valuable information in the issue.

One of the articles was about editing and it laid out some tips to trim your manuscript. One of the tips, in particular, was to try to remove one word from every sentence. Now, I know that's not really plausible, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. I've only done one chapter so far but, amazingly, it works!

I didn't remove a word from every sentence, but it helped me be way more succinct in writing without losing any of the meaning or value. In fact, in almost all cases, it actually enhanced the read, improving the flow and eliminating small redundancies. (For example, one sentence talked about removing the security cameras around the perimeter. I was able to remove the word "security" realizing that it's implied with "cameras around the perimeter." That, and the words were spoken by a security officer.

Anyway, I thought it was a really cool tactic and I never thought I would enjoy deleting words from my MS, but I did. Ultimately, I removed 10% of the words from the chapter and it's better off for it!

Anyone got any other cool editing tips?

[Lara]

Stoney wrote: "I recently subscribed to writer's digest and got my first magazine. I'm not much of a magazine reader but actually found a lot of valuable information in the issue.

One of the articles was about ..."

I've been wondering if Writer's Digest was worth it. Their books are good, but their website looks scammy.

I've been learning to edit down my short stories purely by accident. I'll write an 8,000-word story and then find a publication that wants it only 6,000. At first, I've been just moving on, but now I have been editing down. I've found my stories are much better for it. I guess I should try it on my novels.

Also, I have discovered if a short story is too long, or a novel has a lot of plot holes, consider removing a character. Sometimes a character acts as redundancy for both dialogue and action. When that unnecessary character is gone, I end up giving my other characters more to do and less to repeat. Just something I have learned with my short stories recently as well.

[Stoney]

Lara wrote: "When that unnecessary character is gone, I end up giving my other characters more to do and less to repeat"

Ooooh, I like that! I suppose you could just kill them off too!

[Lara]

Stoney wrote: "Lara wrote: "When that unnecessary character is gone, I end up giving my other characters more to do and less to repeat"

Ooooh, I like that! I suppose you could just kill them off too!"

Ha! I did that once. I haven't had the guts to do it again. Maybe I should.

[John]

I like to read my manuscript out loud. I think fiction is story telling and you can find a surprising amount of errors this way. Reading aloud also lets an author’s voice come through.

John

[Lara]

John wrote: "I like to read my manuscript out loud. I think fiction is story telling and you can find a surprising amount of errors this way. Reading aloud also lets an author’s voice come through."

I totally agree. My problem is that I read what is supposed to be there rather than what I actually wrote. Still, I think this is a good practice, and I catch a lot this way.

[Stoney]

I actually read my second draft out loud to my wife. That was helpful in finding places that needed rewording. Plus, I knew that was the only way she’d read my book! ;)

[Lara]

Stoney wrote: "I actually read my second draft out loud to my wife. That was helpful in finding places that needed rewording. Plus, I knew that was the only way she’d read my book! ;)"

That's what I do with my husband. I have twisted his arm one time to edit one of my books (he is very qualified to do this professionally) and then decided it was better for our marriage if I had a stranger do my future books!

[Steve]

Hah! Husbands and wives are so useful. My wife has been my "alpha tester" for years, and she's the one who trims my verbiage and cuts me down to size. She's not a storyteller, but she has a gift for expressing things concisely and straight to the point. [I can see her running a line through the last 5 words of the previous sentence.] By the time she's finished with one of my draft chapters it may be only two thirds of the original length, but with none of the essential meaning lost.

If your writing is on the verbose side, like mine, I would highly recommend trying to find that kind of proofreader.

[Stoney]

Spouse partners are tricky. My wife often has great ideas but then gets upset if I don't follow all of her advice. Double-edged sword.