Something I've noticed is that a lot of the time when people are giving you writing advice, they're all like, “Edit your book, edit your book!” But no one ever really tells you HOW to edit your book.
So here we go. Here’s an explanation of how I edit my books: break. it. down.
Step 1. by sentence.
Ask yourself:
a. What tense is this sentence? Sometimes, without even knowing it, you'll find yourself switching from past to present tense. Or maybe that's just me. Either way.
b. Is every word in this sentence absolutely necessary for it to make sense? Less is more. Usually.
Step 2. by paragraph.
Ask yourself:
1. Are these complete sentences? Now, keep in mind that when people talk, they don't really talk in complete sentences 100% of the time. But if it's not dialogue, then it should be complete.
So here we go. Here’s an explanation of how I edit my books: break. it. down.
Step 1. by sentence.
Ask yourself:
a. What tense is this sentence? Sometimes, without even knowing it, you'll find yourself switching from past to present tense. Or maybe that's just me. Either way.
b. Is every word in this sentence absolutely necessary for it to make sense? Less is more. Usually.
Step 2. by paragraph.
Ask yourself:
1. Are these complete sentences? Now, keep in mind that when people talk, they don't really talk in complete sentences 100% of the time. But if it's not dialogue, then it should be complete.
Even if it is dialogue, make sure that you have complete sentences every once in a while so that the reader knows the character is capable of forming a complete sentence outside of it being accidental.
2. Are there any run-on sentences? This part is pretty self explanatory. I think we all learned in 3rd grade why run-ons are bad.
Step 3. by chapter.
Ask yourself:
a. What is “smelled” in this chapter?
b. What is “heard” in this chapter?
c. What is “tasted” in this chapter?
d. What is “seen” in this chapter
e. What is “touched” in this chapter?
Step 4. highlight.
1. Highlight all words that end in LY in your least favorite color. Try to destroy that color. AKA: get rid of the LY words.
2. Highlight every character (both their speaking parts and parts where they are mentioned/talked about) in their own individual color. Now you have an awesome visual at how appropriate your characters' book times are. Obvioushint: the main character should have the most color, supporting roles should have much less. If someone only has a line or two of color... maybe consider getting rid of them. Clearly they're not all that important and it's just another character for the reader to remember.
Then, if you're not ridiculously sick of your book, read it backwards so that you can catch all the misspellings and punctuation errors that neither you nor Microsoft picked up on. If you are ridiculously sick of your book then still do this cause really you're not reading it.
Step 3. by chapter.
Ask yourself:
a. What is “smelled” in this chapter?
b. What is “heard” in this chapter?
c. What is “tasted” in this chapter?
d. What is “seen” in this chapter
e. What is “touched” in this chapter?
Sensory writing is probably the most important thing ever. J/K, but your writing won't be nearly as gripping unless the reader can personally sense what's going on.
Step 4. highlight.
1. Highlight all words that end in LY in your least favorite color. Try to destroy that color. AKA: get rid of the LY words.
2. Highlight every character (both their speaking parts and parts where they are mentioned/talked about) in their own individual color. Now you have an awesome visual at how appropriate your characters' book times are. Obvioushint: the main character should have the most color, supporting roles should have much less. If someone only has a line or two of color... maybe consider getting rid of them. Clearly they're not all that important and it's just another character for the reader to remember.
Then, if you're not ridiculously sick of your book, read it backwards so that you can catch all the misspellings and punctuation errors that neither you nor Microsoft picked up on. If you are ridiculously sick of your book then still do this cause really you're not reading it.
And that's how it's done.
I mean, there are actually a vajillion ways to edit a book... but this is mine. It's thorough. It's effective. And it's fool proof.
Probably.
After all this, you can send it to friends, before or after returning it to normal colors, and see what they think.
Voila. You're welcome.
Very nice tips! I'll have to try using them the next time I edit.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I totally dig the pun in your blog title. Puns = awesomeness.
This reminds me of the other day. So in my Geometry class, there's this girl who sits next to me. And I was writing as usual, yes I had a few minutes in between notes, and she asked what I was writing. And I bathered on for a few minutes about my books.
ReplyDeleteAnd then in a completely serious face and tone asked me, "How are you going to edit them?"
I gave her a look. "Um...the way you're suppose to edit them?"
Her. "And what's that?"
I thought it was kinda a stupid question (I mean, you pretty much are taught how to in English classes. Plus, I think the basic concept is to check over spelling and grammar), but this post makes me realize that not everyone may know how to edit stuff.