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Editing By Twos: An Editing Checklist of Sorts

By on December 7, 2011 in Editing Basics

I’ve run across a number of editing checklists as I’ve read through the blogosphere. Seems every writer has one. (Google “editing checklists” and in 0.17 seconds you get 983,000 results.) Nothing wrong with checklists. I usually peruse them and think, “Good points. I need to remember some of ‘em the next time I’m editing a manuscript.” Do I ever refer back to any of them? Nope. Why not? Well … to be honest, most of the checklists are l-o-n-g. They are more like editing encyclopedias rather than checklists. Do writers really do all those dozens of steps? If I could distill editing down to the basics, what would those key points be?  I would divide editing into two phases: a Big Picture Edit and Fine Line Edits. A Big Picture […]

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Back Story vs Character History

By on December 1, 2011 in Author Mistakes, Backstory, Editing Basics

Ding, ding!. Referee: “Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the first ever bout between Back Story and Character History.” Wahhaaaaa. Cheeerrrs! Ref: “In this corner, from the New York City, weighing a hefty five hundred and eighty-two pounds, wearing black shorts, is the champion of all novel prose, Baaaaack Storrrryyyyyy!” Waahhhha, crowd cheering. “And in this corner, from Miami Beach, weighing a sleek one hundred and seventy-eight pounds, wearing blue shorts, is the challenger, Chhhaaaarrracter Hhhiiiistorrrryyy.” Wahhhhha, other half of the crowd cheering. Ref: “All right you twos, I want a clean fight. No hitting below the belt, no tripping, spitting, holding or biting. Touch gloves, go to your mutual corners and when the bell rings, come out fighting.” Ding! Character History leaps to the center of the ring as Back […]

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The Construction of Chapter 8 – Kenzie’s scene. Don’t Rush the Drama!

By on November 29, 2011 in Chapter 8, Editing Basics, How do I write the Character Change Journey?, How to write a Romance, How to write a Suspense, Limelight – Sample Novel, Susan May Warren, Suspense, Writing

   One of the struggles I see with many writers – and even myself – is the rush to the climatic parts of the story.  They see the drama of the big pieces and want to get there immediately to wow the reader. However, the problem is when we don’t give the drama resonance – when we don’t show the progression of emotions leading up to it, and the significance of the drama, we miss out on the punch. I always advise clients to take their time, to feel the nuances of the scene and allow the reader to, also.  However, sometimes it can feel like eating an elephant.  You have so far to go, and today you’reworking on a toenail. (okay, yuck.  Maybe I should find another analogy).  What […]

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Writers’ Math: Word Count Basics

By on November 23, 2011 in Beth Vogt, Editing Basics, Writing

I’m a writer. I don’t do math. That’s my mantra — and I stuck to it. Until … I ran into two little words: word count. Stay in the writing world long enough, say longer than 24 hours, and you’re gonna run into those two little words too. Word count, like jeans, comes in all shapes and sizes. You’ve got non-fiction word counts for blogs. Magazine articles. E-zines. Devotionals. And then you have word counts for books, both fiction and nonfiction – everything from novellas to self-help to sagas the size of Gone with the Wind (960 pages in paperback). Just what are the basics when it comes to word counts? It depends. Really. It depends on the publisher. But there are some ballpark figures — and that’s what I’m […]

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