As usual, RH did a superb job of going through this – not only catching some deep POV fixes, but also some structural issues to do with her filmmaking, etc. Note the discussion about using senses to create a picture of the emotion the POV character is feeling, also. It so helps to have another set of eyes, doesn’t it? Note too, there were a couple suggestions RH made that I may incorporate into the next draft, as I clean it up. Then I’ll hand it to SK, and let the polisher at it! RH comments highlighted in green, SMW comments highlighted in yellow, and new changes in RED. As always – if you have any questions, head over to VOICES! Chapter 2.1 Rough Draft B “It just feels like running […]
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Oh, do I have a treat for you! Line Edits on Chapter 1.2!
My good pal, Editor Extraordinaire Susan K. Downs has stepped in to add her editor’s voice to Blog-a-Book! While Rachel, Sarah and I are Story Crafters (a Susie-ism that I’m claiming for Book Therapy!) Susan K. Downs is an award-winning editor who has worked for numerous publishers and most recently started the Spyglass mystery line at Barbour. We are priviledged to have her voice added to our project – and you’ll get now a look at LINE EDITING, and how each word works together. I’m still experiementing on how to post this, but for now, look at the footnote, and then scroll down to see her comments, and occassionally, mine in response. It’s a great way to learn ways on how to polish your manuscript. Oh, and I’m […]
Read the RestWhat I learned in ’08
As writers, we should never stop learning the craft. The more we write, the more we learn. I’m very fortunate to work with a brilliant editor who sees the art beneath all my mistakes and gently guides me in the right direction. Haven recently rewritten a book with my editors guidance, here are three things I’ve added to my arsenal. Dialog. Yes, of course, I’ve always used dialog. I consider it one of the most important factors of fiction writing, but dialog must count. In 2008, I honed the idea that dialog creates momentum, moves the story forward. Don’t slow it down with paragraphs of description or internal thought. Keep action tags and speaker attributes behind the dialog as much as possible. Of course, the “rule” can be bent, but […]
Read the RestStrengthening a scene vs. rearranging words?
Now, what is the difference between strengthening a scene and re-arranging the words? Strengthening a scene is discovering the emotional significance to the scene, the way it will affect the overall book, and milking it for the reader. Using setting and dialogue and body language and disappointment and WORDS to cut to the heart of a character. Let’s take a look at the editing process in an actual scene. Below are three excerpts…the original, the edit, and the final product. See if you can see how I applied my editing checklist to strengthen the scene. This is the prologue from In Sheep’s Clothing. Prologue Five more minutes and she would be safe. Gracie Benson hunched her shoulders and pulled the woolly brown scarf over her […]
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