Learn from five mistakes that contributed to a “failed” novel, as well as important tips about how you can avoid them in your own story.
Source: 5 Lessons From a Lost Novel – Helping Writers Become Authors
Tag: editing
Writer’s Edit – 6 Top Tips For Dealing With Criticism Of Your Writing
As a writer, you’ll hear feedback about your work in many different contexts. Notes from your editor; comments from beta readers or writing group buddies; reviews from readers… There are so many avenues for responses to your writing – and not all of those responses are going to be positive.
Editor Rejects Her Own Story
(Click on the graphic!)
9 Simple Ways To Sharpen Your Manuscript – Writer’s Edit
When you’ve finally finished your manuscript after thousands of hours of work, the last thing you want to hear is that there’s more work to be done. But unfortunately, that’s the simple truth of the matter. Finalising your draft is an enormous achievement, but now’s not the time to rest on your laurels! There’s still a lot you need to do to get your book ready for publication. Once you’ve written, rewritten and edited and you’re satisfied with the story, it’s time to focus on the little things: the small yet important details of the writing itself. Despite (or perhaps because of) the hundreds of times you’ve read your manuscript, there are plenty of things you might have missed. Overused or unnecessary words; inelegant phrasing or exposition; long, difficult-to-read sentences… All of these things might have escaped your notice while you were dealing with bigger…
Source: 9 Simple Ways To Sharpen Your Manuscript – Writer’s Edit
Six Ways To Self-Edit & Polish Your Prose
Whether you are new to writing or an old pro, brushing up on the basics is always helpful. Because no matter how GOOD the story is? If the reader is busy stumbling over this stuff, it ruins the fictive dream and she will never GET to the story. So today we are going to cover six ways to self-edit your fiction. Though this stuff might seem like a no-brainer, I see these blunders ALL the time.
….unfortunately even in (legacy) published books.
When I worked as an editor, I found it frustrating when I couldn’t even GET to the story because I was too distracted by these all too common oopses.
There are many editors who charge by the hour. If they’re spending their time fixing oopses you could’ve easily repaired yourself? You’re burning cash and time. Yet, correct these problems, and editors can more easily get to the MEAT…
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Things and Stuff
It has been brought to my attention that I suck at updating this blog. Honestly, I’ve been pretty busy for the past couple of months, and the last month in particular. So here’s a quick recap of everything that’s been going on since my last post.
1. I took over the “Doctor Who Project” column at HorrorNews. Whether I’ll still have time to maintain “Creature Profiles” is up for debate–and I haven’t written one of those in quite some time to begin with.
2. I interviewed for and was offered an internship at In Bliss here in Philadelphia. I just completed my 4th week and have about 8 weeks to go. I get to write content for their eZine, edit website content, and generally learn more about weddings than I ever anticipated. I am also master of their Spotify account, owing to my past as a DJ.
3. After completing my first day of the internship, I phone interviewed with Red Adept Publishing and landed a job as a line editor. I’m already on my second book, and my schedule is full for the foreseeable future. Which is good, because I’m getting paid to do something I love.
4. Waiting on submissions to Cemetery Dance, Tor.com, Samhain, Namel3ss, and DarkFuse. Hoping for good news. I’ve got two more stories needing to be typed up (yes, I still write most of my stuff long-hand), and I’ve started a new novella. Another novella is in need of revisions, and I’ve had a few false starts with my next novel, which is currently on the back burner until my internship is over and until I can figure out which book I’m actually trying to write.
5. I’m taking several classes through Coursera, since I can’t seem to break away from school just yet. Currently I’m enrolled in Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative. Next month I start Epidemics – the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases and Plagues, Witches, and War: The Worlds of Historical Fiction. It’s all free, and it’s a great opportunity to take classes not offered at your particular school.
I think that covers everything for now. I’ll try to update more often, I promise.
