How to self-edit your book

[lynnmosher 7,651]

David Gaughran's Self-editing Explained.

[suspensewriter 5,181]

Thanks!

[Shamrock 1,616]

Thank Lynn. Excellent article. 

[lynnmosher 7,651]

Oh, good! Haven't had a chance to read it yet. And you're welcome.

[lynnmosher 7,651]

You're welcome, SW!

[Ky_GirlatHeart 1,231]

I'm reading this currently, and this helpful! Thanks for sharing!

[lynnmosher 7,651]

You're welcome.

[zx1ninja 2,354]

Thanks Lynn

[lynnmosher 7,651]

You're welcome!

[Shamrock 1,616]

I have read this article a couple of times because I sometimes use the ProWriteAid Thesaurus when tidying up my writing.

 

To be honest, great as it is that the program picks up all the nous, adverts, adjectives, a lot of the time, the subistutes are no use because they would not convey the meaning of the piece.

 

I wondered if anyone else use PWA or another program and has experienced similar issues?  How much notice do you take of cutting your adverbs & adjectives?

 

 

[suspensewriter 5,181]

Not too much, Shamrock.  I think that adjective and adverb hunting of purposes of removal is highly overrated.

[Shamrock 1,616]

Phew !  Thanks.  I have gone through the 1st chapter of Hannah and removed some, replaced others which seems to have improved the writing. But you are right, it is a question of being selective.

 

I've just gone through my 1st book - Ragtag Souls, and to my dismay (and annoyance) found that the guy who copy edited (and supposedly proofed it) has missed loads of grammar errors. I know PWA is not great and can be picky, but some issues I now must correct, the guy should have picked up.  I am really disappointed.  If I can see them, he should  have.

 

It may explain why my submissions have got nowhere. Looks like I will have to go through this myself to clean it up. Don't think I will be using him again.

[suspensewriter 5,181]

What is most annoying about it is the feature that says,  "Perhaps you should use gender inclusive language."

[Shamrock 1,616]

Just done chapter 1-3.  To be fair they are not as many as it first seemed but I still think he should have picked them up. 

 

I was thinking about revisiting the MS to see if I could improve it - seems like a good idea I did check it. 

[carolinamtne 4,496]

Sorry he disappointed you. That's a lot of work going through looking for commas, etc.

[suspensewriter 5,181]

Yes, it certainly is!

[Celebrianne 63]

Enjoyed the article, @lynnmosher, thanks for sharing. 

That first point really gets me as an editor. The other day I was working with a 5,100 word article. Just by trimming his verbosity I got it down to 4,800. And I really want to cut at least another 50 but it's a new client so I'm already potentially ticking him off.

Long ago Cecil Murphy taught me to "value your reader's time" and it has been one of the most important concepts I keep in mind as a writer. If I'm writing to sound eloquent or because of my needs as a writer I am asking people to waste time they can never get back. Trimming (or explaining) to speed their comprehension is a sign of honor.

The commas were hilarious.

I read to my kids all the time for schoolwork and markers that help me read with the original sense and emotion are huge helps. Some authors frustrate me because I have to reread lines of dialog because I'd given a radically different performance than the information afterwards finally indicates. 

[lynnmosher 7,651]

You're welcome.

[Shamrock 1,616]

Question - a lot of the grammar issues that PWA pick up are commas - i.e it tells me there should be a comma after a word but the copy editor did not put it in Who's right? How accurate is the software?