In the first two articles in this series, you learned how to edit for Themes and Structure, and for Facts and Reading Level. This last article shows you 8 ways to cut and shape the text.
Choose the Right Word
1. Have you repeated words? Most writers have favourite words and phrases that they overuse. Sometimes when you are writing, a phone call or other interruption breaks your train of thought and you end up using the same phrase or word in adjacent paragraphs.
Track these down and replace them with synonyms.
2. Is there a phrase, paragraph or scene you are especially proud of? Do you return to it and reread it, delighting in your skill with words? Cut it out immediately.
This advice seems harsh and is hard to carry out, but the fact that you so proud of this passage means that the words chosen have become more important than the message or story behind them. They may seem wonderful to you, but they will jar the reader, and draw them away from the storyline.
It’s like serving a plate of delicious cakes on a pretty plate, and demanding that your guests ignore their hunger and focus on the plate. They won’t like it. Nor will your readers.
Edit Your Writing - Cut Every Unnecessary Word
3. Is a section of your text jarring you but you can’t work out how to fix it? Go through it and cut out every unnecessary word. This has an rejuvenating effect on tired text.
4. Is your insecurity showing? Are you padding your text with ‘buffers’ like ‘it seemed’ and ‘it was as though’? It may be because you are insecure about your own voice. Cut them out.
Let your voice be heard. Ultimately, the stronger your voice, the more a publisher will think your work is something special.
Write at the Right Level for Children
5. Are you saying the obvious? Some things need to be spelled out for children, especially younger children, but you may be overdoing it.
Similarly, make sure you are not expecting too much of the child reader.
Write Strong Sentences
6. How is the rhythm of your sentences? Is it quick when the action is fast and more relaxed in the quieter passages?
The rhythm is determined by the length and accent of the words, the way they are combined in sentences, and the length of the sentences.
Not sure? Read the story aloud to yourself. You’ll hear when the words seem to retard the storyline, or rush it uncomfortably ahead.
Writing Strong Fiction
7. Are you showing, not telling? If a passage seems dull, it may work better if you put it in dialogue form, or have a character describe what happened in his own words.
How to Line Edit
8. Finally, when you have followed through all the preceding seven steps in this article, and the ten in the two previous articles in this series, it is time to do a line edit.
Go through the manuscript with an eagle eye, spotting typos, grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. If you are writing in Word make sure that you have switched on the Language setting.
To do this go to Tools, click on Language, then on Set Language. Select either UK English, or US English, depending on where you intend to submit your story. Make sure that you have not ticked the box that says Do Not Check Spelling or Grammar, click OK and you’re done. Now all spelling and grammatical errors will be underlined, with suggestions for correcting them.
Congratulations! You've now completed the full eighteen stages to guarantee your manuscript is in tip top shape when you submit it to a publisher.
The next article tells you about the publishing process.
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