The Bones of Self-Editing

The Bones of Self-Editing

I gave a talk to a gathering of indie authors last month on self-editing. This is the basic handout, which writers may find useful as they develop their WIPs.

·       Learn the fundamental rules of style and grammar.

Style Guide: The Elements of Style – New Hart’s Rules – New Oxford Style Manual – The Chicago Manual of Style

·       Build a personal reference library – hone your writing skills through personal study.

·       Actively read novels, noting dialogue, description, punctuation, point of view, conflict, and character arc, etc. Take time to read outside your chosen genre.

·       Self-editing is more than correcting grammar and punctuation. The process should be slow and steady, taking one aspect of the whole at a time.

 

First Read

1.     Notebook and pen – jot down impressions

2.     The big picture – 3-act structure – Story/Plot – make sure it works

3.     Character arc\learning curve – change

4.     Are characters fully developed and consistent?   

Create a comprehensive character timeline.

 

Line-edit

                                               i.     Deep-focused comprehensive review

                                             ii.     Brutal honesty required

                                           iii.     RUE: Resist the Urge to Explain – Less is often More

                                            iv.     Pull sentences back to their bones, cutting unnecessary repetition, filter phrasing, redundant elements, negative patterns

                                             v.     Test adjectives and adverbs

                                            vi.     Are objectives being met?

                                          vii.     Each action/reaction needs to be justified

                                        viii.     Mark MC’s proactive points

                                            ix.     Considered rewriting kills first-draft issues

 

Activate Your Writing

·       Use active verbs to drive the story forward. Research dangling modifiers/participles – Test adjectives – can the noun stand alone? Have confidence in your writing and allow the power of context carry your story to the reader.

 

Dialogue

·       Get it right. Research the rules until you have them absorbed.

·       Cut unnecessary dialogue tags. Exploit action tags. Don’t use ‘said bookisms’.

 

Point-of-View

Become a pov expert. Learn the rules. Apply them. Practice makes perfect.

·       Tighten narrative distance by cutting unnecessary filter phrasing.

·       Be careful to catch tense blips, and look for consistency throughout.

 

Proofreading

·       The final job – Galley copy – Read it aloud – slow and meticulous.

 

Style Sheet – Create as you write – revise during rewrites.

·       Character details, place names, time – setting – continuity – particular spelling choices.

 

Idiot-Check – Leave nothing behind.

Taking Bookings for 2025

My calendar is now open for bookings in early 2025. If you've developed your WIP to a stage where it will be ready for its professional edit, drop me a line and we can chat about your options. You can also avail of a free sample edit.

A sample edit allows the writer see if a particular editor’s approach suits their specific requirements. On the other hand, it gives the editor a chance to determine the writer’s level, how far the manuscript has been developed, and how much work needs to be done to bring it forward.

It’s important to understand that a sample edit is just a partial view of the editor’s service, with mine being a three-phase operation entailing a substantive line-edit, followed by a deep-focus copy-edit, and finished off with a comprehensive run-through that sees the work ready for its final rewrite and pre-release/submission prepping.

What the writer receives in the sample edit is a step inside the first phase, where undeveloped material is shaped and cleansed of all first-fix issues. The recommendation, of course, and one I always make, is for the writer to connect with at least half-a-dozen editors so they can build a fairly solid comparison between several professionals’ work methods and approaches.

If the writer likes my sample and wishes to commission me, we then have a chat about what lies ahead. I am always booked into the near-distant future, but time flies and it’s usually only a short hop before work begins. I expect half-payment up front, with the remainder due before the completed first edit is returned. What happens after that is up to the client. If they have the time to focus on the rewrite, I’ll suggest a soft deadline to work towards. If life means work is stretched out, it’s not a problem – I know how things are in that department and will always work within the client’s timetable. If it takes a few weeks, months, or even a year or more, I’m good with that. My priority is to develop the work-in-progress to its full potential, and having the writer fully on board ensures that will happen.

What do you have to do? Email two chapters, from different parts of your WIP, as a Word document to clearviewediting@gmail.com and I’ll provide a sample edit from one.

Client reviews: Clear-View Fiction Editing (writingfromtheoutsidein.blogspot.com) 

My website: Clearview Fiction Editing

First Chapter Three-Phase Edit

Have you doubts about your opening chapter to your novel? Are you unsure about your writing, your characters, your story? Send me your first chapter and I will edit it through three phases - a process which will leave it highly developed, allowing you to see how your writing can benefit from such a comprehensive approach. When I return your edited submission, you rewrite it, applying my suggestions as you see fit, before sending it back to me for its second round of edits, a phase which is as thorough as the first. You then repeat the process with my second edit before returning it to me for its final round, and when you've rewritten that, you'll be able to fully appreciate just how far your piece has come from the initial submission.

I charge by the word. All you need to do is submit a Word document of your first chapter, along with a synopsis of your novel, to clearviewediting@gmail.com and I will read through the submission, give you a quote, and if you agree, we're good to go.

I have worked as a fulltime substantive editor for well over a decade, collaborating with dozens of writers from across the globe, and my reputation as a professional who cares for his clients speaks for itself. My client reviews below will confirm that.

Client reviews: Clear-View Fiction Editing (writingfromtheoutsidein.blogspot.com)

My website: Clearview Fiction Editing