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Benefits of Getting a Manuscript Evaluation Before Editing

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First, what is a manuscript evaluation? Some call it a critique or an assessment, but essentially, it is an editorial letter used as a teaching tool to iron out issues in a manuscript without making direct changes. Whereas a developmental editor might focus more heavily on plot structure and character development, a line editor will focus more on writing techniques. I use it to discuss showing versus telling, point of… Read More »Benefits of Getting a Manuscript Evaluation Before Editing

Commas and Stack of books on a wooden table

Commas

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Commas are one of the most used (and misused) punctuation marks. Instead of falling into the trap of thinking you should insert a comma at each natural pause in a sentence, use this as a quick reference guide. Independent Clauses Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, yet, so) that joins two independent clauses in a compound sentence. (An exception can be made if the… Read More »Commas

Tall shelf of books for looking up hyphenation and compound words

Hyphenation and Compound Words

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One thing that surprised me when I became an editor is how much time I spend looking up hyphenation rules and compound words for the sake of clarity. It’s all about making sure the reader knows what you mean. Think about the difference between “the most-skilled workers” and “the most skilled workers.” Subtle, right? But it can make or break a sentence. Resources for Guidelines on Hyphens and Compound Words… Read More »Hyphenation and Compound Words

Lights threaded through a book

Finding the Right Editor

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You can find an abundance of editors in the directories of professional associations, in the acknowledgments in published books, on social media, and on websites such as Reedsy or Thumbtack. Talking to other writers and looking at testimonials and reviews can help you narrow down your choices, but just because an editor is a great fit for one author doesn’t mean they will be a great fit for you. So… Read More »Finding the Right Editor

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Pacing: How to use pacing to retain readers

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Have you ever wondered why a book that has a solid plot structure can receive reviews that say the pace dragged? There are other issues outside of the plot that can cause pacing problems. The four pacing problems I address most often as a line editor are repeated information, unnecessary stage direction, repetition in word choice and sentence structure, and extra dialogue tags. These provide four keys to using pacing… Read More »Pacing: How to use pacing to retain readers

Bookstore of Writing Resources

Writing Resources for Fiction Authors

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There are many good books on writing fiction that can help you hone your craft. These are the writing resources I’ve read (or listened to) and found most helpful. Crafting Your Story Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How To Edit Yourself into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King Hands down, this is the one I recommend most often. It uses easy-to-understand examples and covers so many fiction-writing fundamentals: point of… Read More »Writing Resources for Fiction Authors

Fiction Dialogue Mechanics

Fiction Dialogue Mechanics

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Looking at the dialogue mechanics is the fastest way for an agent, an editor, or a reader (even if it’s just subconsciously) to assess the skill level of a writer. This also makes it an effective way to quickly improve a manuscript. Follow Punctuation Conventions Dialogue tags are attached to dialogue with commas, whether the tag comes before, after, or in the middle of the dialogue. The first word of… Read More »Fiction Dialogue Mechanics

Make Every Word Count

Make Every Word Count: Cut dead weight from your novel like a line editor

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Some words and phrases automatically trigger an editor to stop and evaluate their usefulness, and some simply scream, “Remove me! Remove me!” Cutting dead weight can be the difference between a book that engages readers and keeps them up late reading and a book that has an appealing premise but lacks staying power. Make every word count. At some point in your revision process, think like a line editor and… Read More »Make Every Word Count: Cut dead weight from your novel like a line editor

Track Changes Feature in Word

Track Changes Feature in Word

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If you haven’t hired an editor before, you may not be familiar with Track Changes. This is a handy tool editors use to show clients the changes that have been made to their documents. It also gives clients the power to easily accept or reject the changes. Click on the Review tab in Microsoft Word. The paper-and-pen icon on the Track Changes button turns the feature on and off. When… Read More »Track Changes Feature in Word

Four levels of editing

More Than Proofreading: Four Levels of Editing

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Traditionally, a book goes through four levels of editing, sometimes multiple rounds at each level. It’s important to understand what is done at each level so that you know how to hire the right editor. Whether you are revising a manuscript to prepare it for agents and publishers or for self-publishing, take some time to learn the four levels of editing and which type of editor you need. Different freelance… Read More »More Than Proofreading: Four Levels of Editing