Fiction Writing

Let's try to write it

Fiction Writing - Let's try to write it

Tag Archives: editing

Seven Deadly Sins of Self-Editing

These tips are valuable advice for all writers.  They are from Writers Digest on-line.  If you’re a writer do not ignore them.  Presently I’m reviewing a few writing samples posted by Bookkus publishing.  Some of the writers have submitted poorly-edited pieces and are suffering for it via poor reviews from readers.  They may never get another such a great opportunity that Bookkus provides.  Writers, do your diligence, then do it again.  No 1st drafts, or 2nd, or 3rd, or ones only your mom has read.  My stories go through at least 6 or 7 by myself and then are run through my writers group.

 

Loneliness of the Writer

Never tell anyone that you’re writing a book, going on a diet, exercising, taking a course, or quitting smoking. They’ll encourage you to death.
Lynn Johnston, For Better or For Worse, 07-15-06
Canadian cartoonist (1947 – )

When writing, your only friend is yourself.  It can’t be helped.  You empty your mind onto a page or screen, attempting to portray your world for others to see.  Setting rules for yourself is a good start: no distractions, no spell/grammar check function on, etc.  And especially being in the mood to write.  Sitting in front of a blank page or screen with no idea in your head is probably a waste of time.  I used to carry a notepads in my jackets and coats to jot down ideas that came to me when I walked or drove around.  It was my ‘madman’s diary’.  If I died and someone went through my pockets for ID they’d open this up and proclaim me insane as it was full of my own shorthand, scribbles, and references to other sections I ‘d already written.

First drafts are ugly because they’re supposed to be.  If you let anyone read them you’re asking for an ass-kicking.  Writing one page is a start, but not to be confused with writing a letter.  Writing a first draft of a book is an accomplishment that very few people do.  Crack the bubbly.  Now comes the hard work of editing.  Join an online critiquing site or a writers group in your area.  You need feedback, advice on everything from plot, theme, characters, dialogue, chronological order, structure, etc.  If you think you can do this on your own, forget it–you probably can’t.   Next week I’ll let you in on some self-editing you can accomplish alone.

With eBooks many writers have skipped this process and posted their work for sale.  It’s up to readers to download the samples and trash the offenders by posting negative reviews.  These reviews stay on the site forever.  You simply can’t hide bad editing.

Like the musician playing in the basement or the kid sitting in the car revving the engine, if you want some validation you have to put it in gear, play with someone.  If you don’t then you become a legend in your own mind.  When I played drums in a big band  I was always trying to recruit good players to come out to one of our practices, sit in and have some fun.  I’d meet a few people (dare I call them musicians?) with great equipment who said they can play this and that, and go on how good they are, blah, blah, blah, and make their own CDs to listen to themselves even more.  These people wouldn’t dare expose themselves to others, test their talent, and get into the dynamics with another musician.  Music is very challenging and skill levels are always tested in many aspects, but not in a basement.  They are deluding themselves.

As a writer, if you intend to take yourself seriously, you have to expose your work to others.  Self-editing is a dumb idea, as is getting critiqued by non-qualified relatives who won’t dare hurt your feelings.

10 Myths About Writing Fiction eBooks

These are my own personal list.  Remember writers, when folks express disbelief at your story: tell them ‘fiction’ means I made it up.  Then tell them to go see PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 4.  They’ll think you’re a bloody genius then.

  1. eBooks are a technological fad:  Fact is, eBooks are beginning to outsell hard copies.  The older generation doesn’t like reading from a screen and loyally stick to hard copies.  The next generation are tech savvy and read books on devices.  They can get download eBooks at train and bus stations or at home–anytime and nearly everywhere, cheaper and faster than ever.  As long as the tiny Asian village you’re stuck in has some sort of wireless signal you will be able to get a book and be happy.  So far the big publisher hard copy authors are the eBook bestsellers.
  2. You must have an education: Do you need a degree in English or a background in Journalism to be a decent writer?  It probably doesn’t hurt.  In fact, many fiction writers don’t have any qualifications.  If you are an avid reader you should know about sentence structure, grammar, dialogue, etc. and why that book you read was so enjoyable.  How about that unforgettable character?  Academic writers must learn to write differently for fiction because their audience isn’t in the trade/science/ specialist field and they have to reach a broader audience.  Journalists must learn to embellish, as their writing is usually sparse, confined due to of space restrictions.  Academics often write boring prose that thrives on specific, long drawn out passages, unreal characters, and far too detailed imagery–and win prestigious awards for it.   Writing courses and subscribing to writer Mags will help, so use them.
  3. Editors–My friend/relative does my editing:  That’s almost funny, but so many people say this.  Your friends and relatives are rarely qualified to edit your work.  They love you too much to criticize and face your wrath.  You’ll mistake the advice for a secret dislike.  “I always knew she didn’t like me….”  The worst is self-editing.  It’s like representing yourself in court–you are too involved to look at your own work objectively.  What you truly need is competent, intelligent, reasonably objective criticism.  Can you really trust yourself to kill off an unnecessary character?  Will your spouse know what happens when a vein is sliced, as opposed to an artery?  Good editors go through your work and find A,B, and maybe C .  Great editors find those and far more, from theme to plot to dialogue, to imagery to character development, and on and on.  Few people can do that.  Great editors are usually well-paid and work at publishing houses.  Great editors are like music producers: add a little horn, tone down the background vocals, etc.  That’s why Justin Beiber is a star, he’s got a great producer.  Bad editors will kill your style.  Some try to write your story how they see it.
  4. Writers Groups are a Waste of Time:  All writers need feedback.  Writing is a lonely task where you create a world in your head.  Your job is let readers see your world, smell it, feel it, cry over it.  The only way to know if you’re succeeding is to let others into your world and critique it honestly.  A writers group will edit for free.  You will have several people offering their opinions and knowledge.  By the time your work gets through the gauntlet it should be a much better read.  Join a writers group, or start one.  There’s a few online if it’s not possible.  Members are strangers, and don’t care if they hurt your feelings.  It should be constructive criticism.  If not, find another group.  My writers group is wonderful and I mention them in the dedication part of my eBooks.
  5. Biographies:  Unless you are an illiterate celebrity, or have done something truly remarkable in your life, only your friend and family will care.  Many people have survived cancer, moved to the coast, caught a big fish, murdered a spouse, climbed the Great Wall, retired early with a special plan, or tended to disabled kids.  In spite of what your mom told you, you are not special.  I think my life is far more exciting than yours, so why would I read yours?  You think your life is far more interesting than mine, so why read mine?
  6. Know what you write:  It helps to write an eBook mystery if you’re a cop or lawyer or investigator or work in a morgue.  It isn’t necessary to know the particular special skill.  Finding a sympathetic soul to offer advice in their field is easy.  Meet cops at neighborhood fairs or show-and-shines.  Contact their PR person.  Drop into a fire station with your kid for a (nudge nudge, wink wink)tour.  If you tell people they’ll get a credit in your book many will jump at the chance.  If my story deals with living on the moon I’ll research material on the internet where there’s a world of everything at your disposal.  Setting a scene on a Polish street is easy when you use cruise the alleys with Google World.
  7. Everyone wants to write a book..: but no one wants to park their ass for countless hours and go bleary-eyed from editing and still have a decent story to tell.  If you want to write badly enough you will make time for it and you will find a comfortable place conducive to creativity.  When I buy a watch I just want it to work, no problems, accurate time, nice looking, I don’t want to know how it works or how it was built or be constantly thinking about how bad it is.  Same with a book; I don’t want to correct mistakes, figure out if the bad guy’s name had just changed, etc.  Writing is hard work–period, and why celebrities hire ghost-writers.
  8. Technology can edit my book:  Don’t count on it.  Spell Check and Grammar Check are wonderful tools.  I know a guy CJ who has tools, but the clown still put the fence post in crooked.  Did your character make a mess on the coach, or the couch?  John Denver was a plain down to earth guy?  Or was he a plane down to earth guy?  See what I’m saying?  Printing out your work and reading it, is the best way.  Reading it aloud  works, too.
  9. Selling eBooks is easy: It’s not.  You have to stand out and be noticed like all books everywhere.  Pricing, cover art, genre, size, content, etc, all are variables.  However ‘story’ is the most vital.  There are a lot of readers groups online and they all share info.  You want to get their attention and garner reviews.  It doesn’t seem to matter what you write or how you write it, if someone likes your work, you will hear about it.  There’s still a lot of crap out there, and always will be, in eBooks and hard copies.
  10. I can’t find the time or a place to write:  Then shut the hell up and quit telling everyone you want to write a book.  Got a page written?  Whoopee-ding, break out the bubbly.  A first draft?  Now we’re talkin’.

yatscoffbooks.com

Editing in eBooks

Chances of having anything rejected when submitting eBooks is slim as there are no gatekeepers.  I’ve noticed the popular ebooks are the best edited.  Usually it’s easy to tell from the synopsis beside the book cover what the rest of the story will look like.

It’s difficult to find an editor who will catch everything from commas and quotation marks to chronology, structure, etc. without ruining the style or  author’s voice.  Friends and relatives are poor choices for editors as many new writers can’t take criticism well.  A writers group isn’t worried too much about hurting your feelings so this is the best way to go.  My group has become competent editors, with each one finding different strengths of the process.  By the time the piece makes the critique of everyone in the group, the vast majority of bugs are gone.

Some writer’s groups for your information:

http://www.forwriters.com/groups.html

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