Writing, Self-Publishing, Book Marketing

The Three Basics to Editing

October 6, 2009 at 1:04 pm mbutler22 1 comment

During the creation process of writing, we all tend to pre-edit our work while we are still crafting our story. Schedule your self-edit separate from your regular writing routine — if you are an early morning writer, wait until the evening, the next day, and for some writers, upon completion of the book. The point is to allow your story a chance to develop.

There is no doubt that proper editing of varying elements within your story is a key factor in your book’s level of success. Follow these basic editing tips for an in-production manuscript:

1. Walk away before you edit. When you reach that marking point where you place your computer aside, wait a day before editing so you may gain a fresh perspective. Don’t try to edit or rework your story directly after a session of writing — everything looks different the next day. Approach the editing of your story with a fresh eye.
2. Don’t rely on your computer for editing. Your computer’s spelling and grammar check will only get you so far. Not only can it skip over misspellings and grammatical mistakes, but computers do not recognize meaning or writing style. For instance, did you mean it’s or its? And only you, not your computer, can determine if the correct word is there, their or they’re.
3. Let a professional read your manuscript. It’s okay to share your story with friends and family for their opinion regarding your book. However, you will need to rely on professional feedback that will focus on the content, grammar and structure of your story. Your book will gain from a professionally honest critique and recommendations on improving your writing and story. 

Remember, the interior pages of your book are just as much a representation of your author brand as your investment in an eye-catching, customized exterior. The cover is meant to reach out to potential readers, alluring them to purchase the book. The written words, on the other hand, are what will keep hold of the reader and move towards building a band of loyal readership.

Clean content and a fluid storyline mixed with your own writing style will create an image and expectation for you as an author. You are building a strong foundation leading to anticipation for your future books. Whether you are investing your time or your money, investing in editing assures that your book is within industry standards and ready for your potential readers.

 Melissa

 P.S. You can visit the Wordclay Web site for practical editing options.

Entry filed under: Book Editting. Tags: editing, Editing Tips, Self-Publish, write, Writing, writing tips.