Novel Writing Made Less Impossible - The Book's Written, However ...

Okay, this column has gone on for a few months now. I've had fun writing it. While I've shared my finite expertise, I trust you've been putting your time to good use, writing your story. Remember, just a page a day brings you just that much closer to your goal. But now the great day has arrived. You type THE END to conclude your story.

You're done, right? You wish! Now the WORK begins.

When I finish a first draft, the first thing I tend to do is START ANOTHER STORY. Go back to the conceptual phase and work on that elevator pitch. Trust me when I say it'll be easier now that you've done it once. And since it's reasonably fresh, you'll recall more of the process and can avoid any number of pitfalls, the worst being self-doubt.

And use the new story to cleanse your mental palate and vice-versa.

I'd say the editing phases are as such: 1. Full Self-Edits (yeah, plural)

2. Beta Readers

3. Professional Edits (yeah, plural once again)

4. Final Self-Edits (don't panic)

Why plural? Chances are you'll have to repeat the edit if you go searching for, say, typos and punctuation errors in one sweep, and pacing/poor phrasing in the next. You see, the two are exclusive of each other.

In fact, many professional editors specialize in one or the other; proof reading (grammar, proper definitions, style, grammar, capitalization, etc.), copy editing (a deeper examination of grammar, style, word usage, redundancy, etc.), or substantive/developmental editing (all of the aforementioned, plus whatever needs to be eliminated or expanded upon to improve coherence). But lucky you, you'll be doing all of the editing types at one point or another, depending on your confidence and skill level. But it's okay. We'll make this as easy as possible for you. In fact, next week, I'll teach you a trick I developed that may save you a couple of passes through your manuscript. It's also the ONLY original piece of advice I can give you (at least I don't recall anyone advising me on this particular technique that I'll teach you). Everything else has been stolen from other writers, just as they stole the information from whomever they talked to while rising in the ranks.

So you've got another seven days before the edit starts. In the meantime, finish your story, if you haven't already, or get going on your next literary triumph.

NEXT WEEK: Your Editing, Phase One (and my Secret Weapon)

TOMORROW (No, your eyes aren't deceiving you): News on my latest book that you can pre-order

SPECIAL NOTE: My newest book, The Haunting Scripts of Bachelors Grove, will be out on Friday, February 2nd, 2018. It's part memoir, part grimoire. The first half deals with my entry into writing indie comics and joining Silver Phoenix Entertainment. I print four of my comic scripts for The Haunting Tales of Bachelors Grove, three of which have not been produced yet. Then I add four horror prose tales, three of which are NEW. All this behind a great cover by my Art Sherpa, Trevor Erick Hawkins, over 300 pages of terror and history for only $19.95.

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See you next Wednesday, if not sooner! Take care and be good!

#Writing #Editing #TheEnd #copyediting