Editorial Services

If this is your first novel, I recommend you pay a professional to do content and syntax editing after it has been read objectively by a couple friends or associates (aka beta readers’ group). Although it will cost several thousand dollars, it is worth having it done one time. What you’ll get back is a redlined manuscript containing recommended syntactical and semantical changes.

I had this done on my very first novel. After considering all the recommendations, I made only a handful because I knew more about modern novels’ writing techniques than the editor. And then I went to work thoroughly self-editing. While doing so, I discovered numerous typos and syntax errors the professional editor missed. Please remember this: no one can edit your book better than you, once you have gained enough experience.

I enjoy self-editing and continually re-read a book I previously told you to buy, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. I’ll bullet point some of what it says, and the more you read and write, the more its techniques become automatic.

• Show, don’t tell. Narrative is telling, whereas dialogue or action is showing. Your writing must have both, but edit in more showing; edit out more telling.
• Don’t dump too much characterization or exposition at one time. Supply it in useful chunks to readers via dialogue and action.
• Keep the POV (point of view) obvious. POV refers to who is narrating the story: first person, third person (one of the characters – usually the protagonist), or omniscient. You can use multiple POVs throughout the book, but don’t jerk from one to another.
• Spend the right amount of words on each scene. More on major, less on minor.
• Make Dialogue Attribution transparent. You must make sure the reader knows who is speaking. Some writers avoid the standard “he said, she said” mechanics as much as possible, but they run the risk of annoying readers by contriving awkward substitutes. Sometimes you can skip attribution mechanics if the speaker’s identity is clear from the context.
• Read aloud the dialogue. Words come out differently when speaking instead of writing. You want your characters’ dialogue to sound much like normal speech (though not as rambling). And choose words that mimic each character’s personality.
• Use interior monologue appropriately. It is the discussion going on inside a character’s head (usually reserved for the protagonist or a major character), and is a great place to relate what and how the person is thinking. You don’t need to enclose it in quotes. Though not necessary, I place it in italics. There is no rule governing how much to have. Again, use judgment gained by reading and writing.
• Describe only once. Every writer has a tendency to tell what they’re going to tell before telling it, which adds to verbiage and subtracts from reader surprise. So, guard against this and remember that it’s OK not to tell all details. Leave some for the readers to fill in.

You will need to make several editing passes. Pause at least a couple of days before the next. I am always surprised how many changes I can make even after I have edited thoroughly several times.