Close Edits: What I Look Out For

Howdy.

I've just completed close edits on my WIP and thought I'd record here all the things I looked out for, most likely because a CP at some point has pointed out I do these a lot.

FYI I believe we all write differently and all rules are made to be broken, but I can't say looking out for these hasn't made my MS stronger. 

I look out for:

1. Redundant Words. Just so you know, well, the over use of them, just drives me insane. Well, I can't tell you just who puts them in there. But I know they have to go. (These usually come from my list of redundant words to cut.)

2. Repeated Words. Why use different words when I can use the same word in different places on the same page, differently? 

3. Awkward Constructions. Having looked over my manuscript I note that I use awkward constructions where, being the fast drafter that I am, I haven't thought to use that thing called a period which may have helped me make it punchier, having thought about it.

4. Punctuation errors, especially comma splices. I do love commas, I like to put them in, where they don't belong, instead of the period, bless its heart, so I have to change these.

5. Not using contractions. I did not understand why my critique partner pointed out the lack of contraction, but I could not help but notice how Jane Austen it made my character sound. Which would be fine, if I was writing historical, but I am not.

6. "It was" construction. It was a sad day when I counted up how many "It was's" I had used for it was a lot, so it was. I changed these to be a stronger verb, and/or was more specific than "it". And it was better.

7. Lack of all the senses. I looked over my manuscript, gazing at the screen and catching the eye of my boyfriend as I did. Even though in reality I smelled the dinner he was making and heard the TV on low and the tap of my fingers on the keyboard. 

8. Generic description. My computer has a screen, and some keys. Exciting, eh?

9. Over Explaining. Why succinctly explain something in one sentence when I can use two, or three? I do like to repeat myself. I mean it gets the word count up. It adds words to my MS. It makes it longer. I can be sure the reader got my point. In case they didn't understand me. They might need me to make the point again.

10. Too many Rhetorical Questions. Why use one rhetorical question when I can use two or three? Why not repeat what I mean with several sentences? Why not have my character wonder in the form of a question? Again.

11. Dialogue Tags. "What do you mean?" He grumbled. "I mean, looking out for OTT dialogue tags," I muttered. "Do you put in said instead?" He said. "Yes. Or better still none, or action." I hit publish on my post.

12. Passives.  I was running to my computer to be sure to type in number 12. I was sitting at my desk. I was typing too.

Thanks to Kate Larkindale, Allison (Geek Banter), Jessica Ward, and Raewyn Hewitt, who all pointed out several of the above as well as all my CPs who point out all my errors.

Do you do any of the above? Have any to add?

Like I say, this doesn't - by any stretch - mean I never use "it was" or "he muttered" or whatever. It doesn't mean I believe in set rules and advice.

I just look out for these while I line edit, and find it helps. So I thought I'd record them here.

#writemotivation; Editing: How Do YOU Do It?

I edited this post about my editing goal for #writemotivation, to include questions about how other people edit. Shall I edit that sentence? Let’s rework it entirely:

My #writemotivation number one goal is to finish the current line edit of my novel. I did have 18 chapters to go, I now have 13 chapters to go. So kind of on target! Yay!

As I edit, I wondered how my method of editing matches up with all of you out there *peers out into the interwebs*. 


At the moment my editing process goes like this:

1) Write draft of novel. This includes some editing, as I usually read the chapter before and do edits before I carry on writing the next chapter.
2) Rewrite entire novel. This includes tutting at Past Viklit for writing in third person, when clearly first was better, or putting in that entire plot twist which made no sense, and that character who’s pointless and...so on.
3) Structural and character edits: Several of these. Bajillion of these. This includes working out kinks in the plot, sorting out the characterisation of minor characters, tightening the dialogue, etc. Also tutting at Original Past Viklit for not noticing and Rewrite Past Viklit for not fixing it in the rewrite.
4) Line edits, tidying up the prose: A couple of these, realistically. This includes some fixes of details of scenes & adding bits as I can’t stop fiddling. It’s a disease.
5) Final read through and fixing of typos I have missed.
This should equal draft + 3-4 edits but it actually equals draft + a bajillion million edits.

How do you do it? Am I missing a crucial step or editing in a weird order? I am genuinely interested to know how you go about it. How many drafts does this equal for you?

Does anybody else love it and hate it at the same time?

Oooh AND at what point do you get critiques/betas/etc though I will post just about that another time.

Now, am going to post this with just ONE EDIT.

Redundant Extra Inessential Words

I don't know how these redundant, extra, inessential words creep into my first drafts. 


They must do it when I'm not looking, the unnecessary that, so, or just. They crawl into place and settle into my sentences. I am aware I overuse them yet there they are when I complete my first draft, smiling up at me, saying ha, can't get rid of me!


Only I can. I can cut them as I edit. 


Some words are redundant because they aren't taking an active part in the sentence. They can be lost and the meaning stays the same. Tautology. Overworked modifiers, especially weak intensifiers.


Some are redundant through my own overuse. I use 'know' a lot. My characters are always 'knowing' something. I should be a) using another word or b) showing rather than telling their knowledge.


Here are my personal Top 10 Redundant words:


1.That
2.As
3.Back
4.Know
5.Like
6.Over
7.So
8.Down
9.Just
10.Really


Honourable mentions to:
11.Some/Something
12.Much
13.Very
14.Because


Please say I am not the only one? Any additions to my list above?

Writing=Editing=Training for a 5k

I have recently started training for a 5k. I have never enjoyed running, mainly because whenever I have tried I have gone full tilt round the local park, got only half way round, then collapsed in a red faced heap. I couldn't understand why I wasn't The Flash. Or Mo Farah. It looks so effortless when Mo runs.

It’s the same with writing. With my first drafts, I expected to pour out greatness my first attempt. I couldn’t understand why my first draft wasn’t as beautifully structured and written as the books I saw on the shelves. I thought I must be terrible and lacking in skill, the same way I beat myself up for not being immediately able to race around the park.

The thing is: I can’t see the hours Mo puts into training, or my favourite authors put into their writing. I can only gawp at the finished product and feel inadequate. But all the athletes we’ll be marvelling at when they come to London for the Olympics this summer have worked, day in day out, early mornings, no holidays, to get to where they are. So do successful authors. They work at it. They hone their writing muscles, the same way athletes do. They put the time in.

I had this post ready to go, then I read Lauren Oliver's latest post where she discusses the importance of practice (See here). I completely agree, and I loved her post on the subject.

So. I am putting the time in, in all cases.

I started the NHS Couch to 5k series of podcasts. The first podcast asks that you run for 60 seconds at a time, interspersed with 90 seconds of walking. I could manage that. The aim was to get to the end; to get started. Gradually I built up my speed and stamina. I practised breathing and moving my arms. With each podcast my stamina improved, and I could go that bit further that bit quicker. Soon I was running 20, then 25 minutes in a row. This was unheard of a few weeks ago. I still can’t believe that I, who hated cross country at school, is willingly racing round the park and what’s more, enjoying it.

When I first wrote my novel the aim was to get to the end. It was to get started. Then I honed it. I have edited and re-drafted. I have changed the POV and tense, cut scenes and expanded others. It flows better. I can pick less holes in the continuity or structure. I don’t see glaring mistakes in it everywhere. This was unheard of a while ago. With every piece of writing, I feel it is better than the piece before because of everything I have learned.

I will never be a Mo Farah, and I may never be as good as my favourite authors, but if I work at it, I will get that bit closer. So don’t give up: train.