The ability to edit your own work is incredibly important. For obvious reasons, editors prefer authors who can turn in clean copy. Beyond lightening an editor's workload, there are other reasons that you need to be good at editing--it's your name on the book! Over the years I've picked up great ideas for editing. Here's the best summary of what you should be doing-- Edit your work in passes. In other words, don't go over it once and … [Read more...] about How to Edit Your Work
editing
Improve Your Sequencing To Improve Your Writing
This morning I heard a radio commercial about a pair of work gloves. The announcer explained that these were "more abrasion and tear resistant than leather." I was left wondering, "Does he mean the surface of the gloves is abrasive?" I doubt that. I suspect he meant that the surface of the gloves was "more resistant to tears and abrasion than leather." (And if he had added one word--"tougher"--the whole description … [Read more...] about Improve Your Sequencing To Improve Your Writing
How Anyone Can Improve His or Her Writing Almost Instantly
By Joanna Campbell Slan School has started, and your child may be one of many who struggles with written assignments. Or perhaps you, yourself, are going back to school. Or maybe now that your kids are off to classes, you've decided to get down to the business of writing that book you've been meaning to tackle for years. I've been writing my whole life. In fact, I can't remember a time when I wasn't putting words on paper. I've also taught … [Read more...] about How Anyone Can Improve His or Her Writing Almost Instantly
The Proof is in the Book
The galleys for Photo, Snap, Shot arrived on my doorstep last week. I'm knee-deep in proofing, an activity I simultaneously love and hate.I love proofing because it gives me one more chance to polish my work. Midnight Ink is very good about allowing me to make changes. (I've worked with publishers before where there was a real fear that any substantive changes would mess up the pagination. But MI is great about this! And Connie, my editor, is a … [Read more...] about The Proof is in the Book
