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    Self-Editing Workshop

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    vesna dam.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Self-Editing Workshop

    Uploaded by

    vesna dam.
    20 views14 pages

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

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    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

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    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    20 views14 pages

    Self-Editing Workshop

    Uploaded by

    vesna dam.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 14

    SELF-EDITING

    WITH CAROLINE SMITH

    EIC AND AUTHOR COACH


    WHO AM I?

    • BA in English lit, minor in


    publishing and printing arts

    • Currently pursuing MFA in


    Creative Writing – Fiction

    • Ten years experience as an


    editor and author coach

    • 3 published books: 2 non-


    fiction, 1 fiction (romance)

    • Edit for 4 publishing


    companies including one
    romance-only publisher
    SELF-EDITING: WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

    • Self-editing =
    professionalism; not
    important to you, why
    should it be important to
    your publisher?
    • First impression of you as
    a writer.
    Write the manuscript
    (resist the temptation to
    self-edit)

    Print out the manuscript and


    read the whole thing from
    start to finish
    SUGGESTED
    WRITING Make revisions as necessary
    PROCESS
    Use an alpha and/or beta
    reader. * These readers are
    not editors.

    Draft/self-edit until done


    SELF-EDITING

    • Self-editing is something you can do


    yourself, before you submit your
    manuscript to an editor, agent, or
    publisher.
    • Don’t skip it!
    • Take the time to look over your
    manuscript again before submission.
    You’ll be surprised at the changes you
    find.
    Read the manuscript out loud to
    yourself: this helps to check for
    odd phrasing, run-on sentences,
    different character names, etc. or
    listen with Word’s “Read Aloud”
    feature.

    TIPS FOR Take notes on a separate sheet of


    SELF- paper if you want to make changes.
    Resist changing them in the

    EDITING
    document itself until you’ve
    finished re-reading.

    Having trouble with a


    sentence/paragraph/passage? Read
    it backwards!
    SELF-EDITING
    TIPS CONT’D.
    • Use commas! People often forget
    these essential pieces of
    punctuation. Reading aloud will
    help identify where you need
    them.
    • But don’t overdo the punctuation.
    Only one exclamation or question
    mark, please.
    • Get rid of words like just and very.
    • Programs like Grammarly are
    great, but no substitute for human
    brains.
    If you’re writing dialogue, try to avoid using “he said,” and
    “she said” over and over again. You favorite writers don’t
    Tags write that way, so see what they’re doing and try to
    replicate it.

    SELF- Repeats Look for repetition and eliminate it.

    EDITING
    TIPS Consistent Check to make sure your character and setting are

    CONT’D consistent throughout.

    Rest Take a break!


    REMEMBER
    Just because you’ve self-edited, had it beta read, and/or used a tool
    like Grammarly or Pro Writing Aid doesn’t mean you can skip
    hiring an editor.
    • “I’ve already edited it myself.”
    • Second set of eyes

    • “I had a friend edit it.”


    COMMON • Difference between edit and copyedit
    REASONS • Legal issues?

    FOR NOT • “I already hired an editor.”


    HIRING AN • Did they use a style guide?

    EDITOR • Free editorial sample

    • “I can’t afford an editor.”


    • Willing to work with you
    WHEN ARE YOU READY FOR A PRO?

    After you’ve self- After you’ve had When you understand


    edited someone else read the the different types of
    manuscript editors
    “GOOD” AND “BAD” EDITORS

    GOOD BAD
    • Are flexible and willing to • Have the “it’s my way or the
    discuss issues…to a point highway” mentality

    • Stick to a style guide (APA, • Don’t know what a style


    MLA, Chicago) guide is

    • Are objective, collaborative • Are subjective

    • Know how to develop your • Try to impose their vision of


    individualized project your book

    • Maintain your voice • Edit out your voice

    © BookLogix 2012
    FINDING AN EDITOR

    ASK OTHER WEBSITES LIKE EDITORIAL SAMPLE GET IT IN WRITING IF YOU DON’T
    AUTHORS YOU IAPWE.COM, (CONTRACT) HAVE A GOOD
    KNOW AND TRUST FREELANCE RAPPORT, THAT’S
    WRITERS DEN JOB OKAY. FIND A
    BOARD, UPWORK, NEW EDITOR!
    OR REEDSY
    Get in touch

    info@editorcaroline.com

    QUESTIONS? Editorcaroline.com

    IG: editor_caroline

    FB: Caroline Smith – Editor and Author Coach

    LinkedIn: C. Caroline Smith

    Podcast: Inspiration to Publication

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