How I Edit by Karen Clarke

The first thing I do when it comes to editing is set my writing aside – for a day if it’s a short story, and at least two weeks with a novel. It’s surprising how many mistakes immediately leap out when you haven’t looked at your work for a while.

I’ll then start reading aloud, which helps fix the pacing and structure and tests that the dialogue sounds natural, and I sort out typos and grammar as I go along.

I’ll also look for inconsistencies, check my characters are fully rounded out, and make sure that if I dropped a clue early on in the novel/story I’ve picked it up again later on and not left it hanging, unresolved.

If I have ANY doubts about anything I’ve written – either it doesn’t seem to flow very well, or sounds a little confusing, or it’s not as funny as I thought– I take it out. If I don’t believe in what I’ve written no one else will. “If in doubt you can do without”, as my grandmother used to say.

I also get brilliant feedback from a writing partner. A fresh pair of eyes will always see things I’ve missed, no matter how many times I’ve read a piece of writing, and she’ll also come up with suggestions for things that might need changing.

Finally, with a novel, I print the whole thing out (or should I say I’ll be uploading it onto my Kindle now I’ve finally got one!) and read it through as if it’s a book written by someone else, and I make handwritten notes of any further changes I’d like to make.

I then do a final read through and polish, scene by scene, until I’m happy my novel/ story’s the best it can possibly be.

Sometimes it’s hard to know WHEN to stop editing, but by this time I’m usually sick of my novel and ready to say ‘That’s it! I can’t do any more.’

Though I can guarantee that if I were to look at it again a month later I’d still find something I’d like to change…

British author Karen Clarke is the author of MY FUTURE HUSBAND, a timeslip romance available on Amazon.  She's also the author of numerous short stories which have featured in British magazines and various other publication around the world.  You can find her blogging here.  She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Amazon and Goodreads.

MY FUTURE HUSBAND

When Sasha meets Elliot a month before her wedding to Pete, the news he brings seems incredible. He claims to have arrived from the future, explaining that their timeline was knocked off course in 2010, preventing them from meeting, and begs her to find him in the present day. 

But Sasha’s wedding plans are underway and though she’s curious, Elliot turns out to be feckless, rebellious, and engaged to a glamorous and pregnant Belle. He’s not remotely her type and is instantly suspicious of Sasha’s motives for tracking him down, convinced his disapproving father has sent her to spy on him. 

Sasha decides to ahead with her wedding, but a previous connection with Elliot’s father finds her doing the catering at a dinner party at his house. With the help of her best friend, Rosie, she soon discovers that Elliot has sadness in his past, and that Belle is up to no good.....

Available at:  Amazon  Amazon UK

Jenny Brigalow's War Of The Words and Giveaway!

Jenny Brigalow's War Of The Words

Synopsis. A word to strike terror into my cowardly soul. I love to write. But the joy of finishing that book is soon dampened by the prospect of doing battle with the synopsis.  Armed with coffee and chocolate I go forth to the killing fields. Where to start? Mmm. With Chad and Seraphim of course. Let's tell the reader all about them. Collate the facts. Who are they? What do they do? Where do they live? And what brings them together. E.g. "When successful rider and race trainer, Chad Cherub steps off the plane at Heathrow, love is the last thing on his mind. He's travelled from Australia to do a business deal with wealthy entrepreneur and race horse fanatic, Walter Driscoll."  Then I do the same for Seraphim. So now the reader has a portrait of the main players.

From there I decide which elements of the story are  vital. Firstly, why they are attracted to each other. "The arrival of cool, confident Chad forces Seraphim to re-examine her life."  Then what frustrates their desires. "Initially Seraphim is  overwhelmed by the ravaged, drought stricken landscape."  And lastly, how these obstacles are overcome.  " ... a budding sense of self, gives her the strength and determination to persevere."  Once I have worked out what's essential, I write them into a skeletal plot. "On the long journey home Chad is ... "

After a mighty struggle, when the words have been pummelled  onto one  page, I sit back, exhausted but victorious.  All I need now is someone to send it to. But then the worst happens. The publisher only wants three hundred words. Oh, woe is me. Happily, on review I discover things aren't as bad as I'd anticipated. I've only got to lose a hundred and sixty six words. So I go back, I sweat and strain and curse (haven't wept - yet) and force myself to think. Ouch. Slowly but surely I pick the chaff from the wheat and wheedle down the words.  Still three words over. Will it matter? Surely not. But ... then again. So, out they go. And thus the war is won. 

How do you all deal with Synopsis? Do you struggle?

There’s an eCopy of my  A MAN OF ALL SEASONS for one lucky commenter!

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