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

Editing Tips from Patsy Collins

Hi, Maria, thanks for inviting me over.

I have a confession to make - I quite like editing. Not the fiddly stuff at the end so much and definitely not when an editor has asked for changes after I thought I was finished, but I enjoy the first stages of editing. I think that's when the writing really starts. My first drafts are always a mess, but once I have one I have something to work on and almost anything I do will improve it.

Editing is our chance to fix mistakes but it's much more than that. We can add stuff too.

For example during the first draft of my novel, A Year and a Day, none of my characters had a birthday. The story covers a whole year (and a day  - but you guessed that) so that was a mistake to fix. Because I knew the characters very well by that stage I knew what sort of birthday they'd like and whether the people close to them would make that happen.

I didn't just write in a couple of birthday party scenes though. I used them to show more about the character's relationships and to advance the story. That meant deleting some earlier scenes and incorporating others into the new setting. Just tidying up the first draft and adding in the missed birthdays would have been far quicker and easier, but writing is about more than getting to the end as quickly and easily as possible.

My editing tips for short stories and novels -

Try not to edit as you go. It's OK to experiment and make mistakes in the first draft.

Keep a copy of the draft, especially if you intend big revisions. It's easier to be brave if you can change your mind later.

The delete key is your friend.

Take a break between each stage and work on something else for a while.

British author Patsy Colllins is the author of  many published short tories and three published novels. She lives in England with her husband.  Her latest novel is A YEAR AND A DAY.

A YEAR AND A DAY

Despite Stella's misgivings her best friend Daphne persuades her to visit a fortune teller. Rosie-Lee promises both girls will live long and happy lives. For orphaned Stella, the fortune teller's claims include a tall, dark handsome man and the family she longs for. Stella doesn't believe a word, so Rosie-Lee produces a letter, to be read in a year's time, which will prove her predictions are true.

Stella remains sceptical but Daphne is totally convinced. She attempts to manipulate Stella's life, starting by introducing Stella to her new boss Luigi, who fits the romantic hero image perfectly. In complete contrast is Daphne's infuriating policeman brother John. Despite his childhood romance with Stella ending badly he still acts as though he has a right to be involved in her life.

Soon John is the least of her worries. Daphne's keeping a secret, Luigi can't be trusted, romantically or professionally and both girls' jobs are at risk. Worse still, John's concerns for their safety are proved to be justified.

John, and Rosie-Lee's letter, are all Stella has to help put things right.

Get this at Amazon  and Amazon UK