Good luck with your publishing journey! I’m curious as to how it works out. I’m updating my manuscript now and thinking about next steps.
With edits I’m always on the lookout for passive voice. I also have a lot of sentences with the structure ‘As X, then Y’ and I’m trying to get rid of a lot of those.
I read a tip that rewriting your novel from scratch forces you to really cut down on unneeded parts. I've never tried it, because it's absurd when I barely have time to write as is. However, I think a less drastic version would be: if you feel yourself skimming sections, maybe it's time to cut them. It would be tedious for you to rewrite them, so why would a reader want to read them?
Interesting thanks Inga, I just self-published and the editing was very slow and arduous. Through the whole process I learned so much that will definitely make it easier next time though. Designing the wrap around cover and getting the trim correct was my biggest challenge!
Sure! I feel like I glazed over them in my own work, but notice these quirks when I read for people. Then, we I reread my own work, they stand out too.
Solid tips, and I'm sure when I go back through my own novel for the umpteenth time I'll spot plenty of these no-nos.
One that took me ages to get my head round was the unnecessary words like 'think, feel, decide, start, etc' as you pointed out. It's funny when people say 'let's start getting ready' - don't start, just get!
Looking forward to reading your novel, it sounds intriguing. I'll go the self-publishing route once I've tried the so-called traditional one with mine. I'm taking forever getting this blasted query letter together, it's doing my head in!
Do you listen to The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast? It REALLY helped me understand the job and the techniques of writing a curiosity-inducing query letters.
I’ve tried listening a couple of times but couldn’t get into it. I have serious issues with misophonia and noise sensitivity and…I just wasn’t able to listen.
But…the resources and writers around here have been super helpful. It’s more a matter of me getting my act together and doing what needs to be done. I have a fairly good idea of what I should be doing.
I’m in the processing of editing one book and finishing another? Crazy? Yes. Yes it is. One word I find that I’m able over and over to cut is “that”. It keeps popping up in sentences and just doesn’t need to be there
I'm a writer with a book recently published and another on the way. However, I have a re-print work that I'm seriously considering self publication for. So seeing your insights is great (such as removing filler words, my publisher had me do that too).
Good luck with your publishing journey! I’m curious as to how it works out. I’m updating my manuscript now and thinking about next steps.
With edits I’m always on the lookout for passive voice. I also have a lot of sentences with the structure ‘As X, then Y’ and I’m trying to get rid of a lot of those.
Thank you!
Yes! Passive voice is a good one to fix. And “as” is also a sentence structure I have to watch out for.
I read a tip that rewriting your novel from scratch forces you to really cut down on unneeded parts. I've never tried it, because it's absurd when I barely have time to write as is. However, I think a less drastic version would be: if you feel yourself skimming sections, maybe it's time to cut them. It would be tedious for you to rewrite them, so why would a reader want to read them?
I agree! I usually underwrite, but there is still plenty to cut.
Love these tips!!! 🫶💖✨
I’m glad they’re helpful.
Yesss
Interesting thanks Inga, I just self-published and the editing was very slow and arduous. Through the whole process I learned so much that will definitely make it easier next time though. Designing the wrap around cover and getting the trim correct was my biggest challenge!
Yes! I’ve been spending like 4 hours a day for three days, but I’m still not past the first 2 chapters. I want everything to be perfect haha
Hi, a thriller writer here, congratulations. I will come back and read the post soon. Lots of hugs 🤗 and best wishes,
Yay! Always so excited to meet other people writing in this genre.
Solid advices, thanks!!!
The “started to” and “began” was a real struggle for me early on. Thanks for this!
Sure! I feel like I glazed over them in my own work, but notice these quirks when I read for people. Then, we I reread my own work, they stand out too.
Solid tips, and I'm sure when I go back through my own novel for the umpteenth time I'll spot plenty of these no-nos.
One that took me ages to get my head round was the unnecessary words like 'think, feel, decide, start, etc' as you pointed out. It's funny when people say 'let's start getting ready' - don't start, just get!
Looking forward to reading your novel, it sounds intriguing. I'll go the self-publishing route once I've tried the so-called traditional one with mine. I'm taking forever getting this blasted query letter together, it's doing my head in!
Do you listen to The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast? It REALLY helped me understand the job and the techniques of writing a curiosity-inducing query letters.
I’ve tried listening a couple of times but couldn’t get into it. I have serious issues with misophonia and noise sensitivity and…I just wasn’t able to listen.
But…the resources and writers around here have been super helpful. It’s more a matter of me getting my act together and doing what needs to be done. I have a fairly good idea of what I should be doing.
R/pubtips is brutal, but pretty good with the query critiques.
Indie authors rock!
I can’t wait to officially join the club.
I’m in the processing of editing one book and finishing another? Crazy? Yes. Yes it is. One word I find that I’m able over and over to cut is “that”. It keeps popping up in sentences and just doesn’t need to be there
Yes! My favorite stage is tightening the prose. My least favorite is making the plot make sense haha
Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. You have a plot? And it makes sense?
That actually sounds like a good idea. Maybe I should give that a shot too. lol.
The making sense part is debatable 🤣
I'm a writer with a book recently published and another on the way. However, I have a re-print work that I'm seriously considering self publication for. So seeing your insights is great (such as removing filler words, my publisher had me do that too).
Perfect! I’m excited to continue posting updates on the process.