A to Z Writing advice:
editing – dun dun daaaah! I am not fond of editing. Some of you crazies are, but it can get monotonous to me. I admit, I do like it when I reread my story a time or two and surprise myself with a good scene or some snappy dialog and especially when I read something and wonder, “Wow, I wrote that!” It’s when I have to go through it the fifth or tenth time that my eyes start to cross.
The best part of editing is crit partners – they have a fresh perspective and see things we miss. Praise be for CPs! And here are a couple of other ways to break up the monotony of editing:
- print it out and mark it up – this is fun for me and I catch things I didn’t notice on the screen. plus it’s more portable, lighter than a laptop!
- read it out loud – another great technique that helps you really get into the story, especially with the dialog (didn't I just say that yesterday?) Listen for the beat. Does it flow or is it klunky? You'll feel it!
elves – smallest humanoid beasts, popular, sweet, and cute, but not very bright
And for laughs:
An alphabetical list of reasons men are happier people...
E is for Eyes
People never stare at a man's chest when they're talking to him.
26 comments:
I don't print out my stuff when self-editing, but I do change the format so that my eyes aren't scanning the same layout. I know what you mean about the nth time of reading and I'm thinking 'no more, please, no more'. ;P
Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic
They're both useful editing tips.
I always print my stuff out after I make changes. I don't know why, but I SEE stuff on the written page that wasn't on the screen. As in mistakes. Glaring ugly missteps. I haven't tried reading it aloud, but this isn't the first time I have read this bit of advice... and it sounds like a good idea.
Interesting fact about staring at a man's chest! I'm going to have to be aware of that from now on. I always always print things out to red line. I just miss way too many things when I'm reading on screen!
Women stare at my chest!
Yeah, just kidding...
My critique partners are awesome. They have such a wicked sense of humor.
Helpful tips, Tara. Editing isn't my favourite thing to do, but when I get going, I enjoy the process.
J.L. Campbell writes at The Character Depot and the Jamaican Kid Lit Blog.
Wonder what guys would do in that scenario? Elves not bright? That's different. Yup editing can make you nuts.
I can't decide which part of your posts I enjoy the most. I really enjoy why men are happier.
I love editing. It's getting my internal editor to take a hike while I'm drafting is the problem. :)
Oh yeah, I'm a print it out and read out loud kind of person. It makes me really self conscious in the editing process, and I usually wait until I can read outside where no one can hear me (this from the girl who thought plays were fun because of the audience).
Though I enjoy editing I have never printed it out and edited it. Will try it out.
That's quite an informative post
Good advice on the editing part and hey yes the E is for Eyes holds absolutely true.
- Kripali
(AJ's wHooligans)
Sumptuous Living
A2ZFiction
I always do both of those - I think the printing out is my age, used to doing everything pre-pc's! And reading out loud - yep, that'll be the nursery nurse in me :)
Suzanne @ Suzannes Tribe
x
It depends on the man! ;) Great advice for today.
I love editing, since it demonstrates how much I've matured as as writer over the years. Before, I just covered dross with gold instead of excising the dross altogether, or radically rewriting it.
I like your editing change-up advice. And the thing about men and eyes and chests? ROFL funny! I guess I need to find some CPs. Are yours online or IRL?
LuAnn Braley
AJ's Hooligans @AtoZChallenge
Back Porchervations
Editing is just a necessary evil, but never anything I look forward to doing! Wouldn't it be nice to write it all perfectly the first time?
Do men NOT realize we can totally see where their eyes are looking?
Oh. Critique Partners are ESSENTIAL!!! Love them. But I do like the editing/revising stuff, too. ;)
I can't imagine a not-so-bright elf. It goes against everything I know!
I've always printed out a copy for hubby to read but now that we are here in Ecuador and our ink cartridge only prints 120 pages, think that will have to stop. EEEP!
Reading aloud really helps you find awkward phrasing and some typos/missing words.
D.B. McNicol
A to Z: Romance & Mystery...writing my life
Great post.
Editing can be an absolute pain but I've found a way which works quite well for me. I copy out one chapter at a time and paste it into a new word document. That way, I have the added benefit of spell and grammar checks which Microsoft Word tends to ignore once the document is too long. It's also easier to go over my work in bit-sized chunks.
I am scared to death to edit my current WIP. It's my first novel/work/story/big-thing-taking-up-my-time so it's my baby. I'll either go crazy or threaten anyone I have critique it and suggest changes. ;)
Dara the Writer
Tara, I hope you might consider joining my bloggers' book club. Details are here: http://armchairsquid.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-cephalopod-coffeehouse-april-blog.html
Great advice to print it out and mark and read it aloud. I always make my hubby or mom read it first.. I always tend to make some silly spelling or grammatical error...in my excitement to get it published :DAditi, dropping from A2Z
Good editing advice especially the print it out. I dunno, I kind of like a hairy chest. Thanks for stopping by for my fiction from forgotten fotos.
Sue at CollectInTexas Gal
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