Ask the Editors – Self Editing, Part Two

Dear Editors-

“I think one of the hardest things to do is self-editing. Invariably, no matter how hard you try, there is always something you overlook or miss. What is your advice on how to get the most out of self- editing? What are the most important things a writer should look for when they edit?”

Christine Verstraete, author, Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery

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If you missed it and want to catch up with Lesson One, Click Here.

And now Lesson Two--

Use the Word tools, “Track Changes,” and “Spelling and Grammar” to do the following:

• Eliminate repetitious words. Look for words used more than twice or thrice in close proximity. Switch on Track Changes, and then click on “Edit.” Use the “Find” feature to locate those words everywhere in your manuscript. Have your thesaurus handy or up on your browser, and use it to replace repeated words with appropriate synonyms. An exception to this practice is if you have a character with a quirky trait of using a certain word or phrase. Even then, do not overdo it.

• Eliminate adverbs and adjectives. Strong prose uses verbs and nouns. Search for words ending in “ly.” Eliminate most of them. For instance, if you have written “John ran quickly to the car,” it is much stronger to write, “John ran to the car.” Running is quick. If you want to jazz up the pace, use “sped” or “raced” or “sprinted” to replace the verb, but don’t weaken its strength by qualifying it with an adverb. Same with adjectives. “He was awful mad” has less impact than “He was mad.”

• Find, and eliminate where possible, passive voice. Use Spelling and Grammar to search for it and rewrite. Most publishing houses want no more than 5 percent passive voice in a manuscript. Less is better.

• Use the “find” function to edit out your idiosyncrasies. We tend to write the way we talk and think. This practice can become intrusive in a novel if your “voice” is entering the story in an inappropriate manner. Do a “find” search for all those phrases and/or favorite words, and consider rewriting.

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Article written and submitted by Marvin D Wilson, author, I Romanced the Stone, Owen Fiddler, and Between the Storm and the Rainbow.
Marvin is an editor with All things That Matter Press and does freelance editing.
He maintains two popular blogs at Free Spirit and Tie Dyed Tirades.