Repetition

Repetition can occur in many forms in your fiction, and eliminating it will help to keep your prose sounding fresh. Before you submit a work to a publisher or editor, run your own checks, looking for the following items as you read through the manuscript.


1) Repetitive Words—Common culprits here include ‘filler’ words like really or just. However, all writers have their own quirks and favoured words/phrases. Once you recognise these, you can search for them. Do a Find and highlight in Word. You’ll probably be surprised how often they crop up, and how many you can change or cut.


2) Repetitive Paragraphs—Watch how you start your paragraphs. Do they all begin in the same manner and/or with the same word? If so, try to change things up a little. The same goes for the sentences within the paragraph. Ensure they don’t all commence identically.


3) Repetitive Actions—Are your characters always smiling or walking? As you read through the story, check for these repetitive actions and try either eliminating some completely or changing for a synonym. Often the latter fix also adds to the impact of a scene. Consider, for example, the different feeling suggested by ambling, walking, striding and dashing.

Vlog - Ask An Editor: Hyphens and Dashes

In today's Ask An Editor vlog I share a brief overview on the correct use of hyphens and dashes.

Top Tips for Editing Dialogue in Fiction

Dialogue is an area in which it is easy to make mistakes, leading to readers disengaging with your characters. Follow these tips to keep your dialogue fresh, readable, and above all, believable.

1) Dialogue Tags—Use these only when necessary (for example, to show a change in style of speech or emotion, or to identify the speaker in a group situation). At other times, let the dialogue speak for itself, or have the character commit an action either immediately before or after, rather than using a tag.

2) Real Conversations are Boring—If we wrote dialogue along the lines of real conversations, it would be exceptionally dull. Discard most of the pleasantries and hesitations, and cut to the chase. Make sure all dialogue is relevant to the unfolding story.

3) Natural Speech—Dialogue in fiction needs to sound natural even though it isn’t. One way to achieve this is to use contractions and fragments. Even the best of us don’t speak 100% correctly all of the time. We’re more likely to let grammar slide in speaking than in writing.

4) Quirks of Speech—Certain ‘catchphrases’ can work well for characters; however, don’t overdo it as it can also become repetitive or descend into caricature.

5) Accents—Caricature is also a potential risk when dealing with accents. There’s nothing wrong with showing an accent phonetically, but don’t make it so heavy the sentence becomes unintelligible, or comes across as a cultural stereotype. Choose one (two at most) aspects to show (e.g. a dropped H) and leave it at that.

Editing for Proportion

What do we mean by proportion? Well, essentially, it relates to the amount of time spent on various points within your story. Ideally, you want to achieve good balance between action that should be mentioned only briefly and that over which more time needs to be spent. Here are a few scenarios to illustrate when your proportion might be off.

1) Extended discussion of simple actions—If someone is leaving the house, this should be accomplished within a sentence or two. The only reason to go into detail about a character putting on their shoes etc. is if those points are vital to the plot. Readers have imaginations. You don’t need to tell them every little step in opening doors etc.

2) Glossed over actions—At the other end of the scale is when major events take place but the author glosses over them in barely a sentence. If you’ve been building towards a confrontation, but then only say that the character fought the gang and won, it is going to be something of an anticlimax for the reader. Describe the fight. Tell us how they did it.

3) Your favourite things—Let’s say you love Jane Austen, so you imbue your character with the same trait. Be careful that, in your enthusiasm, you don’t go on to give your character lengthy monologues on the topic that have no bearing on the plot.

In general, when you read through your story, check where your principal focus lies. Are you highlighting unimportant characters, places, or events—ones that have little relevance to the plot? If so, those sections probably need some trimming. The reverse is true if you find you have glossed over key figures or incidences. Readers need to know more about something only if it advances the plot or adds to character development. Otherwise, you risk losing their attention while your character waffles on about why Pride and Prejudice is superior to Sense and Sensibility.

Guest Blog: Author Editing Interview with Z. Allora

Today I welcome author Z. Allora to the blog to talking about the editing process.

1)  Tell us a bit about you and your writing 
I write rainbow romances involving BDSM and contemporary about characters who are on the fringes and edges. I explore different orientations like demi-sexual, pansexual, BDSM-oriented, etc. as well as writing about people scattered along the gender spectrum. My goal is to validate everyone’s experience.

Vlog: Ask An Editor - Apostrophes

In today's Ask An Editor vlog I discuss the correct use of apostrophes.

Guest Blog: Author Editing Interview with Melina Druga

Today I welcome author Melina Druga to the blog to talking about the editing process.

1)  Tell us a bit about you and your writing 
I write both fiction and nonfiction. I began writing as a child and started my professional career after obtaining my degree. I have experience as a reporter, and I’m currently self employed as a freelance writer. I publish my books through my publishing house, Sun Up Press.

2) What do you enjoy most about the editing process?
I enjoy polishing the manuscript to make it as perfect as it can possibly be. It’s like creating a diamond out of a lump of coal.

3) What do you find hardest about the editing process?
It is very time consuming, and sometimes there are moments where I know an issue needs fixed but not exactly how to fix it. It always gets resolved in the end, though.

4) What are your general thoughts on editing as part of the overall publishing process?
Writing multiple drafts are a must. Also, copy editing and a final proofread shouldn’t be skipped.  Readers will notice. Unfortunately, there are still many who believe editors are out to steal authors’ work. 

5) What are your top editing-related tips for authors?
1. Learn grammar, punctuation and style.
2.  Don’t be frightened to hire an expert.

About the Author
Melina Druga is an author of historical fiction and nonfiction. She also is an avid history enthusiast.  Her era of expertise--and obsession--is the 1890-1920 timeframe.

To learn more about Melina’s books, subscribe to her blog or join her mailing list.

Melina’s books are available exclusively on Amazon, and eBooks are free to Kindle Unlimited members and on KDP Select free days.

Amazon / Website / Blog / LinkedIn / Pinterest / Twitter / Goodreads

Copyright Basics for Authors

Allow me to start today with a disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, so nothing I say here should be taken as legal advice. However, there are things of which you ought to be aware when it comes to editing your fiction manuscript, to ensure you don’t find yourself in a tight corner. I would expect any writer to realise plagiarism is wrong. Nevertheless, writers may not be cognisant of other potential copyright pitfalls, so here are three of the main ones I come across when editing fiction stories.

1) Company Names/Brands—You can use company and brand names, but you need to ensure you aren’t portraying that company or brand in a negative light. If in any doubt, it’s better create names and brands of your own.

2) Song Lyrics—This is the big one on which I often have to issue authors with warnings. Song lyrics are copyrighted material. You need to obtain permission (usually paying a fee) from the copyright owner before you can quote them in your novel. Therefore, it is best simply not to use them. State that your character is listening to a certain song by all means, but don’t have him think or say the lyrics.

3) Literary Quotations—If the work in question is in the public domain, you are usually okay. However, in all other cases, you will need to request permission from the copyright owner, who may charge a fee. Poetry is particularly tricky in this regard, since a few lines can be a large percentage of the work. Best to play it safe and leave out those quotes, unless you are certain you have permission, or the work is old enough it doesn’t require it. (N.B. Bear in mind that even if the original work is old, if it’s translated, that translation may be copyrighted in its own right.)

Vlog: Ask An Editor - Commas

Today I discuss the different ways you might employ commas in your writing.

Guest Blog: Author Editing Interview with L. B. La Vigne

Today I welcome author L. B. La Vigne to the blog to talking about the editing process.

1)  Tell us a bit about you and your writing 
I write MM romance. My genres range from contemporary romance, to urban fantasy, to paranormal romance. My novellas and first novel were self-published, while my most recent two novels were published by Deep Desires Press.

Revising Punctuation Basics

For today’s post, I thought I would share a quick revision checklist for your punctuation basics. The infographic summarises the points for easy reference.

Full Stops
•    mark the end of a sentence (It is all over.)
•    show contracted words (Prof., cont.) (Some countries use them for every contraction. Others only do so if the last letter of the contraction is not the last letter of the word e.g Mr. (US) but Mr (UK))
•    are used in common abbreviations (e.g., i.e., etc.)

Apostrophes
•    indicate possession (the boy’s book)
•    indicate omitted letters or figures, including when showing accents (’tis, ’98, ’ere)
•    indicate time or quantity (one week’s worth of chocolate)
•    indicate plurals of letters or words (two F’s)

Commas
•    show lists (whether or not including the Oxford comma) (apples, oranges and pears)
•    join sentences with conjunctions (Harry went out, but it rained.)
•    fill gaps (Harry had blue eyes; Sally, brown.)
•    appear before/after direct speech (“It’s raining,” Harry said.)
•    off-set interjection (Well, it was true.)
•    bracket additional information (Harry wanted to go, regardless of the weather, but Sally said no.)

Colons
•    introduce an additional part of the sentence that exemplifies, explains, or undermines what came before (There was only one thing Harry hated: getting wet.)
•    start lists (usually these then have semi-colons instead of commas) (There were three things Harry hated about the winter: the rain; the cold; and the lack of sunlight.)
•    set off subtitles (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom)
•    precede dialogue in play/film scripts (Harry: Hang on a minute, Sally)

Semi-Colons
•    separate two complete but related sentences where there is no conjunction and where a comma would create a splice (Sally bought an ice cream; she loved eating them whatever the weather.)
•    separate list items introduced by a colon (see colon example above)

Vlog: Ask An Editor - Repetition

In today's vlog I talk about three types of repetition to check for in your manuscript.

Guest Blog: Author Editing Interview with A. Nybo

Today I welcome author A. Nybo to the blog to talking about the editing process.

1)  Tell us a bit about you and your writing 
I write M/M Romance. A few years ago I came across the genre purely by accident. I previously had no idea it existed. My second novel The Shaman of Kupa Piti is due to be released around July 30 2019 with Dreamspinner Press.

Guest Blog: Author Editing Interview with Diana Waters

Today I welcome author Diana Waters to the blog to talking about the editing process.

1)  Tell us a bit about you and your writing
My name is Diana and I’m a New Zealander currently living in rural Japan, where I’ve mostly been based since 2012. I devour novels of all kinds but have a particular love for fantasy, historical fiction, and M/M romance – hence my first published work of fiction, Wild Magics #1: A Trust to Follow, is a historical-fantasy novella centered around two male characters who are very much in love with one another. A Trust to Follow was originally published with Wayward Ink Publishing in May 2016, and then re-edited, re-covered and re-homed in May 2018 with eXtasy Books. The full-size novel sequel, Wild Magics #2: Kaidyn’s Courage, is set a decade or so later in a neighbouring kingdom. As of this writing, it’s either due to be released very shortly or has very recently been released, also with eXtasy Books. Wild Magics #3 (as yet untitled), the final planned book in the series, is in its final drafting stages. Once this is submitted for publication, I have several new ideas I’m playing around with and am very much looking forward to getting properly stuck into.

The Philosophy of Editing

Today, as we start a new year, I would like to discuss what I think of as the philosophy of editing. Often authors approach editing with a sense of trepidation, or even aggression, but getting into the right mindset about the process will make it a far less stressful experience for both author and editor. I can’t promise you’ll end up looking forward to receiving your edits, but hopefully you’ll be able to better appreciate what you are getting out of it.

1) The Editor is your friend
Editors are not there to be your nemesis and drag you down. They don’t glory in every red line they add to your manuscript. They’re there to help ensure your book is the best that it can be. They want the same thing you do, so the worst you can do is enter the process thinking of them as the enemy. Rather they are your most honest friend—the one not afraid to point out your faults, with the best of intentions, and without malice.

2) You remain in control
Just because an editor has suggested something doesn’t mean you have to accept it. However, before you reject every change they’ve made, do take the time to mull over each one and consider why the editor has suggested it. If you can’t tell why, ask them. They’ll be happy to explain, and when you hear their reasoning, it may change your decision.

3) Treat it as a learning experience
Editing should also be a learning experience. If you take onboard your editor’s comments and incorporate those practices into your future works, you should find that, over time, the edits you receive become lighter and easier. Yes, you are paying your editor to check things for you, but that doesn’t mean you should take no personal responsibility. The more work you can do yourself while self-editing, the quicker and cheaper the professional edits will be.
Keep these three things in mind each time you receive a manuscript back from your editor, and guide yourself towards a state of editing zen!

Guest Blog: Author Editing Interview with Brenda Murphy

Today I welcome author Brenda Murphy to the blog to talking about the editing process.

1)  Tell us a bit about you and your writing
I write women loving women erotic romance and publish with NineStar Press. I had written short stories on and off over the years, but six years ago I began submitting them to various anthologies and actively seeking publication. I had a collection of short stories published but was afraid to transition into novel writing.  After one of my favourite stories was rejected, a very good friend who had read the story, said in the most gentle way, "it's because it needs to be a novel." And that was how I wrote my first book. NineStar press accepted it and I have been with them ever since.
The third book, in the series started by that short story- that-became-a-novel, Knotted Legacy, just made a top 100 vacation reads list from The Lesbian Review and I could not be more grateful that I listened to my friend.

Vlog: Ask An Editor - Editing for Proportion

In today's vlog I look at several ways you can edit for proportion in your manuscript.

Guest Blog: Author Editing Interview with L.A. Ashton

Today I welcome LGBT author L.A. Ashton to the blog to talking about the editing process.

1)  Tell us a bit about you and your writing
I’m a queer adventure enby and I write queer adventure stories! I loved reading from a very young age, and writing my own stories was the next natural step. I was always working on fantasy plots and characters in my head.
I self-pubbed my novel Echoes first, but then found a home at a small press. They’re publishing Echoes as well as two novellas. The start to this journey is terrifying, but exciting!

Guest Blog - Author Editing Interview with Bill Kieffer

Today I welcome Bill Kieffer to the blog to talk about his author experiences with editing.

Understanding Archaic Language

Today I have decided to take a quick look at some aspects of archaic language. I see people mix these up all the time, and it comes down to a lack of understanding of the grammar.

Thou is nominative (subject form), thee is object form, and thy/thine is possessive form.

The use of thy/thine depends on the object of which you are speaking. A good general rule is that thine goes before words beginning with an h or a vowel. The same holds true if you are choosing between my and mine.

Here are some examples:
Thou art a fool.
All my foolishness I give to thee.
Thy foolishness offends me.
Thine eyes are full of mischief.

And here is a quick glossary of some other archaic terms you may come across in both historical works and historical fiction.

Henceforth: from now onwards
Hither: to/towards this place
Hitherto: until now
Thither: to that place
Wherefore: why
N.B. Many modern readers seem to misunderstand Juliet's balcony scene. When she asks 'Wherefore art thou Romeo?' she wants to know why he has to be Romeo, her enemy. She's not asking where he is. :)