A practical guide to reviewing your finished, or nearly finished manuscript, and making it the best book it can possibly be. Whether you're still writing your novel, have a draft you don't know what to do with, or have a rejected manuscript you don't know how to fix, here is a step-by-step guide leading you through the most productive and transformative part of writing a book. Take hold of that manuscript.
Consider whether you’re ready to self-edit, turn it over to beta readers (anyone you can persuade to read a first draft) and/or engage a professional editor. A successful mystery writer and teacher herself, Mar Preston, lays out how to make the decisions and evaluate comments you have received.
The book considers these choices:
The "Rules" of Writing
Self-Editing
Online Editing Software
Preparing Your Manuscript for Self-Editing
The First 5 Pages of Your Novel
Style: Basic Elements and Decisions
The Elements of Crime Fiction
Critique Partners or Critique Group
Beta Readers
Professional Editing
The Big Picture Editor
The Fine Detail Editor
Editing’s Final Stage: Proofreading
Consider whether you’re ready to self-edit, turn it over to beta readers (anyone you can persuade to read a first draft) and/or engage a professional editor. A successful mystery writer and teacher herself, Mar Preston, lays out how to make the decisions and evaluate comments you have received.
The book considers these choices:
The "Rules" of Writing
Self-Editing
Online Editing Software
Preparing Your Manuscript for Self-Editing
The First 5 Pages of Your Novel
Style: Basic Elements and Decisions
The Elements of Crime Fiction
Critique Partners or Critique Group
Beta Readers
Professional Editing
The Big Picture Editor
The Fine Detail Editor
Editing’s Final Stage: Proofreading
