Sorry, there will be no new post this weekend. I am taking some time to follow my newly educated muse.
However, on that note, I have re-edited the first chapter of my book.
Specific things I tried to fix include:
- using unnecessary or overused words such as that, which, had, so, get/got, very, because, suddenly, basically, essentially, and actually
- starting sentences with present participles (-ing words)
- narrating outside my POV character’s knowledge and/or way of thinking
- describing setting not pertinent to the plot, POV character, or desired mood
- writing dialog that doesn’t flow smoothly or that sounds unnatural for a given character
I also tried to add suspense and raise interesting questions with deferred (yet-to-be-revealed) answers.
Feel free to read it and share any thoughts, questions, or critiques.
Thanks!
These are some great things for everyone to remember when editing. Good luck writing!
Thanks!
Editing is such a bitter-sweet process. So rewarding, though, if done right.
I’ve just finished editing my new novel, and love your list of things to watch out for. It’s amazing how many adverbs can slip into your writing if you’re not careful!
Oh, I know! I spent hours just using the “find” function on overused adverbs and replacing or deleting them.
Congratulations on your novel, by the way. (“I said with masked envy.”) I’ll be sure to check it out.
Some fine work here!
Since you asked, I’d begin the story with “Today, Isaac walked through Embark’s Park again.” and cut out the yesterday part. Lovely though it is, it’s nicer to feel its absence. Readers hear those backstory clues “yesterday” “had” and the mind agitates.
The first sentence, to me, has that “humor! this is a humorous book!” feeling, but then the rest of the chapter was actually more serious than I expected from the first sentence.
I almost always have to cut some opening chapter from my own work.
As for those pesky words, autocrit.com has a nice function that will highlight your “that” and “it”.
Most importantly, just write your book how you like it and don’t take any advice from weirdos on the internet and other writers. Other writers are ghastly people, jealous and fearful.
Haha. Not all other writers, at least, are ghastly.
I see what you mean about the opening being too quirky. I am still feeling out the voice of my story. I keep wanting to jump around in tone and mood, as real people do, but I know a good story needs to have an underlying consistency and cadence that lends to a theme and genre. I should really get that figured out sooner than later. I am actually considering giving Isaac narration (first-person perspective) now that I have gotten to know him better and have found that his voice might be more interesting and consistent than my own.
I will definitely consider the back-story cut, but it will be an especially painful one because I am still set on giving a feel for Isaac per-usual before, and as a contrast to, the dramatic difference on this “particularly perplexing” day. Maybe if I switch to FPP I’ll let Isaac decide how important the flashback is.
Thanks for the thoughtful comments, Starry.