There are two types of editing: story editing and technical editing (I don't know if those are the official terms, they're just my terms). Story editing is when you go over your work and make sure the story makes sense- cut scenes, add scenes, clarify scenes, fix dialogue; it's likely you'll do that step several times before your book is ready for technical editing. By "technical editing" I mean going over the grammar, spelling, layout, etc.
For our book, my buddy and I did our own editing and self published. Next time, we might hire someone to do the technical editing because, while we're confident in our writing, we're not pros when it comes to grammar. Even after reviewing things multiple times, typos still made their way through.
But whatever editing you intend to do on your own book, I've learned a few tips that I hope you will find helpful. Here they are:
1. Just dew et!
Editing is like the cleanup after the party. You had your fun writing the story, and now it's time to get your hands dirty. Not so fun. But it doesn't have to be a terrible experience, and if your book really is good, you might even enjoy re-reading your scenes a dozen times (or at least not get too sick of them). But the bottom line is, it needs to be done. You need to make sure this story makes sense. It's easy to put this step off because it's not the fun part, so I'm going to tell you right now, don't do what I've been doing with one of my novels for the last few years-- JUST EDIT.
2. Decide whether you want to do technical editing yourself or hire someone else to do it
I can tell you that after realizing how much work it is to self-publish and polish that final draft, it might be worth it to pay for an editing service or hire a friend or professional (depending on your budget) to do it. So decide what you want to do, and if you decide to do it yourself, it's still a good idea to have a friend (or several friends) look it over in case you missed something, because it's easy to overlook things when you're familiar with the story. Not comfortable sharing your work with others? Refer to tip 5 below.
3. Triple check, then check again
After you've fleshed out the details, get out your fine comb and check again. You will be surprised how many times both of us missed an obvious typo. We're all human and perfection isn't easily achieved, but try to be as thorough as you reasonably can.
4. Work as you are able-- make the most of your time
I have found that for me, I can get a lot done if I just leave my project in plain sight and chip away at it as I am able, but I can get even more done when I sit down for a day and focus. The point is, always try to do something- remember what I said in the writing article? Anything is better than nothing. Your goal should always be to progress, whether it's a few steps or a few miles. It's okay to miss a day now and then, but don't give up, you worked hard for this, now see it through!
5. Let others read your work
Writing comes from our souls and bares a part of us that is vulnerable. As such, it can be difficult to share this most precious piece of ourselves with others initially. But if you intend to share this book with the world someday, it's a good idea to share your finished (or semi-finished) work with a peer first. See how the book makes them feel, get their thoughts. Your first readers don't have to know how to write or what makes a good book -most people don't know why they like or dislike something, so find out how it makes them feel. Take feedback with a grain of salt, of course, because we all have differing opinions, but do consider all criticism and accept it. If you want to be successful you have to be able to take negative opinions and use them constructively.
Whatever you do, enjoy the journey, be true to yourself, and dream big.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
5 Ways to Improve Your Writing
I've decided to start a series of "5 lists", in which I will list 5 items related to books/writing, movies, board games and whatever else my fickle little heart fancies. Why fives? Well, five seems to be popular among us humans, probably because it's as many fingers as we have on one hand. At least most of us... Right. Well, here we go!
5 Ways to Improve Your Writing:
I don't pretend to be the authoritative voice on the matter, but you don't spend almost twenty years writing (albeit, sometimes sporadically) without learning something. So here are five things I learned from my own research and experience... and mistakes, as a writer.
1. Don't bore me on the first page!
I don't know how many times I've picked up a book, read a couple sentences on the first page, and immediately put it down. Why? Because it was BORING. "Janice was sitting at her desk waiting for her client to arrive. She opened her e-mail and sighed when she saw the first one. It was her mother. She and her mother had a precarious relationship at best. It hadn't always been this way. When she was a little girl she remembered the trips to the ice cream store and the park. Then her parents divorced..."
And... what were we talking about? I was half zoned out while I wrote that. Why??? Because nothing's happening! Some lady is sitting at her desk thinking about her past while waiting for her client to arrive. All of that stuff in the past? That should be woven into the story itself like a beautiful thread to help create the texture of a robust plot. Don't throw it all at me in the beginning- get on with the story, let me learn about the character as it comes out naturally through the story line and interaction between characters. Of course, this rule, like so many others, does have exceptions. So ultimately, stay true to your style, but also keep me engaged in those first pages. Remember, that's where you want to hook the reader! So if you do have a lot of backstory, make it interesting and fresh.
2. Be yourself
Obvious, right? Well, not really. There was a time when I was learning and I found myself imitating whichever authors I was currently reading. Now, I will say that's not a bad thing for the learning process. In fact, it's a fun creative challenge to imitate another author, and chances are we have to go through a little bit of mimicry before we find our own voice. But when it comes to writing a sparkly original story, just be yourself, don't try to be somebody else. Take a little inspiration from a book or author you like here and there, mix it with a lot of your own zest and huzzah! You have a unique voice people will like. Or hate. Depends. Either way, be yourself. Don't know what "yourself" sounds like? That's okay, just write a bunch of fodder until you figure it out.
3. Learn a little
Take the time to do some basic research about the places, practices, people, etc. in your book. And take the time to learn about writing in general. If you have a great idea, then definitely write it down, but before you solidify it into a real, concrete story, make sure you get the obvious facts right.
4. Don't learn too much
Bouncing from the last point, it's great to research, but don't live in research land forever. It's just a stop along the way to the finish line. At some point you actually do have to start writing, otherwise those great ideas and all that head knowledge won't really benefit you much. There's a time to move on. Know enough to sound like you know what you're talking about, but you don't necessarily have to be pro. Note that I'm talking about fictional writing here, if you're writing a how-to or a biography, then yeah, you probably do have to be a pro.
5. Even if it's c#@p, just get it on the page!
My dear BFF and co-author got me a shirt that says this, because in our own writing journey we learned the value of riding the waves of inspiration. Yes, you want to learn your stuff, yes you want to write well, but when those first raw surges of inspiration strike, write them down! Also, when you have a story to write, make yourself sit down and write it- you can go back and edit later (maybe I'll do 5 tips on editing later! Hmm...). Writing ANYTHING is better than nothing. Say it with me: Anything is better than nothing. Books are made of chapters, chapters are made of scenes, scenes are made of sentences and paragraphs which consist of words. Write ten words a day, or a hundred words a day, or a thousand- just write! If there's one thing I leave you with today, it's that.
Did you enjoy this list? Would you like to see more? Welp, you'll be seeing more from me every Wednesday, so keep them little eyes peeled. And, hey, if you have any suggestions for a "five list" you would like to see from me, let me know in the comments! Maybe I'll condescend from my lofty perch as wisest of wise of everything and write about it.
Until then, keep writing, keep living, keep happy.
Friday, October 12, 2018
Humans and their Hobbies
Long before the earliest chess boards were carved, humans were already playing board games. A game called senet, for example, was played in ancient Egypt as early as 3000BC. Sports, too, have been a favorite diversion for many centuries: ancient cave drawings in France depict wrestlers, the first Olympics included four different running contests. Music, painting, dance, and poetry have been intertwined with human existence, it seems, since the dawn of our race.
We as humans have always striven to grow, to challenge our minds and bodies and imaginations, and hobbies have long been a method of doing so. While some might brush off hobbies as a waste of time, others, like myself, believe they are an integral and necessary part of who we are. Hobbies provide us with a way to relax that is also productive, because they engage our muscles- either those in our mind or those in our body. Studies have even shown that participating in a hobby helps reduce stress.
So, if you haven't found a hobby yet, I want to encourage you to start looking for something that interests you. Or maybe several things. A lot of people say they don't have time for a hobby, but I challenge that sentiment. How much time a day do we spend browsing the internet, playing with our phones, watching TV? Or even working when we don't need to be? Sure, it's nice to just check out for a little while sometimes and turn on the TV- there's nothing wrong with that, but what if we moved just a little bit of that mindless time to restorative time?
What if we lessened our stress by doing something we enjoy, with people we enjoy being with, rather than spending time on unnecessary or fruitless tasks?
I'm a firm believer in getting things done, but I'm also a firm believer in taking time to enjoy the richness of life, whether it's reading books, playing games, climbing rocks, or painting yard gnomes. Do what makes you happy, what drives you to be better and do better, and you might just start finding more drive in your overall life as well.
For me, hobbies are just another way I come to understand myself better and recharge my batteries. What about you? Do you have a hobby? What makes you love it? What could you do to make that hobby even better, be more inclusive and productive? If you have thoughts you'd like to share, feel free to comment below!
Until next time, keep growing.
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