I like to identify a theme and then create a word map of verbs, adjectives, nouns. I especially like to do this to strengthen verbs or create more interesting verbs e.g. a piece I was editing had a soldier character so I used a military theme, using the verb 'helmed' to express the sun burning on someone's head...You have to be careful not to go OTT with this technique! My feedback partners suggested a lot of cuts later!
I have a lot of short story collections and anthologies. I'll pick one and flip through the opening lines of various stories and see what I like about them (or don't like). Then I look at my opening lines and see what tools I can apply to my own writing to grab the reader's attention.
As a former proofreader, I used to read manuscripts backwards, so I wasn't caught up in the narrative (and potentially "filling in" missing or errant words in my mind). Also, editing from paper copy, as mentioned a couple of times below. And almost always multiple rounds, after taking some time away from the document.
Like several of the above commenters, I read aloud. I stand up and read slowly from a print copy, as if I were speaking to a live group. I often hear errors and weak constructions that my eyes miss. My natural breathing while reading aloud can be a big help in comma placement or removal. My ears are better than my eyes at picking up clues about cadence and rhythm.
More revision than editing, but...I try to make sure none of my characters have "one-note" personalities. If the antagonist is too evil, I find places to add some humanity and show them being loving. If the protagonist seeming to be too helpless, I find a situation, however small, where they can take charge. If the character's friend is too supportive, I find a way to make them show a hint of being selfish. In non-fiction, this may mean the narrator (myself) may need to admit an admirable quality or memory of an antagonist. In flash fiction or non-fiction, these may need to just be little details or a single line of dialogue that complicate their character just a little bit.
Bonus tip - it is super helpful reading it out loud (as others have suggested) or using the Microsoft "read-aloud" feature to have a robot read it. Having the robot read it is helpful since the pacing and inflection may be way different than I expected.
I do! I usually try to intertwine at least major themes in an essay, show the good and the bad, the social and the internal, etc. Since I find that upon reflection it's more about finding (or losing) balance and peace as opposed to tackling one conflict at a time.
Keep an eye out for your go-to words and phrases. CTRL+F them to make sure there aren't too many of them and they're not nestled too close together. (Not talking about base words like 'said.') For example, I had to do a pass-through for 'smile,' since apparently that's all my characters were doing.
We've all got 'em... I once calculated the percentage and average instances per page of a repeated word for a copyediting client (for entertainment purposes, with consent). It's incredible how we skim over our own go-to words.
Print it out. A lot of paper, but I find it easier to delete and comment (to myself, in blunt language!) what needs to be improved, moving sections around etc. Much better than doing it on a screen. On screen change fonts, line spacing even colour, read on a different device. In effect, anything that makes it unfamiliar. And of course reading aloud
No specific advice, but I find if I have to revise to fit a lower word count, my writing inevitably improves. A couple of times that meant I had two stories I thought were intertwined but were better as two separate stories.
For what I imagine will be my final copyediting run-through, I start at the bottom of my manuscript and work my way up, paragraph by paragraph. Not following the thread of the story allows me to focus purely on the words and sentences. I find a lot of things to fix or tweak that way.
Great technique. I sometimes find it also helps with pacing, too — as you tend to start with the climax/resolution/turning point of each chapter and follow the trail of how (effectively) you got there.
I like to identify a theme and then create a word map of verbs, adjectives, nouns. I especially like to do this to strengthen verbs or create more interesting verbs e.g. a piece I was editing had a soldier character so I used a military theme, using the verb 'helmed' to express the sun burning on someone's head...You have to be careful not to go OTT with this technique! My feedback partners suggested a lot of cuts later!
I have a lot of short story collections and anthologies. I'll pick one and flip through the opening lines of various stories and see what I like about them (or don't like). Then I look at my opening lines and see what tools I can apply to my own writing to grab the reader's attention.
Oh I love this. I've recently started flipping through poetry books to pick one at random each day and doing a similar thing with theme/structure etc.
As a former proofreader, I used to read manuscripts backwards, so I wasn't caught up in the narrative (and potentially "filling in" missing or errant words in my mind). Also, editing from paper copy, as mentioned a couple of times below. And almost always multiple rounds, after taking some time away from the document.
Yes yes, the backwards trick is magic.
Write a lot
Leave a little
Succinctly said!
I record myself reading & listen. It helps with punctuation and also when a sentence sounds off or forced.
Recording is a next level 'read aloud' tip!
Like several of the above commenters, I read aloud. I stand up and read slowly from a print copy, as if I were speaking to a live group. I often hear errors and weak constructions that my eyes miss. My natural breathing while reading aloud can be a big help in comma placement or removal. My ears are better than my eyes at picking up clues about cadence and rhythm.
I'm so glad there are so many of us in the read aloud crowd. :D
reading aloud multiple times during the editing process listening for the rhythm and the music of the words
Same.
I change formats meaning I read from cell phone instead of laptop, or I print. It really helps to spot things.
Totally. I like sticking drafts on my e-reader, too. Makes them feel 'real' somehow, and it's easy to bookmark and highlight phrases.
More revision than editing, but...I try to make sure none of my characters have "one-note" personalities. If the antagonist is too evil, I find places to add some humanity and show them being loving. If the protagonist seeming to be too helpless, I find a situation, however small, where they can take charge. If the character's friend is too supportive, I find a way to make them show a hint of being selfish. In non-fiction, this may mean the narrator (myself) may need to admit an admirable quality or memory of an antagonist. In flash fiction or non-fiction, these may need to just be little details or a single line of dialogue that complicate their character just a little bit.
Bonus tip - it is super helpful reading it out loud (as others have suggested) or using the Microsoft "read-aloud" feature to have a robot read it. Having the robot read it is helpful since the pacing and inflection may be way different than I expected.
Great way to bring balance and complexity to your characters.
This is really good advice! Do you find for creative nonfiction it helps you reflect on the past more holistically?
I do! I usually try to intertwine at least major themes in an essay, show the good and the bad, the social and the internal, etc. Since I find that upon reflection it's more about finding (or losing) balance and peace as opposed to tackling one conflict at a time.
Keep an eye out for your go-to words and phrases. CTRL+F them to make sure there aren't too many of them and they're not nestled too close together. (Not talking about base words like 'said.') For example, I had to do a pass-through for 'smile,' since apparently that's all my characters were doing.
We've all got 'em... I once calculated the percentage and average instances per page of a repeated word for a copyediting client (for entertainment purposes, with consent). It's incredible how we skim over our own go-to words.
Print it out. A lot of paper, but I find it easier to delete and comment (to myself, in blunt language!) what needs to be improved, moving sections around etc. Much better than doing it on a screen. On screen change fonts, line spacing even colour, read on a different device. In effect, anything that makes it unfamiliar. And of course reading aloud
Agreed. The format switcharoo is so effective.
Reading out loud. Always. Multiple times. Repeatedly. If I get sick of something or don’t like the way it sounds, it’s out
Yep yep yep yep yep.
No specific advice, but I find if I have to revise to fit a lower word count, my writing inevitably improves. A couple of times that meant I had two stories I thought were intertwined but were better as two separate stories.
Yes! I like to play 'round it down' (to the nearest 100 or 1000 or whatever) as a challenge.
Agree!
On every scene ask yourself what each character, not just the protagonist, wants/feels/thinks. Should that change their dialogue/body language etc
100%. Even better when they're all wanting/feeling/thinking opposing things.
I love doing this because it gives me more opportunities to chat with imaginary friends
:D
For what I imagine will be my final copyediting run-through, I start at the bottom of my manuscript and work my way up, paragraph by paragraph. Not following the thread of the story allows me to focus purely on the words and sentences. I find a lot of things to fix or tweak that way.
Great technique. I sometimes find it also helps with pacing, too — as you tend to start with the climax/resolution/turning point of each chapter and follow the trail of how (effectively) you got there.
I have found that reading my story out loud changes my perception of how it flows and shows where the flow can be improved.
Peter Watson
Absolutely. Amazing what you can miss on paper.