Editing Simplified Do whatever makes the story better. Do whatever makes the story better. Everything in the story works toward unity of theme and idea

Editing SimplifiedEditing Simplified

Do whatever makes the story better.Do whatever makes the story better.

Everything in the story works toward Everything in the story works toward unity of theme and idea.unity of theme and idea.

William Hill www.fantasyhill.comWilliam Hill www.fantasyhill.com

Characters Make Choices that MatterCharacters Make Choices that Matter

Unity of ThemeUnity of ThemeCalvin and Hobbes cartoonCalvin and Hobbes cartoonCharactersCharacters : a six year old (our inner child) and his : a six year old (our inner child) and his

stuffed buddy (imagination and conscience)stuffed buddy (imagination and conscience)

SettingSetting: the forest represents the natural world: the forest represents the natural world

ConflictConflict: which choices to make? Some are dangerous.: which choices to make? Some are dangerous.

PacePace: the wagon, gravity and no brakes!: the wagon, gravity and no brakes!

TensionTension: when will they crash?: when will they crash?

ThemeTheme: the impact and consequences of choices: the impact and consequences of choices


Know your Know your targettarget audienceaudience

Word Selection & VOICeWord Selection & VOICe

The reader unconsciously knows you could have The reader unconsciously knows you could have chosen any word. Why did you select that chosen any word. Why did you select that specific word? Is it right for the character who is specific word? Is it right for the character who is speaking or thinking?speaking or thinking?

Your best friend is Your best friend is smartsmart..Would Would intelligentintelligent, , brainybrainy, a , a whizwhiz, a , a geniusgenius, , savvysavvy, , sharpsharp, or , or brilliantbrilliant work better? work better?


PACEPACEYou can improve it by:You can improve it by:

Simplifying scene or chapter transitions.Simplifying scene or chapter transitions.

Eliminate unneeded or repetitive sentences.Eliminate unneeded or repetitive sentences.

Sentences that are unnecessary should be Sentences that are unnecessary should be removed.removed.

Shorten sentences to imply speed.Shorten sentences to imply speed.

Cut repetitive scenes or combine them.Cut repetitive scenes or combine them.

Increase tension! Increase tension!

William Hill www.fantasyhill.com William Hill www.fantasyhill.com

Increase Increase TENSION-TENSION-

SUSPENSESUSPENSECheck timing and pace of storyCheck timing and pace of story

Missed opportunitiesMissed opportunities

DelayDelay

PausePause

Add to conflict, other suspectsAdd to conflict, other suspects

Stretch taut the reader’s emotionsStretch taut the reader’s emotions


Eliminate AdverbsEliminate Adverbs

Turn two words into one.Turn two words into one.

The boy The boy ran quicklyran quickly down the street. down the street.

Sped, raced, sprintedSped, raced, sprinted??

The girl The girl walked slowlywalked slowly along the sidewalk. along the sidewalk.

How many words for walk slowly?How many words for walk slowly?


Vary patternsVary patternsMr. Hill came from Nevada to Mr. Hill came from Nevada to talktalk and share and share with us tips to help us improve our writing. with us tips to help us improve our writing. He He talkedtalked about where ideas come from. He about where ideas come from. He talkedtalked about the importance of vocabulary. about the importance of vocabulary. He He talkedtalked about storytelling and editing. about storytelling and editing. Then he was done and went home.Then he was done and went home.

All the way from Nevada, Mr. Hill came to All the way from Nevada, Mr. Hill came to share tips with us to improve our writing. share tips with us to improve our writing. He spoke about where ideas come from. He spoke about where ideas come from. After that, he showed us the importance of After that, he showed us the importance of vocabulary. He discussed storytelling and vocabulary. He discussed storytelling and editing, then he was done. editing, then he was done.


Final EditsFinal EditsIf you have multiple character viewpoints, read them separately If you have multiple character viewpoints, read them separately for character unity.for character unity.

Look for pet phrases- like, so, just, suddenlyLook for pet phrases- like, so, just, suddenly

Correct spelling and typos. Don’t trust your spell checker!Correct spelling and typos. Don’t trust your spell checker!Grate author. Great? Or grating?Grate author. Great? Or grating?

You are two kind.You are two kind.You meant you are too kind.You meant you are too kind.She grabbed him by the waste.She grabbed him by the waste.You meant she grabbed him by the waist.You meant she grabbed him by the waist.I had my hare cut yesterday.I had my hare cut yesterday.Do you own a rabbit?Do you own a rabbit?He had fists of furry.He had fists of furry.It broke the mood. You meant that he had fists of fury.It broke the mood. You meant that he had fists of fury.


GrammarGrammar

A A messymessy messagemessage gets lost. gets lost.Take your Take your creationcreation and and organizeorganize it, following it, following the rules, to successfully share your the rules, to successfully share your ideaidea with with someone else. someone else.

BreakBreak the rules only to make a the rules only to make a pointpoint..

Your early drafts are for Your early drafts are for youyou. Your last draft is for . Your last draft is for your your audienceaudience..

Willilam Hill www.fantasyhill.comWillilam Hill www.fantasyhill.com

PerseverancePerseverance

Dr. SeussDr. Seuss rejected 43 times. rejected 43 times. Richard Bach’sRichard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Jonathan Livingston SeagullSeagull rejected 37 times. rejected 37 times.Philo T. FarnsworthPhilo T. Farnsworth took 7 years to create took 7 years to create the Television. the Television. JRR Tolkien’sJRR Tolkien’s The HobbitThe Hobbit first rejected first rejected for a poor editing.for a poor editing.


In the EndIn the EndOpen your eyes and mind. Ideas Open your eyes and mind. Ideas

abound.abound.

Follow the recipe. Follow the recipe.

Make good and colorful word Make good and colorful word choices.choices.

Show. Don’t tell.Show. Don’t tell.

Make characters realistic and Make characters realistic and relatable.relatable.

EditEdit! Polish until ! Polish until diamonddiamond brilliant.brilliant.

Keep creating and writing. Over Keep creating and writing. Over and over. . . and over. . .


More about books & ideasMore about books & ideas

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Editing Simplified Do whatever makes the story better. Do whatever makes the story better. Everything in the story works toward unity of theme and idea