How to Write Tight - Self-Editing Tips to Make Your Manuscript Ready For Publication
by Suzanne LieuranceAs writers, we hear it all the time. We need to "write tight", which just means we need to trim all the flab from our manuscripts and make every word count.
Here are some self-editing tips that will help you "write tight" and take your manuscripts from flabby to fit for publication in no time!
1. Avoid a lot of back story - information about the POV character's history and background. Weave all this into the story instead of loading the manuscript down with too many sentences or paragraphs of straight narrative before the action begins.
2. Simplify your sentences wherever possible. Watch for redundant or unnecessary phrases. As writers, we need to "show, not tell" as often as possible. Yet, some writers tend to show and then tell the same information, which is redundant. Watch out for this in your manuscripts. Also, look for the redundant phrases below and others like them.
Stand up = stand
Sit down = sit
Turned around = turned
He thought to himself = He thought
She shrugged her shoulders = she shrugged
She whispered softly = she whispered
He nodded his head = he nodded
3. Avoid adverbs for the most part. Use strong, descriptive verbs instead.
Flabby: She smiled slightly at the photographer.
Fit: She grinned at the photographer.
4. Avoid using the same word over and over in a paragraph. Go back and reread each sentence. Have you repeated the same word several times within a single sentence or paragraph? If so, substitute another word with the same meaning.
5. Don't overuse names. Beginning writers tend to have the characters address each other by name too often. When you speak to a friend, you don't constantly say his name. Don't have your characters do this either. It doesn't ring true, and it draws the reader OUT of the story.
6. Limit the description in a dialogue tag. Again, beginning writers tend to load down the dialogue tags (the "he said, she said" part of the dialogue) with too many details. If you must describe what a character is doing AS he says something, put that information in a separate sentence, not in the dialogue tag. And keep it short.
7. Avoid participle phrases - particularly at the beginning of sentences. Participle phrases end in the letters -ing. Go back over every page of your manuscript and circle the places where you've started a sentence with a participle phrase. If your manuscript is loaded down with participle phrases it tends to distract the reader and pull him out of the story.
8. No idle chit-chat. Be sure the dialogue advances the storyline. Readers don't need to hear the characters talking about anything that doesn't somehow relate directly to what's happened so far or what will happen next or later in the story.
9. Minimize use of the passive voice. Here's an example of passive voice: The ball was hit by Susan. Here's the same information in active voice: Susan hit the ball.
10. Use active, descriptive verbs.
Flabby: I was the one who made the decision to go home.
Fit: I decided to go home.
Strengthen weak verbs. You can usually eliminate was and were by replacing them with stronger, more descriptive verbs. Usually, was and were precede an -ing word, and you can change the -ing word to make it stronger.
Flabby:He was talking to my brother.
Fit: He talked to my brother.
11. Minimize use of the verb "to be" to keep the word count down.
Flabby: She is a graceful dancer.
Fit: She dances gracefully.
12. Cut the verb preceding an infinitive if it's not needed.
Flabby: She was able to fix the bicycle.
Fit: She fixed the bicycle.
13. Avoid using the word that when you don't need it. Reread each sentence that includes that, then read the sentence without that. If it sounds all right without it, cut it.
Also, avoid other crutch words we tend to rely on yet don't add much to the story. Other crutch words include just and really. The word suddenly should be used as infrequently as possible. Otherwise, it tends to sound as if your characters are constantly jumping around.
14. Watch for pet words or phrases you tend to favor without even realizing it. Common words like then, as, and when tend to get overused often.
15. Avoid stall phrases that slow down the action for no good reason. Phrases such as: tried to, began to and started to can be changed to the simple paste tense of the verb.
Keep this list of self-editing tips handy for awhile as you're writing and rewriting until using these tips becomes automatic.
Suzanne Lieurance is a multi-published author and the Working Writer's Coach. Get your writing in gear with the Working Writers Club (I've been a member for quite some time).
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Related Reading
Writing Nonfiction: Using Quotes
Being a Writer: Learn the Craft of Writing
Imagery and Your Story
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Until next time,
Karen Cioffi
Award Winning Author, Freelance/Ghostwriter, Editor, Marketer
Find Karen’s eBooks on writing and marketing at:
http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com
http://WritersOnTheMove.com
http://KarenCioffiFreelanceWriter.com
http://KarenCioffi.com (children’s author site)
6 comments:
Excellent article thanks for the heads up Karen and thanks Suzanne for the great advice once again.
Billie
Great tips, and as always good advice.
Terri
Billie, Suzanne certainly knows her stuff. Glad you found it helpful.
Terri, Thanks for stopping by. Suzanne does always have good advice!
Excellent tips and well worth working through every time we edit something - it's easy for weak verbs, 'stall phrases' (great term), and participle phrases to creep in.
Maggie, There is so much to watch out for that it's a good idea to have a checklist when self-editing.
Loved the Flabby or Fit analogy.
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