My Background:
I’m an Author.
I have five full novels, an anthology of short stories and a collection of seven short stories published, plus a number of stories and articles published in magazines and one multi-author anthology. UK US
I work as a professional Editor for a small Indie Publishing House.
I have a few years’ experience in publishing.
I was Editor in Chief of a large online magazine (approx. 100,000 hits per month at its peak).
My second novel, Cruel and Unusual was entered for The Orange Prize For Fiction in 2012.
I’ve written screenplays for movies and at least one of my stories has been made into a film.
I have a page on IMDB.
I've been asked for the links to my books. If you click the green text in the background blurb above, you'll get to the links.
If you'd like to see how I edited my own work, here's the link to Daughters of Le Fey![] the story has been left for a number of years and I show what I do, with descriptions and comparisons for you to see.
Pictures either with permission or from Google free to use image search
Writing a book is easy...
I can tell you how I write a book. I can tell you how other people write their books, that’s easy, it’s researchable – anyone can find that information. I think the reason you’re reading this is because you want to learn how YOU write a book.
I’m going to try to help you with that.
One tip I find invaluable - and I see a lot of newbies falling foul of it - READ everything you are preparing to comment on. It's no good reading just the first line, then flicking down through the post because you can't be bothered to read, barely taking time to note the pictures of course, because they always have something to do with the text, and then assuming you know what's been written because that's how you would have written it. It doesn't work and you'll get found out. Trust me.
Remember that rewrite?
And that next one?
You’ve finished them both and you’re happy with what you’ve got?
Buckle-up, Buttercup, we’re in for a bumpy ride!
“Write Drunk; Edit Sober”
– Ernest Hemingway
When you’re writing you’re in the creative zone. Pulling out fantasies of your imagination’s making and getting them down on paper. It’s satisfying and energising and a thoroughly wonderful experience if it catches you just right.
Now you need to swap that hat for another one. This new hat isn’t as floppy and comfortable as the creative one. This new hat is tight, rigid, and you need to be prepared for what it brings with it.
Put on your Editor’s hat.
Place your finger over the Delete button because you’re going to use it – a LOT more than you ever imagined.
Remember when you went off into that beautiful world of your own creation, tripped the light fantastic through the brilliant posies of prose and literary delight? You’re going to hack them down like weeds in the field.
The word you just couldn’t quite grasp until you searched through every page in the online thesaurus? Nope… delete, delete, delete!
Purple prose, long-winded descriptions of things that were never again seen in your story? You don’t need them, they’re deleted!
Sorry about that.
Chop out the Adverbs
Stephen King – love him or loathe him, he knows his stuff. He advocates that you lose as many adverbs (ly words) as you can.
Dan walked stealthily to where Daisy stood quietly. She didn’t hear him until he took her shoulders and shook her boisterously, making her gasp and turn around angrily.
Lazy writing may get you to the end of the story, but think about it. Do you want your readers to get to the end of your story quickly and unsatisfactorily? Or do you want them to remember your book as a tale you wove with passion, delight, humour, and a wistfulness that it’s come to an end which brings with it - “Oh and by the way, where can I get your next book? Is it out yet?”
Dan crept towards Daisy, she stood looking over the river, lost in her thoughts. She didn’t hear him as he approached and he took her shoulders and shook her with a playful laugh, expecting her to be as amused as he was. Daisy gasped, half-slipped on the muddy bank and turned around to glare at him. He took a surprised step back, hands in the air in a ‘please don’t hurt me’ pose, eyebrows lifted high in shock at her reaction and how the prank had misfired.
Not only do you get more description, a more engaging story, you also get more words to play with – words that are all necessary and won’t be deleted as you edit. Win-win!
Make good use of the Synonyms
You can be very tired with all of this work I’m making you do on your manuscript – or you could be exhausted.
You can be very upset that you have to lose all those lovely words that are unnecessary – or you could be devastated.
This is where the tight and rigid Editor’s hat comes into its own. Take out everything non-essential to the story. Do you need to describe that cat your character passed on the way to confront his enemy? Do you really? Why is that? Is it because you like cats or because you like how you captured the cat’s very essence, the way light glinted off its fur as it sat in the street, ignoring your proximity with the air of nonchalance seen only in cats and hitmen? When does that cat reappear in the story, because if it’s never seen again, you don’t need it. Don’t waste time describing things you don’t need.
This is a whole different cat!
Don’t show the gun unless it’s going to be fired.
The reason I advise you to do the first edit yourself is because I see a few manuscripts that really should have been read, re-read and at least rewritten before the manuscript got to me (the editor).
How many months have you worked very hard… sorry… toiled on this manuscript? And now, now you can see the finishing line very close… sorry within spitting distance, you want to sack it off and give it to an Editor?
Do YOURSELF a favour, as well as your manuscript, and do this work YOURSELF!
An Editor’s job is to polish the work to perfection, but first, the work has to be sound.
Liken this process to a renovation project. A car, lovingly rebuilt sent to the body shop for the final polish. You’ve put the paint on and the Editor is going to polish the paintwork.
Do you really want the Editor to have to patch-up the paint? Trust me, YOU have the right colour paint, the Editor has a similar shade and if the Editor has to patch-in any of the colour, you’re going to notice. Maybe your readers won’t, but you will.
Give your Editor as little to do on your book as you possibly can and everyone will thank you for it.
Michelle you really polish my brain. You know, I was not so much interested in writing but now after reading your great articles I love writing though still I have to go a long way to be able to write effectively..
Your tips and suggestions that you have provided in all your articles have really motivated me to read each and every word of your post.
I love your style Michelle.
Thank you so much for your opinion and suggestions.
Oh thank you! That's a wonderful compliment and gave me a big smile!
If I'm helping people to write more and be happier in how they write, then my work is successful.
You are most welcome! Yes, your work is definitely successful and your smile is an honour for me.
“Remember when you went off into that beautiful world of your own creation, tripped the light fantastic through the brilliant posies of prose and literary delight? You’re going to hack them down like weeds in the field.“
Oh man. I am terrible at overwording everything. 90% of my workshopping is hearing “cut, cut, not necessary.” And when it’s done, all those words I cherished as they poured forth and then had to cut? I don’t miss them. A tight story is a good story. I’ve been practicing on the 50 Word Short Stories. That’ll pare you down right quick.
Another good write up, thanks!
Thank you. That's exactly right. It's distressing to see those lovely words chopped out, but the story benefits from it in the end.
I think this is an essential advice for newbies and I find it very annoying when the author goes on to describe insignificant details which don't alter the action of the book. Very good job once again 👍
Exactly. The writer's job is to engage the reader - nothing more.
Samuel Johnson put it so aptly
Wonderfully bunchly tiply stuffly herely. I-ly waitly for-ly morely. :D
What a great article! I have always loved the English language and like to write. I am not, by any means, a prolific writer. I think the thing I will take from your article is the part on editing. Edit edit edit and then edit again. This seems very important to me and thank you for the great tips!
....upvoted and resteemed
Thank you. Yes, your work can always use more editing, but the trick with that is knowing when to stop too.
I just followed you. I am enthusiastic about writing stories. I like short ones especially, and poetry.
I will make sure to start improving with your lessons.
Cheers!
Thank you. I hope the tips help.
They do. One can never really know everything when it comes to language. So i am only too glad to share in your works.
I am honored. thanks
Thank you very much @michelle.gent for this daily tutorials, I have everything resteemed and I will print this as my guide. :)
Really good advice. Going over something with your editor's hat three or four times doesn't hurt and not in one sitting. I am on a third edit after I had put he work off to the side for a few months. It is amazing what you find you have missed on the first two passes.
Yes, your brain really does think, "I wrote that, therefore, it's perfect!"
YES! Good use of synonyms is critical to good writing!
So many times people repeat the same word 100 times causing semantic satiation
and the word they're using starts to lose meaning, for a time.
TIMETIMETIME - repeating the same word is bad!
By the way, having 5 novels is quite impressive ^_^
to only get to this point. Or should I say to be on point? Sorry I could not resist. More great tips..❤️ thanks, @michell.gent
again great images .. so perfect
Excellent advice, as always - resteemed! :) xox
This is so good for me to read... I'm sitting on a 35,000 word novella that I want to pitch... Do you have any suggestions for amateur authors who have had a difficulty finding an agent or publisher? It is called, 'Promised Landfill...'
I'll try to cover the subject soon. I have a little more researching to do on the matter before I feel confident enough to 'tell others how it's done' if you see what I mean?
I do understand... You're adding value to your words!
(Congratulations! Your Friend-Loyalty bonus has been powered up 20xp! LOL...)
Awesome post.Keep it up.A debt of gratitude is in order for sharing it
Upvoted and resteemed
Thank you!
Today you again gave excellent advice on how to write your story or book correctly.
Many examples that you give will perfectly contribute to the easy assimilation of the material read. A particularly good example is with the machine and its final painting and that every writer has the right to choose a color, thank you)
excellent advice, I'm not looking at my small age I plan to start writing activity in the near future and reading my recommendations I gain confidence.
Tips can be used even by those who have long been engaged in writing.
Thank you, all your posts are nice and easy to read
I like your post, give me a lot of motivation, do not forget my vote
I knew that you were a pen and paper person the first I read your first story that you posted, As for me I like reading a good story but as writing that is something else!
I truly appreciate your work.Thanks a lot for sharing it.
nice post
and i like book..dear
Nice one keep it up, really love your post.
that was quite in depth, thank you for the tips
a few days ago I read your post about tips for writing. I sat to the laptop and start writing. in 2 days I wrote my first blog post. you can see it on my Wall or I can you the link. I really appreciate your work. keep sharing like that. stay blessed <3.
I can give*
Iqra' the meaning is reading....
I understand that writing is your main quality but damn these pictures are awesome!
Thank you for sharing
Haha! The pictures are not mine. I gather them from Google. I can't take credit for them.
Great post - thanks!
I am proud of you, because there are very talented in creating outstanding works, your novel writing is very professional, you are one of the greatest writers that exist in this world .. Continue to work to reach the dream of your life
Great article! Very insightful, thank you. I have saved it as a bookmark to come back to later :)