Among the greatest gifts one writer can give another is that being a beta reader. A beta reader is a volunteer who reads over a rough manuscript and offers feedback on what’s working and what’s not. This feedback can span the gamut from simply a general reaction to a full-on critique. But not all beta […]
December 16, 2016 by 30 Comments Editing Your Novel5 Steps to a Thorough Book Edit
Nothing can strike fear in the hearts of writers like editing. But if you’re going to improve your story, a thorough book edit is something that must happen. With the right tools, mindset, and preparation, it doesn’t have to be scary at all! The fun thing about the writing and editing process is that everyone approaches […]
June 15, 2016 by 29 Comments Editing Your Novel8 Tips for Editing Other Writers’ Work (While Remaining Friends)
Have you ever been asked to edit someone else’s work? Do you need tips for editing without ruining friendships? You’re not alone! If you’re part of a workshop group, or if you have a bunch of writer friends, then you’ll probably find yourself acting as an editor at some point. Perhaps: In a group workshop […]
May 29, 2016 by 61 Comments Editing Your Novel6 Tips for How to Organize Your Novel’s Edits
Imagine this: you’ve received a ton of great feedback from your beta readers, critique partners, and/or editors. I mean a ton. You’re ready to dive in and start putting their suggestions to use. But… where do you start? How can you organize your novel’s edits so you can actually make sense of them? One of the reasons […]
March 20, 2016 by 44 Comments Editing Your Novel5 (More) Ways to Trim Your Book’s Word Count, Pt. 2 of 2
For every author desperate to trim your book’s word count, there’s another author who insists every word is precious. After all, a book wouldn’t have turned out long if it didn’t need to be long. Sometimes that true. If Charles Dickens had whacked away at his word count (not that he would, since he was paid by the […]
March 14, 2016 by 36 Comments Editing Your Novel5 Ways to Trim Your Book’s Word Count, Pt. 1 of 2
This is not a post for the writers who have trouble writing books that aren’t long enough. This is not a post for writers who say they’re going to write a short story and actually end up writing a short story. Nope, this is a post for writers who set out to write a nice little 100,000-word […]
January 25, 2016 by 61 Comments Editing Your NovelYour NaNo Novel Is a Hot Mess! How to Edit Your Book
Yay, you wrote a book! Now what are you supposed to do with it? Writing a manuscript often feels like a sprint to a finish line–but then you reach that finish line, only to realize it’s really just the beginning! In many ways, completing a first draft is the easy part of the writing (what? no! […]
January 16, 2015 by 29 Comments Editing Your Novel5 Ways to Endear Yourself to Your Book Editor
Here’s the not-so-secret secret about your book editor: he loves books. Sure, sometimes a book editor loves being right, but on the whole he loves reading, working with words, and seeing writers grow into authors. A book editor does what he does because he wants to help authors put their best words forward. But if you’ve never worked with a book […]
December 21, 2014 by 95 Comments Editing Your NovelA Quick Guide to Beta Reader Etiquette
Writers love their beta readers. But let’s be honest. Beta readers also kinda drive us crazy. Some of them are perfection: as polite, professional, and talented as any in-house editor. But others… well, let’s just say their lack of tact and their questionable knowledge of the craft can sometimes leave us howling in frustration. Why isn’t there […]
December 5, 2014 by 31 Comments Editing Your Novel5 Ways to Actually Enjoy Editing Your Book
I recently found myself in the “writing” subreddit, offering my two cents in the discussion. One of the questions that seemed to ring a bell with a few writers was, “Why can’t I bring myself to edit?” Writing seemed to be the easy part. Editing your book? Not so much. Here at CompletelyNovel, we find that […]
