Bookshelf of Revision and Editing
Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft: A step-by-step guide to revising your novel (Foundations of Fiction)
I like how this book gives specific ideas. Hardy works through the revision process through the many layers of story.
A strong story has many parts, and when one breaks down, the whole book can fail. Make sure your story is the best it can be to keep your readers hooked. Janice Hardy takes you step-by-step through the novel revision process, from character issues, to plot problems, to description issues. She’ll show you how to analyze your draft, spot any problems or weak areas, and fix problems hurting your manuscript. With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft offers eleven self-guided workshops that target the common issues that make readers stop reading. It will help you:
- Flesh out weak characters and build strong character arcs
- Find the right amount of backstory to enhance, not bog down, your story
- Create unpredictable plots that keep readers guessing
- Develop compelling hooks to build tension in every scene
- Determine the right way to include information without infodumping
- Fix awkward stage direction and unclear character actions
Revision and Self-Editing for Publication: Techniques for Transforming Your First Draft into a Novel That Sells
Second Edition
Very simple step by step instructions. My writing group goes back to this book time and time again.
Jim’s book is designed to eliminate the intimidation factor that comes with revision and self-editing. You’ve finally gotten a manuscript completed. Time for a drink. But put on the brakes! Now it’s time to start all over again at page one and start the revision process. Most writers dread this stage. Thankfully, Jim’s book will give them techniques to use during the initial writing phase that will minimize the amount of revision that’s required, as well as guidelines for editing what remains and positioning the work for the best possible odds of a sale. New sections devoted to selling the work once it’s finished. Downloadable worksheets and checklists that make keeping track of and executing revision goals easy and productive
The Rewrite: The How To Guide for Revising Rewriting & Editing Your Novel (Writer to Author)
If you are teaching a writing course, I highly recommend this book! It’s helpful for writers too, but I think it would be a great teaching tool.
“Unleash the Power of Rewriting!
The Rewrite can help any writer take their shapeless draft to a completed novel! Instead of getting lost in the labyrinth of endless revisions, let The Rewrite show you how to structure your process and finish your novel. In this book, you’ll learn:
- How To Do A Pass
- Common Character Problems
- Common Plot Problems
- Common Structural Problems
- How to Fix Pacing Issues
- World Building Tips
- Self Editing
- How to find Beta Readers
- How to Incorporate Feedback
- How to Know When Your Novel Is Done
The Rewrite offers a guided approach to the entire rewriting process and as always, author Scott King, plays along, making sure to do the assignments in the book so you can learn from his successes and mistakes.”
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print
You HAVE to have this book on your bookshelf! No more need be said! If you don’t have this one—you need it!
“Hundreds of books have been written on the art of writing. Here at last is a book by two professional editors to teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories.
In this completely revised and updated second edition, Renni Browne and Dave King teach you, the writer, how to apply the editing techniques they have developed to your own work. Chapters on dialogue, exposition, point of view, interior monologue, and other techniques take you through the same processes an expert editor would go through to perfect your manuscript. Each point is illustrated with examples, many drawn from the hundreds of books Browne and King have edited.”