Wordless Wednesday
Have you done a structural edit?
I think I’ve read Lethal Disposal a dozen times. Maybe more. Before I send the novel off to a copy-editor (I haven’t decided which one yet), I want to do a structural edit first. A structural edit is not the easiest of things when you’ve read the novel so many times that you skim over sentences because you know what’s coming.
It’s easy to become complacent with one’s writing. It’s also very easy to be too critical and never let it out into the world. I’m hoping to find a balance between the two so I’m doing one last structural edit and have given myself three weeks to complete it.
So what is a structural edit?
It’s looking at the plot, characters, theme, and structure of the entire novel. It’s hard work but it’s also a necessity.
I’ve had two people read the book with a critical eye. A teacher friend was kind enough to make notes where plot points made no sense or required further explanation.
Now there are a few questions I need to answer:
Does the story flow?
Do I care about the characters?
Is the plot engaging enough?
Do my characters grow?
Are the main characters likeable?
Is there enough action/reaction?
Is the point of view clear?
Do the story elements make sense?
Do the character’s actions make sense?
Is there anything missing?
Have the subplots been wrapped up?
Has the main story point been wrapped up?
Does each scene move the story forward?
So it’s time to put butt back in chair, put my editors hat on, and tackle the novel’s structure.
Happy Writing (or rewriting!)
Would you call yourself a writer?
According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, a writer is:
1 a person who has written something or who writes in a particular way: the writer of the letter.
• a person who writes books, stories, or articles as a job or occupation: Dickens was a prolific writer | a writer of short stories.
2 Computing a device that writes data to a storage medium: a CD writer.
3 historical a scribe.
So therefore, if you write, you are a writer. I always thought in order to define myself as a writer I had to score a cool publishing deal with a major publisher, sell a million copies and make a living from my words. Well, sorry to burst my own bubble and anyone else reading, but your excuses are over, finito, done. It’s time to come out of the closet and admit to yourself that you are in fact a writer. So what if Harper Collins hasn’t responded to your manuscript, and the agent that promised to take a look at your first five chapters has gone missing in action? You’ve written, so you’re a writer baby! Own it. Love it. Cherish it. Make the most of it. Most importantly, sit your booty down and write.
Would you call yourself a writer?
Lethal Disposal – Coming out June 2015
