Revising & Editing / 5 posts found
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Rushing the Editing Process
Everyone makes mistakes—even writers—but that’s OK because each mistake is a great learning opportunity. The Writer’s Digest team has witnessed many mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them early in the process. Note: The mistakes in this series aren’t focused on grammar rules, though we offer help in that area as well. (Grammar rules for writers.) Rather, we’re looking at bigger picture mistakes and mishaps, including the error of using too much exposition, neglecting research, or researching too much. This week’s writing mistake writers make is rushing the editing process. Writing Mistakes Writers Make: […]
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Starting at the Beginning
Everyone makes mistakes—even writers—but that’s OK because each mistake is a great learning opportunity. The Writer’s Digest team has witnessed many mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them early in the process. Note: The mistakes in this series aren’t focused on grammar rules, though we offer help in that area as well. (Grammar rules for writers.) Rather, we’re looking at bigger picture mistakes and mishaps, including the error of using too much exposition, hiding your pitch, or chasing trends. This week’s writing mistake writers make is starting at the beginning. Writing Mistakes Writers Make: […]
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Not Asking Questions in the Drafting Process
Everyone makes mistakes—even writers—but that’s OK because each mistake is a great learning opportunity. The Writer’s Digest team has witnessed many mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them early in the process. Note: The mistakes in this series aren’t focused on grammar rules, though we offer help in that area as well. (Grammar rules for writers.) Rather, we’re looking at bigger picture mistakes and mishaps, including the error of using too much exposition, neglecting research, or researching too much. This week’s writing mistake writers make is not asking questions in the drafting process. Writing […]
Alternatives to a Professional Edit
So far in our series about hiring a professional editor, we’ve looked at determining whether you need an edit and if so what kind, explored where to find good editors and what questions to ask to winnow down your options, and how to evaluate the sample edit to determine whether an editor is the right fit for you. But what if the often several-thousand-dollar price tag simply isn’t in your budget right now? Does that mean you’re dead in the water, your writing career frozen until you can fund it? It doesn’t have to. (When Is My Novel Ready to […]
Evaluating the Sample Edit and Choosing the Right Editor for You
In this series about hiring a professional editor, we’ve examined whether you need an edit as well as what kind, looked at how to find good editors, and determined what questions to ask to narrow down your choices. (When Is My Novel Ready to Read: 7 Self-Editing Processes for Writers) At this point in your vetting process, one of the non-negotiables I always suggest is asking any editor you’re considering for a sample edit—you wouldn’t buy a car without a test drive, and editing is a major and important investment. But how do you evaluate that sample once you receive […]