Fixing Your Book
I’ve always gotten great feedback from authors when I’ve critiqued their manuscripts. I love to analyse, to edit, to proof and make suggestions. The whole process of crafting a story is enjoyable to me… but… BUT… it’s so much easier when it’s someone else’s manuscript. I think all authors and even editors have some kind of blinkers to our own habits, structures, plot problems and characterisation. I don’t know why. It’s probably something to do with what my mother used to say to me when I was a teen, and I honestly thought my room was clean: We can’t see our own mess.
In the past month, I’ve run across a couple of articles that provide some good checklists for authors. From Writer’s Digest: 11 Plot Pitfalls — And How To Rescue Your Story From Them. This one talks about unoriginal plots, overly complex plots, unsatisfying endings… things that will turn a reader off immediately. What I like about this is the practical advice that comes with it. These solutions aren’t quick and easy — they involve a lot of work. But when it’s the difference between alienating readers (assuming the manuscript even makes it past the query stage), and a satisfying story, the work is well worth it.
The second article I found was actually notes from a writer’s conference: 10 Tests a Novel Must Pass To Prove It’s Really Ready For Submission To Publishers. This one more addresses wording than serious plot or characterisation problems, but with the market being as tough as it is, polish can’t be neglected.
There’s one thing I would add from my own personal experience: Be careful that your fabulous story doesn’t start too slowly. I often end up cutting off anywhere from the first few paragraphs to the first few pages of a novel. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to make a note (I use a symbol like [#] in the ms) of where you start writing each day. I find it can take me a few lines/paragraphs to warm up, and I babble a bit before I get into a groove.
Just this past week, I was trying to read a novel by a Twitter friend. I couldn’t get into it. I put it away for a few days, then went back to it. After all, maybe I was just in a mood when I started it the first time. (I get like that.) Nope, the second and third attempt were just as difficult. 30 pages in, and nothing interesting had happened, and I didn’t care too much for the main character. By 50 pages in, a conflict had finally arisen and a new character had been introduced that would obviously be the source of the plot tension, but, well, I didn’t like her either. I can’t help but wonder, however, if I would have been more forgiving of flawed characters if they’d been doing something interesting on page 1.
While it’s true that I still can’t see my own mess, experience and critique partners have at least helped me know what to look for.
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I totally agree. I’m great at spotting other people’s mistakes. In fact, it gets a bit much sometimes, being an editor. I spot mistakes everywhere! On juice boxes, on TV, on Billboards. Can’t escape it! ;o)
Are you a writer? Then you MUST enter this CONTEST!
[ Follow me on Twitter: jessica.carmen.bellgmail.com ]
I think this is why doing critiques of others work is so valuable. As you said, what doesn’t work is easier to spot in other’s work – but as we do it more and more, we soon learn to spot those same errors in our own work.
Oh India Drummond – you are a STAR for finding these links – it’s just what I need too, thank you thank you!!
Oh and I need to say again how much I ABSOLUTELY LOVE that amazing clip by that group singing Bad Romance. I keep playing it – LOL!!
Take care
x
It is so much harder to find and fix our own stuff – I think we’re too close to it sometimes.
[ Follow me on Twitter: jemifraser ]
You’re right – we can’t see our own blunders. I was encouraged to add a full-action prologue for my book since the first couple pages weren’t action-oriented. It starts off with a bang now!
[ Follow me on Twitter: alexjcavanaugh ]
It’s SO much easier when you’re reading someone else’s work!
BTW you are FAB at doing MS critiques!
It is hard to see your own messes! Sometimes, I can spot the really obvious ones if I put something away for a long time and then come back to it, but most the time it takes someone else pointing the issues out to me. I’m so grateful for critiques – it just really helps me clear it all up.
[ Follow me on Twitter: MeganSwicegood ]
I teach first-year college/university students how to write the different kinds of essays–they absolutely MUST peer-edit–or else!
That’s where I get the most resistance: “I want a professional’s advice; that’s ALL I want.” “What can a student tell me that will help?” on and on.
The answer is simple. I know what I meant to say. I can read a piece written years back and remember what I meant. The answer begs the question: “But did your meaning make it to the page?” That’s the question another can immediately answer, pro or student.
Now, if I could only get them to critique by saying what THEY really meant. “Good Job” doesn’t cover it, now does it?
Love these sites, India. I’m starting a huge project soon as my preparation is ready for the semester and think they’ll help enormously with structure.
[ Follow me on Twitter: girlfrenkate ]
These are some great posts! I will have to look back at this as I head into my second draft
[ Follow me on Twitter: rayvenneblack ]