A lot of writers reach out with confusion about the types of editing there are and what order to do them in. Perhaps most confused are the levels of editing called “copy editing” and “proofreading.” These are often thought of as the same thing, but they really aren’t. In this article, I’ll explain the difference and when you might reach out for one or the other.
Every editor works differently, but if you’ve hired an editor for a developmental edit or, potentially, an editorial assessment, you will likely receive an editorial letter. The same goes if you sold a book to a traditional publisher. While the task of processing this letter may seem daunting, taking things one step at a time can help immensely.
There’s something special about those hooks at the end of each chapter that make it so you must turn the page, or else. But what else goes into the magic of chapters that captivate readers and keep them engaged? What should writers avoid when it comes to their chapters? Keep reading to find out all the chapter-related “dos and don’ts,” wisdom I’ve accumulated as a developmental editor.
How many times have you said to yourself that you want “write a book” or “be a writer”? I’m guessing a lot, or you probably wouldn’t have landed on this page. Taking your writing seriously gives you a feeling of credibility and helps beat back that old “imposter syndrome” that is the bane of our existence. But what does it actually mean to “take your writing seriously” and how can you even do that, especially if you’ve not “proven yourself” yet (your mom’s words, not yours)?
One of the things we’re taught as writers is to start our books and scenes mid-action. Readers want to start somewhere exciting, without scads of backstory or boring “here’s my character’s daily life.” But, nine times out of ten, writers (new and seasoned alike) think about where to start their book (or really, their scenes) without thinking about what comes before. What I mean by that is, they don’t know who their character is right before the book/scene starts.
People feel emotions constantly. That’s a fact. Whether they show their emotions, or how they show them, is unique to each individual. In a novel, our characters also feel emotions. The difference is, readers can’t see them, and, most likely, don’t start out the book knowing them very well. So how can an author show the reader what the character is feeling without simply naming emotions?
Sharing character backstory can be one of the most difficult parts of writing a novel, particularly for new writers. I think this is because, often, a writer spends a lot of time getting to know their characters before they start writing a book. Don’t get me wrong. Writers should be doing some or all of that. At the very least, they should know their characters’ backstories. They just shouldn’t be including it all in their book
