Category: Editing and Proof Reading

How to improve your editing process

How to professionally edit your bookHow to professionally edit your book

February 24, 2018February 24, 2018| Guest AuthorGuest Author| 2:57 AM

This is a guest article by Jennifer Scott. If you are interested in submitting a guest article of your own, be sure to read the guest article guidelines.

Writing and completing a book is a process filled with seemingly infinite milestones. So, you’ve just finished writing out your first draft and a smile breaks across your face. Box ticked. However, an impending feeling then dawns on you that you’ve now got the laborious task editing your book to perfection.

One option would be to get an editor but if you’re on a budget, getting a good one is nearly impossible, so you’re going to need to do it yourself. To help you get started, here’s everything you need to know.

(more…)

Read MoreRead More

Writing Tip: The Importance of Word CountWriting Tip: The Importance of Word Count

June 25, 2010June 25, 2010| Idrees PatelIdrees Patel| 11:30 PM

Today’s writing tip is about the importance of word count. Boring word count. How can it matter? Most people don’t even know what it is, and those that do, think it’s just an “aside”. It doesn’t matter.

Or does it?

Let’s get that question out of the way. Yes, word count matters. It is an aside, yes, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. The fact that most readers don’t know about your word count doesn’t say that they don’t care. Knowing and caring about something is different, of course. Some people might not know the technical term. Maybe they don’t even think of it. But if you don’t have a suitable word count, hurry. You’ve got to fix it up, and fast.

But first things first: what is a word count?

(more…)

Read MoreRead More

Proofreading: Catching Contextual Spelling ErrorsProofreading: Catching Contextual Spelling Errors

June 16, 2010June 16, 2010| Idrees PatelIdrees Patel| 5:17 PM

Before I start, check out my guest post on Daily Writing Tips: To Outline or Not to Outline, That is the Question. If you just came from there, welcome! Read Creative Writing 101, my beginner’s guide to creative writing. Or just read on…

We all know how annoying it is to catch typos. It’s just not cool. If you make one or two of them, you might get away without anyone pointing it out. If you make loads of them, your credibility suffers.

But this article is not about making typos. It’s about catching contextual typing errors, and if that name sounds too technical for you, don’t fear yet. That’s only a name assigned by Microsoft for a new function in Word 2007.

What does it do?

(more…)

Read MoreRead More

Editing and Proof Reading – Busting the MythsEditing and Proof Reading – Busting the Myths

September 20, 2009September 20, 2009| Idrees PatelIdrees Patel| 7:45 PM

So you’ve written a novel. Oh, okay, let’s not use the word ‘novel’. Say anything: short story, essay, just any form of writing. You’ve written the first draft. You think it’s good. You think it’s great. You think it’s wonderful.

But it’s not ready to be distributed or shown to anyone else yet. Before that, there is what some writers call the ‘mammoth’ task of editing/rewriting. To make sure that everything is perfect. No contradictory information, no confusing sentences, no over-used words, no kid-like grammar, and the like. Similarly, checking for spelling mistakes (typos) or grammar mistakes (called by some as grammos — I personally don’t use that word!) is known as proof-reading.

Many writers hate the task of editing or proof-reading. Why?
(more…)

Read MoreRead More

No Method? No Problem!No Method? No Problem!

August 5, 2009August 5, 2009| Idrees PatelIdrees Patel| 1:06 PM

[Note: The title of this post has been inspired from one writing book, No Plot? No Problem! I haven’t read it though.]

Let’s say you’re writing a first draft of a novel. The dreaded first draft. And of course you are writing it very slowly — unless you are an exceptional writer. Then you read it again… and scream “There’s no method in it! No organizing at all! What have I been doing? This isn’t worthy of my time.” And then you close the book snap shut and don’t work on it anymore. Sad.

Many great ‘novel’ ideas have never made it into paper because of this.
(more…)

Read MoreRead More