Terrific advice! Even if you've made it into print, you can still make these mistakes. Not all that long ago, I killed the wrong person in my mystery and had to rewrite 2/3 of it. If I'd taken the time to make a synopsis, as I usually do as a plotting tool, I'd have caught it. But no, I was doing one of those "write for a month" things and just kept going. I'll never go without a synopsis again!
Thank you for this very helpful article. I'm struggling with weaving my chapters so they don' feel like mere episodes rather than a story. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!
Even though I feel I knew these things before I wrote my first book, I still didn’t really understand them like I do now.
I think I thought the overall structure was much looser. And I was more determined to write the book that I wanted to write… I thought that would be good enough.
Perhaps what I’m saying is – you actually just need to get out there and start doing it, and that’s how you learn !
Your point about word choice hits home with me. When writing first drafts, I tend to focus on the action rather than beautiful prose. Then I read through my draft and realize that everyone “grabbed” objects whenever they picked something up. What advice do you have about varying word choice?
I once read a novel that followed the perspective of one character, then, after about 2/3 of the book, suddenly switched to someone else. So disappointing how many writers don't know about such rules.
I once read a book that started with a pages-long description of crops. Go ahead and move that inciting incident or at least the reader hook up to the first page.
Thank you for sharing these tips, Kristen! I’m working on my first fiction novel and constantly get tripped up between starting in the protagonist’s everyday world and in medias res!
I appreciate this straightforward information, Kristen. I actually had no friends or family members act in the role of my beta readers. I had four moms on Substack whom I didn't know, one acquaintance I'd met a few years ago, and a writer/published author/ELA professor read through the manuscript. All helpful feedback, too!
I love these 10 awareness grabbers. My first book you edited - thank you - was where I learned about the elements of fiction, where I began learning to write a novel. All of these 10 opportunities boil down to growth. My second book in the series is coming out much differently. I'm not concerned with the right word or sentence structure...though if it doesn't feel on the right path, I stick with it until it feels less mucked up. I'm not as attached to backstory or descriptive details. All of this can come later, fill out the novel in whatever way that means. We'll see what happens next...
Terrific advice! Even if you've made it into print, you can still make these mistakes. Not all that long ago, I killed the wrong person in my mystery and had to rewrite 2/3 of it. If I'd taken the time to make a synopsis, as I usually do as a plotting tool, I'd have caught it. But no, I was doing one of those "write for a month" things and just kept going. I'll never go without a synopsis again!
I'm glad you caught it - and I am sure the resurrected character is too :)
Thank you for this very helpful article. I'm struggling with weaving my chapters so they don' feel like mere episodes rather than a story. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!
This honestly might be the number one comment I give to manuscripts I edit. I’m going to write a whole post on it. More to come.
Thanks! Eager to see it.
Even though I feel I knew these things before I wrote my first book, I still didn’t really understand them like I do now.
I think I thought the overall structure was much looser. And I was more determined to write the book that I wanted to write… I thought that would be good enough.
Perhaps what I’m saying is – you actually just need to get out there and start doing it, and that’s how you learn !
Exactly. You can read all the books on craft and take all the classes, but the best way you learn… Is by writing the book.
Your point about word choice hits home with me. When writing first drafts, I tend to focus on the action rather than beautiful prose. Then I read through my draft and realize that everyone “grabbed” objects whenever they picked something up. What advice do you have about varying word choice?
I once read a novel that followed the perspective of one character, then, after about 2/3 of the book, suddenly switched to someone else. So disappointing how many writers don't know about such rules.
That sounds disappointing! Where was his editor?!
That’s exactly what I asked myself.
Great list. I hear #5 and #6 over and over again when watching webinars or reading interviews with editors and agents.
Yes! Backstory and info dumps are big editor pet peeves.
I once read a book that started with a pages-long description of crops. Go ahead and move that inciting incident or at least the reader hook up to the first page.
Crops? Maybe they are marketing exclusively to farmers!
It was fantasy. The dwarves were farmers. I guess the hook was that they were dwarves.
Well, there's a reader for every book - somewhere!
Thank you for sharing these tips, Kristen! I’m working on my first fiction novel and constantly get tripped up between starting in the protagonist’s everyday world and in medias res!
Please come staple #4 to my forehead
🤪
All great suggestions. Thank you for sharing, Kristen.
You are welcome! Thanks for reading!
I appreciate this straightforward information, Kristen. I actually had no friends or family members act in the role of my beta readers. I had four moms on Substack whom I didn't know, one acquaintance I'd met a few years ago, and a writer/published author/ELA professor read through the manuscript. All helpful feedback, too!
I'm so glad you found the right readers - and they helped!
Great advice.
Thank you!
Thank you for caring.
Of course!
I love these 10 awareness grabbers. My first book you edited - thank you - was where I learned about the elements of fiction, where I began learning to write a novel. All of these 10 opportunities boil down to growth. My second book in the series is coming out much differently. I'm not concerned with the right word or sentence structure...though if it doesn't feel on the right path, I stick with it until it feels less mucked up. I'm not as attached to backstory or descriptive details. All of this can come later, fill out the novel in whatever way that means. We'll see what happens next...
You are right - it all boils down to growing as a writer. I love this update and I am so excited to see what happens next!
4 and 7. As a freelance editor, it's hard to turn that off!