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Between drafts one and two: Editor's Notes #420 July 03, 2024

Hello, No passion in the world is equal to the passion to alter someone else's draft. —H. G. Wells In this issue: 1. Between drafts one and two 2. Tickled my funny bone 3. Interesting Web site 4. Writing prompt 1.Between drafts one and two You have finished your manuscript and heave a sigh of relief! That’s done and dusted. Well, the first draft is done and dusted, but there is more work ahead. I do suggest a rest to clear your head and catch your breath before starting your second draft (and your third and fourth and as many as you need to get to your best work). After the break, read your whole text aloud, making notes about problems in the margin and on note paper or on your digital device of choice. Do not stop to fix the problems at this stage. You are simply collecting a to-do list, so keep reading and noting, and carry on until the end. Next, review your notes, grouping topics under common headings. Here are some common problems other writers have had at the end of the first draft. You may discover others, but this can get you started. The text is the wrong length. What is missing? What is padding? A different point of view would be better. There are recurring bad grammar habits. The writing does not flow effortlessly when read aloud. Maybe there are repetitive sentence structures. Maybe there is a mismatch between the content and the structure of sentences or paragraphs. The take away point is inconsequential or otherwise falls flat. Choose one problem to work on in the second draft. My best advice would be to tackle big picture problems before correcting grammar or style. It would be discouraging to spend hour upon hour fixing grammar and style only to cut whole chapters nicely revised as to grammar. Fix one problem throughout the whole text. Take a break. Reread the revised text making notes as you did for the first draft. Sort the notes. Choose one problem to work on in the third draft. Rinse and repeat until there is nothing left to correct. If you aren’t aware of your bad writing habits, consider an educative edit, which is designed to point out such habits and to guide you to correcting them using your own text. https://www.writershelper.com/educative-edit.html =========== 2.Tickled my funny bone I'm writing a book on how tornados and hurricanes develop. At the moment, it’s just a draft. =========== 3. Interesting Web site The link here is about manuscript formatting. The article gives a good set of instructions. What I would add is not to use fancy fonts and extra formatting. The publisher will do that. Make your text as plain as you can. I do agree with the author of the article that setting up the formatting before you begin to write saves time and energy. https://firstmanuscript.com/proper-manuscript-format/ =========== 4. Writing prompt Write a list of reasons a person would use to avoid revising a manuscript. Choose one reason and write a rebuttal. I would love to see your work. =========== Join Writer's Helper Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WritersHelperEditor Follow me on Twitter @AudreytheEditor Link on LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/audreyowen (Email me first so I know how you know me.) =========== If you know a writer who would appreciate receiving Editor's Notes, forward this issue. If someone has passed this on to you, you can get your own free subscription by signing up at https://www.writershelper.com/newsletter.html

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