Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Being a freelance editor has afforded me ample opportunities to see the kind of mistakes new and aspiring authors make—some not so serious, some fatal.

What do I mean by fatal? These are the kind of mistakes that get your manuscript rejected. So, in an effort to help you steer clear of the rejection pile, I’m going to list a few of the more common errors, along with a few helpful hints on how you can avoid making them again and again.

The biggest mistake I see involves Point of View (POV for short). New authors, especially, make the mistake of thinking their writing should emulate what they see on T.V.—scenes hopping from one to the next, jumping from one character’s viewpoint to another, sometimes in the same paragraph, etc. In a nutshell, POV is what one character thinks, feels, sees, hears, and smells. A general rule of thumb is to stay inside one character’s POV for the duration of a scene, only changing into a different POV after you have inserted a section or chapter break. After each paragraph ask yourself, is something my POV character can physically know or think? If the answer is no, check for a POV slip. Editors want to know that you have a firm grasp and understanding of POV.

Plot and structure holes are the second most common error I see. Think of your favorite movie. What did you like about it? Most likely, it involved a main character who sets out to achieve one major event or goal. Many things happen along the way, but the goal remains the same. From start to finish, the viewer is left wondering whether or not the main character will accomplish their goal. Take, for example, one of my favorite movies, The Princess Bride. In it, two characters, a boy and a girl, are separated from each other by circumstances neither of them can control. From the point of their separation on, the viewer wonders if they will somehow find their way back to each other. Events strive to keep them apart, but always, they struggle to come back together until the film’s final resolution.

Plotting is a difficult concept to grasp, which is why having a timeline is so beneficial. Before you even begin writing, I suggest you sit down and write yourself a detailed timeline, always keeping in mind who your main character is and what they hope to accomplish. This way, your story never strays far from the original plot.

A third major problem is the use of passive voice as opposed to active voice. Passive voice involves past tense and the main character viewing or observing events as they happen. Active voice is more immediate and involves the main character actually doing or saying something. Editors watch for the use of active voice, which is why grasping this concept is so important. Key word indicators to passive voice are ‘was’ and ‘had’ in all of their forms. Look at the following example:

Passive: She was glad to see him.
Active: She squealed with delight at the sight of him.

Both examples say she is happy to see him, but one involves immediacy and action.

Lastly, be sure to check your manuscript for things like word/phrase repetition, use of adverbs (or ly words, as I like to say), and incorrect punctuation and grammar before sending it in. Mechanics are importing in your writing, and editors want to know that you’ve taken the time to learn basic technique before they go deeper to check for a good story with a strong plot. If you’re not certain on the rules, invest in a good book—the Chicago Manual of Style for example, or Kathy Ide’s, Polishing the PUG’s.

You might even consider hiring someone to edit your book for you (what kind of freelancer would I be if I didn’t throw that in?) :-)

Seriously folks, as someone who has reaped the benefits of having my work professionally edited, I can tell you the things you will learn far outweigh the cost, and you’ll be able to take those tools with you and apply them to every future work.

So that’s it! Have fun, and start editing.

Monday, March 19, 2007

The buzz is back.

ACFW’s annual conference, held in Dallas, Texas, is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever. Already authors, presenters, and speakers are lining up to hear and be heard at one of the premier events in the publishing industry. Why? It’s simple. Mathematics.

Since its inception, ACFW has more than doubled in sheer size and numbers. Drawn by the possibility of meeting editors and publishers face-to-face, authors have flocked to ACFW by the hundreds. And ACFW has lived up to its end of the bargain.

This year, more agents and editors than ever have agreed to set up shop for one weekend in September. They are going all out to meet with aspiring authors across the table. As if that weren’t enough, ACFW is offering hours of educational workshops and clinics, spearheaded by keynote speaker, James Scott Bell.

The cost of the conference has gone up in recent years, but once again I’m looking forward to packing my bags and heading for Dallas. After all, it’s the experience that’s important!

Friday, March 09, 2007

Even writers need to get away sometimes. This year, it'll be to the mountains of Colorado.

I've planned a little family vacation, but truly, I'm the one needing the rest. How wonderful it'll be to have no Internet connection, no email capability, and no time frame in which to rush around. Among the things that troubles me most, exhaustion has to be key. My creativity is stifled when my mind is tired. That's why I'm looking forward to hiding myself in the shadow of God's beauty, refreshing in the crisp air of Colorado. I plan on spending a lot of time in front of a roaring fire with only my word processor to keep me company.

I hope you'll find time to get away this year. May your week be blessed.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007


Whoever told me writing would be easy should be shot.

Oops. No one told me that. I just thought that. Thank goodness I am quickly learning all of the other things that come along with being a full-time author, like writing newsletter articles—something I thought I’d never do.

A friend of mine contacted me recently to ask me if I might be interested in joining a local writer’s group.

Another group…uh…no thanks.

Except that this one is small and relatively in my neighborhood. So I agreed to go. I’m thankful I did. Now, thanks to this tip, I’ve made even more contacts, and I’ve been invited to submit articles for a local church newsletter. Surprise! While the circulation may not be as impressive as some, this little newsletter is accomplishing something locally that I could never hope to accomplish on my own. It’s getting my name out. It’s building a readership.

I’ve said it before…being a writer involves so much more than just penning fiction. Check out your local church newsletters. Find out what it takes to start submitting, and get started! You’ll be glad you did.

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