When your editor has reviewed your writing
~ May, 2005 ~
by Winona Rasheed
Managing Editor
www.author-me.com
There you are sitting at your computer, feeling exhausted and yet happy
as you type in the last word to your story. A broad smile appears on your
face with a look of complete satisfaction emerging in your eyes as you
sit back and look at the finished work. "All done," you say. "I am ready
to submit."
But after you have submitted your work for an evaluation, you soon find
out that your story; even though you considered it to be one of your
greatest accomplishments, comes back showing that it isn't so perfect
after all. Don't loose heart; this is a normal aspect of the writing
process.
Just because you have written, "The End" doesn't mean your story is
complete. All writers, old and new have room for improvements.
Revising improves your manuscript. It means going over your work from
another point of view, going in and digging through your story structure,
its development of characters and description and making every detail
clear and precise. Revising is going through the dialogue to make sure
the speech is logical and effective. Revising is adding or deleting
information that is or is not necessary to make your writing effective,
presenting a clear picture for your targeted audience.
Revising means editing for grammar as well, this comes after you have
revised your sentences and paragraphs, making them more complete and
structured. When you are editing for grammar, you should look for the
proper verb tense, subject verb agreement and the correct usage of
capitalization within your writing. Remember the proper use of when
to use a comma or a semicolon within a sentence or a paragraph,
eliminating the pesky adverbs that are referred to as "lazy words."
A well written story is one that leaves your reading audience turning
the pages, without bringing confusion or misunderstanding of what you
are presenting. It's a picture perfect description of scenes, plot and
dialogue that will capture the minds of your readers, leaving them
with a lasting impression even after they have put the book away.
If your editor has returned your manuscript for a revision and he or
she has recommended that you take into consideration the comments
and suggestions that they have advised you on, go ahead and listen;
rewrite, revise and tighten up your story, so that you can present a
finished, well written manuscript that is bound to catch that
particular publisher's eyes.