Common Mistakes

There's a few things that tend to crop up over and over again and they don't mean that people are bad writers, but that we all miss a little something when we try to transfer the image we have in our heads to the printed word.

Dialogue attribution. I see lots of different types of attributions at the end of these sentences. Remember that he or she said should be good enough. Anything else like 'he said sadly' just wont do. Make sure the character demonstrates their emotional state. As a fiction editor, that's one of the things I see a lot of. More later.

Choices A Fiction Editor Needs To Make

I recently spoke with a woman in Toronto who had written a book and was looking to publish it. She was caught up in the old Catch22 that the fiction editor and the writer face together--how much should be changed to make the manuscript commercial enough for sale? I've heard stories about publishers wanting major rewrites ( 10,000 words or better) and people getting caught up in that machine.

So here's a little advice. Keep an open mind and look at all the suggestions an editor makes but make the final decisions yourself. Remember the best fiction editor will always be looking to make your book the best it can be and that should mean listening to your vision as well as having an eye to commercial value.

A New Venture For A Content Writer

Here's a blurb for a new venture I've just started with a friend of mine that uses his talents and my content writer abilities....

Today's business is global and to get the advantage you need to compete in all hemispheres on all continents or even right here in the GTA, it's important that you have a web presence.
But a successful seat at the Internet business table is about more than a solid Web design. Just as business cards that sit in your wallet do nothing to increase your profit margin, a website that doesn't get promoted through the right brand of Internet advertising will sit stagnant on the web.
That's why you need us as web consultants. We've got the experience in web design and search engine optimization to help you build a site and then promote it. We can help you get the Internet results you want from a new or existing web presence with the combined experience of over 20 years working with Internet based business.

Bluestripe Content on WordPress

With literally thousands of optimized blogs and articles written, I've started to streamline my efforts to Bluestripe Content and Bluestripe Editing (coming soon)

Brand New Article

Here's an article I just got published on the importance of good content.

Freelance Content Writing Sharpens Editing Talents

When you work on the Internet as a content writer doubling as a fiction editor,one necessarily feeds off the other. For example, the content writer side of what I do demands that I find ways to say things in smaller spaces and that helps me to look for ways to edit books down at the same time.

Content Writing

The reason the two disciplines work well together is simple. Both seo content writing and fiction editing arrive at the same point from different ends. All content writing jobs require that you 'edit' your thoughts before you write them and the editing work requires that you polish the words after they've been put down on the page.

Less Is More For Editors and Content Writers

Although you'd never know it by some of the excesses in print, in almost all forms of good writing less is more. That goes for both fiction editors, content writers and almost anyone else who uses the written word.

A Matter Of Focus

For the content writer, it's a matter of focus. You need to find new ways of saying things with as few words as possible. For the fiction editor,it's generally an exercise in sharpening the tools that you know you already use.

Thinking

Either way you approach the Less Is More rule, it's always a good idea to make sure that you revisit the skills that you've developed often, regardless of whether you see yourself as a content writer or fiction editor. Keep the thinking sharp and the writing or editing will follow.

One of the Mistakes A Fiction Editor Should Catch

Over the years that I've been a fiction editor, I've noticed several mistakes that keep happening with authors who are starting out in their careers. The first is the use of the 'ly' modifier. More often than not, the 'ly' modifier is nothing more than lazy writing, a quick way of writing something that requires little effort. Consider this example.

"Johnny was seriously mad."

The modifier 'seriously' tells the reader about Johnny's emotional state, but it's always much better to show that same reader what mad looks like.
So, the sentence is vastly improved with a rewrite that goes like,

"Johnny's fists were curled at his sides."

The exact wording is up to the writer, but any good fiction editor will pick up on the difference.

Johnny Was Angry

I was just working on a novel for a writer down in Texas and I noticed something that happens a lot in books that bears mentioning. Often writers will 'tell' the reader what the character is feeling rather than 'showing' them.
In other words, it's much better to write, "Johnny threw a dish across the room." Writing "Johnny was mad" is accurate enough, but it doesn’t supply any kind of mental image.

Web Content Editing

You need to have a good eye for all copy when you're an editor and this is especially true when working with Web Content. There are always considerations about keyword placements and the research that needs to go behind these critical elements of the whole picture, and you need to be sure your links point to interior pages that compliment that anchor keyword or phrase.

More Opportunity

Along with the fiction that I usually do, I've been asked to edit a monthly newsletter for an aftermarket car repair finance company here in Canada. Although it might sound like a real departure, I'm finding the layout portions to be exciting.

Starting The Edit Off The Right Way

There's always the preliminary work before you start any job. Especially when it comes to the kind of copywriting that you want to be professional, and certainly when you're trying to edit you own copy as more content writers are, you really need to take a step back and do a little research that will save you time when you're self editing.

First off, most editors need to know if the document answers the questions that it set out to. If it's so far off the mark that you can't even tell what it's really about, then more than likely you'll need to send it back for a rewrite. Especially when you're dealing with business copy, you'll want to be able differentiate between fact and opinion as well.

Editing is all about polishing what's already there, but you need to be clear about what it is that you're looking at. Finally, you need to decide is there is a balance before you start or if there is too much or too little information.

Being A Text Editor in This New Age

Lots of things have changed since I started out as a journalist years ago and one of them is the way that a text editor on the Internet works their trade. When I started, we used pencils to mark all the edits that we needed to make, but there's no doubt in my mind that the track changes used today with the Word program is a much more efficient way for manuscript editors to work.
I've done editing jobs( both fiction and nonfiction) for people as far away as Australia and Puerto Rico and the Internet makes it easy and enjoyable. I started online as a manuscript editor with two of the bigger online companies but I know the decision to go out on my own brings a more immediate relationship for my clients.

Accolades From Writers

Rob Starr is the editor my first novel, Under the Fifth Sun (StoneGarden Publishing, March 25, 2008). I am now writing my second, and did not hesitate to engage him again. Rob has a keen eye not only for precision and style but also possesses a tremendous sense for flow, clarity, and continuity. He is highly capable and adaptable to any form of written communication, and works with great efficiency. Rob has never failed to impress me with each round of editing. I have never been disappointed with the quality of his work and his professionalism, and neither will you!

Jeffrey Osburn

A Note From A Colleague

Hi Rob

My short story collection has just been published, including the story – “Falling Apart” that you gave me some advice on. On the acknowledgements page, I have thanked you – so your name is appearing in print in the UK.

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Reef-Gareth-Powell/dp/0955318173

Best wishes

Gareth L Powell

Award Winning Writers

"Robert Starr is a joy to work with. His suggestions are pointed and useful. He has a keen ear for a good phrase and he knows how to bring out the best in a story while remaining true to the author's original vision.”

Gareth Lyn Powell—award-winning British writer.

Always on Time

"We find Rob to be efficient and competent. Whatever deadline we give
him, no matter how soon, he always delivers on time."

Alissa
Basis Consulting, Toronto

Some Happy Customers

"Rob is a pleasure to work with. His fast, efficient editing has often helped make the difference between meeting a deadline, and rescheduling one!"

Kristofer J. Stamp- owner, Stonegarden.net publishing.

Welcome

As well as hopefully getting some of your editing business, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions that you might have about the art of editing. Just post them here and I'll get back ASAP.