Don’t let simple mistakes ruin your book’s chances!If you’re not getting published, you may suffer from foggy writing—writing that’s full of unnecessary, misused, and overused words. Foggy... Read More
Description
Don’t let simple mistakes ruin your book’s chances!
If you’re not getting published, you may suffer from foggy writing—writing that’s full of unnecessary, misused, and overused words. Foggy writing drives editors crazy, and it’s the number one reason most manuscripts are rejected on first glance.
Let veteran editor Don McNair show you how to clear up your foggy writing and produce sparkling copy that will attract agents, editors, readers, and sales.
Editor-Proof Your Writing will show you how to avoid fatal writing mistakes by eliminating unnecessary words—and in the process you’ll strengthen your book’s action, invigorate your dialogue, and make your writing crackle with life. Containing 21 simple, straightforward principles, Editor-Proof Your Writing teaches how to edit weak verb forms, strip away author intrusions, ban redundancies, eliminate foggy phrases, correct passive-voice sentences, slash misused and overused words, and fix other writing mistakes.
A must-have addition to every writer’s toolkit, Editor-Proof Your Writing won’t just make your writing clearer; it will make you a better writer — more expressive, more entertaining, and more likely to sell.
Details
- Price: $18.95
- Pages: 215
- Carton Quantity: 44
- Publisher: Linden Publishing
- Imprint: Quill Driver Books
- Publication Date: 1st April 2013
- Trim Size: 5.9 x 8.9 in
- ISBN: 9781610351782
- Format: Paperback
- BISACs:
REFERENCE / Writing Skills
LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Editing & Proofreading
LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Composition & Creative Writing
Reviews
Don McNair's "21 Steps" program is succinct and to the point and may be just the tool I need to reinforce my own writing skills. "Editor-Proof Your Writing" will make a handy reference for any writer's desk. --ForeWord This Week
I highly recommend the book to everyone ... a quick and easy read that makes the editing process more efficient. --Stina Lindenblatt
A clear, readable book on how to avoid foggy writing ... the most complete writing book I have ever read. especially useful for authors who have completed a work in progress and who wonder what the next step should be. --Warren Bull, Writers Who Kill
Eye-opening ... I didn't realize how many of the writing flaws that McNair outlines show up in my own writing.Very helpful, and I would recommend it to other writers. --tom-farr.blogspot.com
A clear, readable book on how to avoid foggy writing . . . the most complete writing book I have ever read. Especially useful for authors who have completed a work in progress and who wonder what the next step should be. --WritersWhoKill.blogspot.com
Lists 180 redundancies, 250 foggy phrases you should avoid, over 200 clichés you shouldn't use, and 50 dialog sources you can use in place of "he said." If you write fiction, you really ought to pick up this book. --Patricia Fry, Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network (SPAWN)
"Editor-Proof Your Writing" tells authors everything that I, as an editor, would like them to know. McNair gives real-world advice and takes readers step-by-step to creating a manuscript that shines. A must-read for authors. --Cassiel Knight, See Jane Publish
McNair offers very specific steps to improving your writing. Go from foggy writing that drives editors crazy to clear prose that will have your editor smiling. A valuable asset to the libraries of published or soon-to-be-published authors --Rita Bay
Provides a foolproof method for identifying common misused and overused words and errors ... Any who would edit weak verb forms, redundancies, and more will find this a solid, professional approach to editing one's own work for maximum impact. --Midwest Book Review
"Editor-Proof Your Writing" makes the whole editing process simple. Using Don McNair's method, I reduced my editing time by half. I'll be referring back to this book every time I edit. --Suzanne Lilly, TeacherWriter.net
A book about editing that I actually had fun reading ... will help make your writing cleaner, punchier and easier to read ... McNair is a good teacher as well as a good editor. Highly recommended. --Andrew Jack, andrewjackwriting.com
Interesting without being overloaded with a lot of theory ... also good information on critique partners, publishers, and writing the query letter and synopsis. The book helped me produce a more polished story. I highly recommend it. Two thumbs up! --Gale Stanley
Packed with tips to strengthen your writing and can serve as a guide through the revision process. With this book in my arsenal, my editor's job is about to get a lot harder. --Erika Liodice, Writing the Dream
All writers, seasoned or newbie, should read, absorb, and put to use the lessons Don McNair offers in "Editor-Proof Your Writing." --Lisa Rojany Buccieri, New York Journal of Books
Author Bio
Table of Contents
Introduction: You can be published!
PART ONE: PUTTING WORDS IN
chapter 1 Your classroom? It’s your first chapter!
chapter 2 Why you should be a hooker
chapter 3 What’s your point of view?
chapter 4 Don’t be an information dumper
chapter 5 Your manuscript is a Christmas tree
chapter 6 William Brennan: A “Christmas tree” case history
chapter 7 Make your scenes work harder
chapter 8 Don’t discuss sows’ ears with silken words
chapter 9 You say your heroine doesn’t hate your hero? Too bad!
chapter 10 But they have to like each other, too!
PART TWO: TAKING WORDS OUT
Introduction: 21 Steps to fog-free writing
step 1 Use fewer –ing words
step 2 Use fewer infinitives
step 3 Change passive voice to active voice
step 4 Avoid “expletive” and “had ____ that” constructions
step 5 Use fewer “hads” in internal dialogue
step 6 Shorten verbs
step 7 Eliminate double verbs
step 8 Eliminate double nouns, adjectives, and adverbs
step 9 Watch for foggy phrases
step 10 Remove character filters
step 11 Delete -ly words
step 12 Get rid of all dialogue tags except “said”
step 13 Now, get rid of “said”!
step 14 Cut the dialogue!
step 15 Eliminate redundancies
step 16 Use fewer prepositional phrases
step 17 Get rid of throwaway words
step 18 Edit for conciseness
step 19 Avoid clichés like the plague
step 20 Get rid of superficials
step 21 Stop those wandering eyes
PART THREE: SHARING YOUR WORDS
Introduction: Sharing Your Work
chapter 11 Critique partners
chapter 12 Professional editors
chapter 13 Publishers and agents
chapter 14 Writing the query letter
chapter 15 Writing the synopsis
Appendix
Exercise Solutions
Sarah’s Perils Solutions
Mystery on Firefly Knob Synopsis
Novels used as examples
Index
About the author
Don’t let simple mistakes ruin your book’s chances!
If you’re not getting published, you may suffer from foggy writing—writing that’s full of unnecessary, misused, and overused words. Foggy writing drives editors crazy, and it’s the number one reason most manuscripts are rejected on first glance.
Let veteran editor Don McNair show you how to clear up your foggy writing and produce sparkling copy that will attract agents, editors, readers, and sales.
Editor-Proof Your Writing will show you how to avoid fatal writing mistakes by eliminating unnecessary words—and in the process you’ll strengthen your book’s action, invigorate your dialogue, and make your writing crackle with life. Containing 21 simple, straightforward principles, Editor-Proof Your Writing teaches how to edit weak verb forms, strip away author intrusions, ban redundancies, eliminate foggy phrases, correct passive-voice sentences, slash misused and overused words, and fix other writing mistakes.
A must-have addition to every writer’s toolkit, Editor-Proof Your Writing won’t just make your writing clearer; it will make you a better writer — more expressive, more entertaining, and more likely to sell.
- Price: $18.95
- Pages: 215
- Carton Quantity: 44
- Publisher: Linden Publishing
- Imprint: Quill Driver Books
- Publication Date: 1st April 2013
- Trim Size: 5.9 x 8.9 in
- ISBN: 9781610351782
- Format: Paperback
- BISACs:
REFERENCE / Writing Skills
LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Editing & Proofreading
LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Composition & Creative Writing
Don McNair's "21 Steps" program is succinct and to the point and may be just the tool I need to reinforce my own writing skills. "Editor-Proof Your Writing" will make a handy reference for any writer's desk. --ForeWord This Week
I highly recommend the book to everyone ... a quick and easy read that makes the editing process more efficient. --Stina Lindenblatt
A clear, readable book on how to avoid foggy writing ... the most complete writing book I have ever read. especially useful for authors who have completed a work in progress and who wonder what the next step should be. --Warren Bull, Writers Who Kill
Eye-opening ... I didn't realize how many of the writing flaws that McNair outlines show up in my own writing.Very helpful, and I would recommend it to other writers. --tom-farr.blogspot.com
A clear, readable book on how to avoid foggy writing . . . the most complete writing book I have ever read. Especially useful for authors who have completed a work in progress and who wonder what the next step should be. --WritersWhoKill.blogspot.com
Lists 180 redundancies, 250 foggy phrases you should avoid, over 200 clichés you shouldn't use, and 50 dialog sources you can use in place of "he said." If you write fiction, you really ought to pick up this book. --Patricia Fry, Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network (SPAWN)
"Editor-Proof Your Writing" tells authors everything that I, as an editor, would like them to know. McNair gives real-world advice and takes readers step-by-step to creating a manuscript that shines. A must-read for authors. --Cassiel Knight, See Jane Publish
McNair offers very specific steps to improving your writing. Go from foggy writing that drives editors crazy to clear prose that will have your editor smiling. A valuable asset to the libraries of published or soon-to-be-published authors --Rita Bay
Provides a foolproof method for identifying common misused and overused words and errors ... Any who would edit weak verb forms, redundancies, and more will find this a solid, professional approach to editing one's own work for maximum impact. --Midwest Book Review
"Editor-Proof Your Writing" makes the whole editing process simple. Using Don McNair's method, I reduced my editing time by half. I'll be referring back to this book every time I edit. --Suzanne Lilly, TeacherWriter.net
A book about editing that I actually had fun reading ... will help make your writing cleaner, punchier and easier to read ... McNair is a good teacher as well as a good editor. Highly recommended. --Andrew Jack, andrewjackwriting.com
Interesting without being overloaded with a lot of theory ... also good information on critique partners, publishers, and writing the query letter and synopsis. The book helped me produce a more polished story. I highly recommend it. Two thumbs up! --Gale Stanley
Packed with tips to strengthen your writing and can serve as a guide through the revision process. With this book in my arsenal, my editor's job is about to get a lot harder. --Erika Liodice, Writing the Dream
All writers, seasoned or newbie, should read, absorb, and put to use the lessons Don McNair offers in "Editor-Proof Your Writing." --Lisa Rojany Buccieri, New York Journal of Books
Introduction: You can be published!
PART ONE: PUTTING WORDS IN
chapter 1 Your classroom? It’s your first chapter!
chapter 2 Why you should be a hooker
chapter 3 What’s your point of view?
chapter 4 Don’t be an information dumper
chapter 5 Your manuscript is a Christmas tree
chapter 6 William Brennan: A “Christmas tree” case history
chapter 7 Make your scenes work harder
chapter 8 Don’t discuss sows’ ears with silken words
chapter 9 You say your heroine doesn’t hate your hero? Too bad!
chapter 10 But they have to like each other, too!
PART TWO: TAKING WORDS OUT
Introduction: 21 Steps to fog-free writing
step 1 Use fewer –ing words
step 2 Use fewer infinitives
step 3 Change passive voice to active voice
step 4 Avoid “expletive” and “had ____ that” constructions
step 5 Use fewer “hads” in internal dialogue
step 6 Shorten verbs
step 7 Eliminate double verbs
step 8 Eliminate double nouns, adjectives, and adverbs
step 9 Watch for foggy phrases
step 10 Remove character filters
step 11 Delete -ly words
step 12 Get rid of all dialogue tags except “said”
step 13 Now, get rid of “said”!
step 14 Cut the dialogue!
step 15 Eliminate redundancies
step 16 Use fewer prepositional phrases
step 17 Get rid of throwaway words
step 18 Edit for conciseness
step 19 Avoid clichés like the plague
step 20 Get rid of superficials
step 21 Stop those wandering eyes
PART THREE: SHARING YOUR WORDS
Introduction: Sharing Your Work
chapter 11 Critique partners
chapter 12 Professional editors
chapter 13 Publishers and agents
chapter 14 Writing the query letter
chapter 15 Writing the synopsis
Appendix
Exercise Solutions
Sarah’s Perils Solutions
Mystery on Firefly Knob Synopsis
Novels used as examples
Index
About the author