Editor-Proof Your Writing

Editor-Proof Your Writing

21 Steps to the Clear Prose Publishers and Agents Crave

$18.95

Publication Date: 1st April 2013

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
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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
Don McNair spent his working life editing magazines, producing public relations materials for an international PR firm, and heading his own marketing communications firm, McNair Marketing Communications. He is the winner of three Golden Trumpets from the Publicity Club of Chicago and the Silver Anvil from the Public Relations Society of America. He has authored hundreds of trade magazine articles, three how-to books, and several young-adult and suspense novels. He Lives in Foley, Alabama.
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
Don McNair spent his working life editing magazines, producing public relations materials for an international PR firm, and heading his own marketing communications firm, McNair Marketing Communications. He is the winner of three Golden Trumpets from the Publicity Club of Chicago and the Silver Anvil from the Public Relations Society of America. He has authored hundreds of trade magazine articles, three how-to books, and several young-adult and suspense novels. He Lives in Foley, Alabama.

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