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BLOG RIGHT! - Aug. 17
Jackie Wolven, Executive Director of Eureka Springs Downtown Network and a national small business consultant, will teach an all-day workshop on the rudiments of creating a Blog and the fine art of drawing traffic to it.
Share your writing, build a platform as a writer, and connect with your tribe of readers.
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What is a Developmental Edit?
by Rebecca Mahoney
Last week, a writer-friend sent me his manuscript to edit. At 146,000 words, it was his opus - a book he’d taken eight years to write. “No one’s read it before,” he said.
“Why not?”
He shrugged. “I thought I had to wait until it was done.”
It’s a fair assumption many writers make; why get an editor involved until you have a complete draft? But as I started editing his book, I couldn’t help but wish my friend had asked me to help while he was writing. Not only would he likely have finished his book sooner, but also he would have improved his writing throughout the process – and ultimately produced a stronger, more cohesive draft.
This kind of editing is called developmental editing. A writer works with an editor during the writing process to gain feedback and insight on what’s working, what’s not working, and how to improve his or her writing. It can cover both the story side (plot, characters, structure) as well as improving the writing itself (sharpening dialogue, making language more vibrant, using more active verbs, smoothing transitions).
The benefit of developmental editing is that writers can identify problems early in the process, when it’s much easier to fix them, rather than having to rip apart a completed manuscript.
Submit 20-30 pages whenever you feel comfortable and ready for feedback, then use that feedback to improve the rest of your work. Editing is a vital part of the writing process. But it doesn’t have to take place after the draft is complete. In fact, it shouldn’t.
Note from Alison: When Rebecca was here to teach Memoir, she fell in love with our little Village Writing School program. And she made us an amazing offer. For $50, Rebecca will read the first 25-30 pages of your story, send you written suggestions, and hold a phone conference with you. Everyone should take advantage of this opportunity, because it's very generous and will take your writing to a whole new level. Visit Rebecca's website at www.rebeccamahoney.com and contact me for more information.
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Village Writers are creating a Thank You gift box for New York agent, Jeff Kleinman, who so graciously donated his time to our PUBLISH!! Conference. We are looking for items that are artistic or that reflect our unique town of Eureka Springs or our beautiful Ozarks.
