Self-Editing tips for authors Part B:

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This is a continuation of my notes about self-editing, offered by Talsa Sainz.

Categories: the task by color
 red: deleted.
 Diction: orange
 Narration: green
 Dialog: blue
 Function: yellow
Delete? Red: deleted every unnecessary word. Cut at least 10% every single word is necessary. I.e.: that, time words, intensifiers, empty words, clichés contracts.
 Do a CTR F to search out these words. If have the same world of that twice on a page. Can rephrase the sentence for that if needed
 Time words: when, then, suddenly, currently, began to, started to. Etc.
 Intensifiers; i.e.: really, very, absolutely, strongly a little, rather, quite, a bit, always, never i.e.: she was very gorgeous.
 Mark Twain: subtitle “damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very,’ your editor will delete it and the writing ….
 Empty words: it is, there was, in order to, thing, just, stuff.
 Delete clichés: if overused, they weaken the writing. If used correctly and in the right context great.
 Delete contractions: The narrator should not use most contractions. They’re, you’re, he’s she’d, I’m etc.
 Use only if your MC uses it. It’s hard for the reader. Don’t use them unless you need them.
Diction: change
 Resist the urge to explain.
 Ex: Johnny pounded on the table.\
 Diction: hedging, weak verb, negatives usage redundancies. Want verbs to be evocative. Search ly verbs.
 Ex: john left the room. John stormed out of the room.
 Hedging: appearance, indication, inference, likelihood, possibly, probably, suggestions, tendency, to my knowledge.
 Adjective: apparent, certain, consistent with, few, many, most, possible, presumed, probable, punitive, several, some, supposed
 Ex: he annoyed with her
 She that she to say the wrong thing
 He that she knew how tired he was > she knows how tired I am. Or >Does she know how tired I am?
 Adverbs (hedging (: about, apparently, arguably, fairly, in general, largely, likely, more or less, mostly, often perhaps, possibly, presumably, probably, quite, rather, unlikely.
 Diction: negatives: do not waste your words explained what is not happening
 He say anything
 The room got quiet.
 You want to make these mistakes in our writing. You want to avoid those mistakes in your writing.
Diction: correct usage: your/you’re
 They/ their/ they’re
 Good/ well i.e.: I’m doing well
 Affect/effect
 Then/than
 To/too/two
Diction: substitute redundancies:
 Clap your hands
 Shrug your shoulders
 Nodded her head
 Blinked his eyes
 The sound of the bells ringing
 Sat down on the couch
 Screaming loudly
Do you have something to add? If you do, please respond in the comment section of this blog. Thanks.

About Melva Gifford

Melva is an author and storyteller.
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