Ed It

There's a lot you can do to edit your own book. Your objective is to make the material that's already there, more readable, more appealing, more understandable and more inviting to the reader. That's it. That's the big goal that every editor chases when they sit before a manuscript.

Omit Needless Words. In short, if there's a word in the sentence that can be removed without damaging the thought, it should be removed. That alone can dramatically improve your writing.

Most people think of editing right on the hard copy, paper and ink, with pen in hand. Okay, feel free to do that. Personally, I like to use the computer screen. Remember, if you make the changes on the screen, they're made. No one has to re-enter the material you've just edited.

Search the document for the word 'that.' Almost 75% of the time this word can be eliminated without changing the thought of the sentence. Next comes the word 'then.' Get rid of it if you can.

Search for the two letters 'ly' and you'll find most of the adverbs in your work. An adverb modifies a verb. He didn't just run, he ran quickly. Remove the adverbs. Remove them and use a better verb. Get rid of the adverbs. Don't forget to do a search for 'ly.' as well. Adverbs can turn up at the end of a sentence, frequently.

Try and eliminate; usually, nearly, barely. Also, be wary of 'often' and 'seems.' If words, phrases or entire sentences can be removed without affecting the work, then remove them. Do a quick word count before you begin. Your goal is to have 10 percent fewer words than when you started... and watch your writing get better and better.

Variety in Reading...

Fiction books actually form a wide genre as various sub genres. One can find romantic fiction novels which depict love story of imaginative people. Then there are science fiction novels which depict the combats of the evil and the good in an extravagant manner. These books also have mesmerizing characters to capture the imaginations of the readers.

However, the fiction books at times also deal with real life incidents. But, those real life situations are described in an awe inspiring manner as they contain certain fantasy elements and astounding plots too. However, certain books of this genre also have good social messages which can be appropriately used to teach the right values of life to the readers.

Many times we can get stuck in a rut of reading the same old thing. Starting this month I will be interviewing on this blog a wide array of authors with different backgrounds. I hope you will take the time to get to know someone new. Maybe even a new genre….

Do you find yourself reading the same types of books over and over again? What genres do you enjoy? Can an author blend two genres into a great story?

How do you select a book?

When browsing through the stacks of novels at the local bookstore, how does a customer choose a new author? Marketing research firms spend thousands of dollars trying to determine consumer behavior and ways to manipulate that behavior.

Have you ever watched customers meandering through the aisles, picking up one book, perusing the cover, then selecting another? Why do they select any one particular book?

Word of mouth, or recommended by a friend was the factor most often mentioned as the number one factor. Some books are simply so memorable that readers become anxious to tell their friends about them. Publishers spend millions of dollars on advertising, book tours, etc., but one of the most powerful forces driving a book’s success is basic grass roots, one-on-one word of mouth.

The cover either entices or detracts. Don’t judge a book by its cover doesn’t ring true with most readers.

The infamous back cover blurb is the key deciding factor for many readers. Perusing a sample chapter either clinched the sale or resulted in the reader deciding not to buy.

Reviews increase the visibility of an author and their books, but it isn’t the deciding factor of whether to read that particular book.

What is the determining factor when selecting a book from a new author for you? What was the last “new author” book that you read? How was the book?

Learn more about RL Taylor's new books here