The Benefits of Free Writing
For many years I wasn’t a big fan of free writing. It seemed a waste of time to me to devote even a short amount of time to ‘random’ writing when I could be planning and producing a specific, saleable piece of work.
Then a writing tutor suggested “focused free writing”, using the techniques of free writing but writing around a vague idea or topic I wanted to develop. I’ve been using this approach ever since and it has a few benefits that really work for me.
What is free writing?
That’s a good question. I know what it is, but find it difficult to explain. I’m not in the habit of using Wiki Wisdom, but on this occasion I actually like the definition Wikipedia provides:
“Free writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar, or topic. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing.”
Focused free writing is similar to brainstorming, but less focused, if that makes sense. It’s more like a brain dump, where you pour out, without really thinking about it, all the related (or even unrelated) thoughts, ideas and feelings you have about your topic.
As the above definition stresses, the result of free writing is “raw, often unusable material” which is why I thought of it as a waste of my precious writing time for so long. But now I’ve learned to mine that raw unusable material for nuggets that can be polished into usable material, and I’ve discovered a few benefits along the way. Here, in my always-debatable opinion, are some of the reasons to try free writing.
Benefits of Free Writing
- Free writing can be a source of inspiration
I’ve finally realized that inspiration for your writing projects really does come while you’re writing, not while you’re staring at a blank page or screen. This is an excellent reason to just dive in and get started on your novel, story or article. It’s also an excellent reason to regularly practise free writing.
Ideas that have surfaced (for me) during the act of free writing:
An idea for an unrelated story.
An entire (previously unplanned and unimagined) scene that really helps my current story objectives.
Random bits of dialogue, that may need polishing but that are funny/realistic/useful in portraying character and motivation.
Titles for future works.
Strange scenarios to build a future story around.
Random sentences that have become the opening sentence of my next short story.
Random observations that have been a springboard for a personal essay or op-ed piece.
- Free writing can help you see if your idea “has legs”.
Some ideas have legs, some don’t. And some have longer legs than others. Free writing around an idea helps you decide if you can commit to producing a finished piece of work based on this particular idea. It can also help you determine what that finished piece should look like. Don’t be disappointed if you free write around an idea that you thought would develop into a novel/non-fiction book and find you only have enough material there for a short story/ article. Write the short story/article and then start experimenting with a new idea for your novel/non-fiction book. Free writing saved you time and provided you with a finished piece you can sell in the meantime.
- Free writing can move your plot forward.
If your work of fiction is flagging, free writing can help you move it forward, whether in a very focused way (coming up with a range of “what if” scenarios) or in a less focused way (simply think about your plot problems for a minute or two, then try doing a totally random piece of free writing). When you read over the piece afterwards you might find you’ve solved your own problems, either consciously or subconsciously.
- Free writing can help you focus.
When you have too many ideas buzzing around in your head free writing can act as a “brain dump”, letting you get those ideas down on paper so you can focus on the one idea you actually want to start building a piece of writing around today. In short, free writing can transfer to paper the ideas that would nag at your subconscious while you were trying to write something else.
- Free writing gets you started.
As the definition suggests, free writing can help overcome apathy and self-criticism. Even if you can’t mine anything useful from your initial free writing exercise, if it gets you in the mood for writing and stops procrastination, it has served a purpose.
If you want to explore free writing and related writing skills further, you may find these books helpful:
How To Be a Writer: Building Your Creative Skills Through Practice and Play by Barbara Baig
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Or check out our reading list and online book store.
Two Great Affiliate Programs for Writers and Authors
This year I’m partnering with a couple of cool organisations to bring you some useful resources for writers and authors. Some of them are free, some of them aren’t. If you’re at a stage in your writing career where you want to start investing in yourself, you can choose to buy through me and support this site at the same time (see what that means here).
If you’re not, that’s fine too. All articles here at Change The World With Words are free and always will be. (I also get a real kick out of sharing other free resources I find, and I seem to find a lot – maybe it’s Karma sending me free writing goodies because I always pay them forwards. Feel free to subscribe if you want to know about new free writing resources as I find them.)
If you’re a writer looking for affiliate programs to join in order to offer your readers valuable resources and create an extra income stream for yourself, I recommend these programs.
In 2012 I’ll be working with an organisation called My Help Hub.
Why?
They have really high quality products for writers, mainly ebooks and online courses, that cover different types of writing and other skills related to writing and getting your work published.
Their paid products are reasonably priced, often come with bonuses and offer a money-back guarantee.
They have a good mix of products that will appeal to different readers (we’re an eclectic mix here at CTWWW), from The Wealthy Writer online course to their Writer’s Block CD to the Novel in a Month course. Perhaps my favourite E-product purchased last year was their excellent How To Write A Children’s Book.
Like me, they like to be generous. They offer a huge selection of free resources for writers through Writers Giveaway, that you can start downloading right now if you want (click here).
If you’re a writer with your own blog or site and you’d like to partner with My Help Hub to offer some of their products to your readers and followers, check out their affiliate program here.
I’ll also be working with the lovely Shelley Hitz from Self-Publishing-Coach.com.
Why?
Shelley also offers great products, albeit in a narrower range. Most of her products are aimed at helping writers develop specific skills in the area of self-publishing and book marketing, though her book marketing and promotion resources are also excellent for traditionally published authors looking to build their brand and sell more books.
These products are very affordable. Shelley is known for over-delivering and offering far more (including bonuses) than you would expect for the price she charges.
The range of products covers almost everything new and aspiring authors need to know (and lots of things more experienced authors should know but don’t). Products include Ebook Publishing Success, Get Your Kindle Ebook Done, and Twitter 101 For Authors.
Shelley also loves a freebie. You can pick up over 200 free tools for authors over at her site Self-Publishing-Coach.com or download a couple of her free reports, Book Marketing on a Shoestring Budget: YouTube Strategies for Authors and Book Marketing on a Shoestring Budget: Guest Blogging for Success right here at CTWWW.
If you’re looking to invest in yourself in 2012, please consider some of the products mentioned above or listed on the resources page (or check out the reading list and online book store for good-value books about writing and publishing). And if not, go ahead and download the freebies mentioned above.
If you haven’t already seen our Win an iPad2 or Kindle Fire contest, you might want to check it out. You’ll need something to read your new Ebooks and online course materials on:)
Get The Writer’s Workout, and Claim Your Free Coaching
January is a time when many writers re-assess their writing careers and their goals for the future. For me, that includes making plans for continuing education, in one form or another. I’m pretty cheap, so I’m constantly looking for free, nearly free or good value learning experiences that will take my writing to the next level.
This week I’m excited about a free online flash class I’ll be attending with Christina Katz, author of some of my favorite practical writing books, such as Writer Mama and Get Known Before The Book Deal. Christina’s new book is The Writer’s Workout, and everyone who purchases a copy by January 9th can get in on a free flash class with Christina.
Christina will be coaching writers in every genre on the following three topics:
- How to Assess The Power of Your Writing Portfolio
- How to Build Your Best Bio for 2012
- How to Discover Your Unique Platform Dynamic
The book itself is great value (the paperback is currently selling for less than $13 on Amazon) but this free coaching session adds a shot of extra value, making it a worthwhile investment that will help writers at all levels get 2012 off to a great start.
Still undecided? Don’t know if Christina’s brand of writing wisdom is for you? Here are a few of my favorite tips from The Writer’s Workout.
- “Consider each year a new learning cycle and get used to putting your skills through new paces if you want them to grow.”
Couldn’t agree more. Continuing education, lifelong learning, constant skill-building – if you’re not fired up about these things then becoming a successful freelance writer is going to be much more of a challenge than it needs to be.
- “Will my work make good things happen? Is a good touchstone question for writers. If whatever you are devoted to will make good things happen, go forward and prosper with it as best you can.”
Statements like this assure me that I’m reading the work of a writer who is in tune with me, my values and the over-riding message I try to spread through Change The World With Words and my other writing projects.
- “We’re much more interested in the observations that come to bear from a well-lived life than we are of the preoccupations of a one-note mind.”
I love this quote. The thing that fuels a writing career more than anything else is life experience. While books, courses, retreats and critiques can help, the single most important ingredient of good writing may be “a well lived life”.
Still interested? You can order the book here, get the details on the coaching session here, and find out what Christina’s previous students and clients think about her here. Hope to see you there on the 10th, getting your 2012 learning cycle off to a productive start.
Ten Writing Websites I’ve Learnt Something Useful From In 2011
I’ve recently been streamlining my subscriptions and bookmarks and it’s forced me into an interesting exercise. I had to ask myself which sites have been genuinely useful to me this year, and which I can afford to abandon. There are also a few that I will just drop by occasionally (they’re in a separate favourites folder – I’m quite proud of how organized I’ve been over this).
The following have all stayed in my bookmarks folder, on my RSS reader or on my email subscription list. Of course, different blogs and sites are useful to different people, and some you grow out of (or in to) at different times. A lot depends on the type of writing you do and the stage you’re at in your career. If you have found a writing blog or site that’s been truly useful to you in 2011, please do the blogger or site owner a favour and mention it in the comments section.
Almost every post on this blog either teaches me something useful or reminds me of something I already know, but often am not doing. It’s strong on marketing for example, which isn’t my favorite task, even though (or perhaps because) I have a degree in public relations and have previously held jobs where I spent all day every day marketing.
I’ve been following this blog for a while and really like how varied it is, covering fiction and non- fiction writing, blogging and related topics like productivity and motivation. There’s plenty of useful stuff in the archives here. Poke around and see what you can find.
I have yet to take the plunge into self-publishing (Or have I? Is this blog a form of self-publishing? Is the free report I produced for my subscribers self-publishing? It’s a question for another post, but perhaps we’re all self-publishers now). I’ve done a lot of research into the industry this year, and this site has been my best resource.
Just found this one recently and am really enjoying checking out the archives. I like Marya’s perspective on writing related issues and stumbling blocks, and her positive attitude. I also love “Marya’s Truths” (posted in the sidebar). A bold move, and very personal – it made me relate to her from the first moment I found the blog. I knew straight away I was in the company of someone who thinks like me.
Also a new one for me this year, with lots of useful content and a range of topics – there are sections on writing, publishing and marketing. I recommend signing up for the newsletter and getting hold of your free copy of the Author 2.0 Blueprint. There are also lots of free podcasts to download if you like to listen to them while you’re on the go (a habit I intend to develop in 2012).
There is a lot of high quality content on this blog and it’s updated frequently. I only became a regular reader of this one very recently, but I’ve found enough good stuff in the archives to feel confident recommending it.
Far removed from your typical how-to-write site, but probably the most useful blog I’ve come across focussing on publishing, promotion, platform building and social media for writers and authors.
I got back into writing fiction this year, after a long stretch of non-fiction and commercial writing. This site has been a great resource. It has something for everyone, from complete newbies to the more experienced. It’s definitely helped me get back into the swing of fiction writing.
Now I’m back into fiction writing my next big writing goal is to complete the young adult novel I’ve been working on. This site has some good articles on the specifics of novel writing, such as creating plot outlines and story goals, and writing a good synopsis.
Like most writers I have days when I’m uber productive and days when I just can’t get my butt into gear. For the latter, there’s always this site. Productivity and time management for writers, with a dose of humor, from the highly productive John Soares.
I’m hoping you’ll find something useful through the above links. Let me know if you do. If you still have holiday shopping to do, please check out the book store. And don’t forget to stop by Change The World With Words next Friday (23rd December). There will be free gifts for all to celebrate the holidays 
Twenty Funny Quotes About Writing
A bad writing day can make you lose one of your most important freelance writing assets – your sense of humor. Cheer yourself up with these funny writing quotes.
I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
- Douglas Adams
A critic is a man who knows the way but can’t drive the car.
- Kenneth Tynan
I’m writing a book. I’ve got the page numbers done.
- Stephen Wright
I just wrote a book, but don’t go out and buy it yet, because I don’t think it’s finished yet.
-Lawrence Welk
A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it to be God.
- Sidney Sheldon
All the words I use in my stories can be found in the dictionary – it’s just a matter of arranging them into the right sentences.
- Somerset Maugham
Copy from one, it’s plagiarism; copy from two, it’s research.
-Wilson Mizner
No fathers or mothers think their own children ugly; and this self-deceit is yet stronger with respect to the offspring of the mind.
- Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost how it feels about dogs.
- Christopher Hampton
A good many young writers make the mistake of enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope, big enough for the manuscript to come back in. This is too much of a temptation to the editor.
-Ring Lardner
A young musician plays scales in his room and only bores his family. A beginning writer, on the other hand, sometimes has the misfortune of getting into print.
-Marguerite Yourcenar
Writing a novel is like spelunking. You kind of create the right path for yourself. But, boy, are there so many points at which you think, absolutely, I’m going down the wrong hole here.
-Chang-rae Lee
Most writers can write books faster than publishers can write checks.
- Richard Curtis
It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by that time I was too famous.
- Robert Benchley
Writing a novel is like paddling from Boston to London in a bathtub. Sometimes the damn tub sinks. It’s a wonder that most of them don’t.
-Stephen King
Being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life.
-Lawrence Kasdan
Everywhere I go I’m asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don’t stifle enough of them.
-Flannery O’Connor
It’s a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word.
-Andrew Jackson
There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.
-Somerset Maugham
Your manuscript is both good and original, but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.”
-Samuel Johnson
Looking for a freelance writing book with a funny slant? I like Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal and My So-Called Freelance Life.
Eight Important Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Writing
Every now and then I take a look at my writing career and ask myself a few questions. These are the ones I’ve been asking myself recently. I’m fairly happy with my answers but there’s always room for improvement. How about you? How are your answers to these questions looking? Don’t worry. I won’t be keeping score. The only prize for ‘correct’ answers is a writing career that stays (more or less) on track
Do you love writing?
If you don’t love it don’t do it. There are (much) easier ways to earn a living. By all means be realistic. No-one loves writing all the time, and we all have days where we don’t even like writing (though we still love the feeling of having written). Generally speaking though, if you’re meant to be a writer, you’ll never have that sinking Monday morning feeling. If you do, maybe it’s time to try something else.
Are you doing the right kind of writing (for you)?
I’ve written (and published) short stories, articles and essays. I’ve also written web content, handbooks and reports. I’ve written part of an adult novel and most of a children’s book. There are many ways to earn money writing and until you try them you don’t know what might be a good fit. I didn’t plan to blog (or know what a blog was) when I started freelance writing, but here I am, writing a blog post. Keep an open mind and be willing to find out what the perfect type of writing (for you) is.
Are you writing about what you’re passionate about?
If not, why not? I’ve written articles about travel, parenting, home schooling and the environment. I’ve written a short story with an environmental theme. The children’s novel I’m working on also has an environmental theme. (Yep, I’m a tree hugger). The point is, being a writer allows you to explore your passions. Even if you have assignments that take you away from them, try and make time for side projects that are important to you.
Are you subscribed to the right sites/blogs/newsletters?
I’m constantly signing up for new newsletters and RSS feeds. And constantly unsubscribing as well. There’s so much information out there, available for free. Some of it’s valuable. Some isn’t. You can’t always tell. If I love a site or blog with a free newsletter or subscription offer, I sign up. Every now and then I have a ‘cull’ and only keep what is really useful to me.
Do you need to take steps to improve your writing?
I do something every month to improve my writing. I read a book or ebook, take a course or workshop, or get a critique. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Free ebooks and ecourses count (as long as they are high quality enough to learn from them). Ebooks that cost less than $10 count. Library books count. If you’re looking for ebooks and books to improve your writing check out our resources and book store. If you’re looking for freebies check this page and this post. If you want to ‘swap’ critiques and get free feedback take a look at Scribophile.
Do you need to develop other related skills?
Skills that can be useful for writers include editing and proof reading, photography (here’s a great website to get you started), blogging, web design, self-publishing and marketing.
Are you building a platform?
Good writing without good marketing is almost as useless as good marketing without good writing. Are you publishing work around the web? Are you blogging? Are you active on Twitter and other social media sites? If you don’t have the first clue about platform building I recommend Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz.
Do you have a career plan?
Do you know where you want to be 6 months from now? Or three years from now? Your plan doesn’t have to be set in stone (mine changes all the time), but it helps to set some goals so you know what you’re aiming for.
If you’d like to answer any of these questions (or ask some of your own) please do so in the comments.
Forty Inspirational Quotes For Writers
I collect inspirational quotes, especially quotes for writers. I get so much inspiration from them, sooner or later I have to pay it forward. Enjoy these and feel free to share your own in the comments.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.
Ben Franklin
Writing is an occupation in which you have to keep proving your talent to those who have none.
Jules Renard
Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights but you can make the whole trip that way.
E.L. Doctorow
Success comes to a writer, as a rule, so gradually that it is always something of a shock to him to look back and realize the heights to which he has climbed.
P. G. Wodehouse
The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say.
Mark Twain
The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away.
Linus Pauling
Writing a novel is like making love, but it’s also like having a tooth pulled. Pleasure and pain. Sometimes it’s like making love while having a tooth pulled.
Dean Koontz
If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time to write.
Stephen King
There’s a word for a writer who never quits… published.
Unattributed
When I sit down at my writing desk, time seems to vanish. I think it’s a wonderful way to spend one’s life.
Erica Jong
A true piece of writing is a dangerous thing. It can change your life.
Tobias Wolff
Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds.
Elie Wiesel
There are many rules of good writing, but the best way to find them is to be a good reader.
Stephen Ambrose
The way you define yourself as a writer is that you write every time you have a free minute.
John Irving
When we commit ourselves to writing for some part of each day, we are happier, more enlightened, alive, light-hearted and generous to everyone else. Even our health improves.
Brenda Ueland
Begin at the beginning and go on til you come to the end then stop.
Lewis Carroll
If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.
Toni Morrison
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.
William Wordsworth
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
Scott Adams
You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.
Maya Angelou
Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn’t.
Mark Twain
Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader—not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.
E.L. Doctorow
Read a lot, finding out what kind of writing turns you on, in order to develop a criterion for your own writing. And then trust it—and yourself.
Rosemary Daniell
Start early and work hard. A writer’s apprenticeship usually involves writing a million words (which are then discarded) before he’s almost ready to begin. That takes a while.
David Eddings
I write as straight as I can, just as I walk as straight as I can, because that is the best way to get there.
H.G. Wells
The difference between reality and fiction? Fiction has to make sense.
Tom Clancy
However great a man’s natural talent may be, the act of writing cannot be learned all at once.
Jean Jacques Rousseau
I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
Douglas Adams
There are two kinds of writer: those that make you think, and those that make you wonder.
Brian Aldiss
A best seller was a book which somehow sold well simply because it was selling well.
S. Boorstein
Either a writer doesn’t want to talk about his work, or he talks about it more than you want.
Anatole Broyard
If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor.
Edgar Rice Burroughs
It is perfectly okay to write garbage–as long as you edit brilliantly.
C. J. Cherryh
There is no idea so brilliant or original that a sufficiently-untalented writer can’t screw it up.
Raymond Feist
Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind.
Rudyard Kipling
You may be able to take a break from writing, but you won’t be able to take a break from being a writer…
Stephen Leigh
A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it to be God.
Sidney Sheldon
By writing much, one learns to write well.
Robert Southey
The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book.
Mickey Spillane
Originality does not consist in saying what no one has ever said before, but in saying exactly what you think yourself.
James F. Stephan
We write to discover what we think.
Joan Dideon
The fastest way to write is to pretend you have all the time in the world.
Philip Gerard
Nobody reads a book to get to the middle.
Mickey Spillane
Check back in or subscribe for a post of funny quotes for writers, coming soon.
Have you checked out the online book store yet? It’s full of books about writing, publishing and changing the world. Browsers welcome
Ten Tips for Writing Dialogue
My novel edit continues, and right now I’m looking at dialogue, so I’m trying to pull together everything I’ve read, heard, and been taught about the art of writing good dialogue. Here’s the checklist I’ve put together for myself. As always, feel free to share your own dialogue writing tips in the comments.
1. Make your dialogue realistic.
It sounds obvious, but it’s important to write how people speak. A common mistake when writing dialogue (and one I definitely slip into from time to time) is to have your characters speak in long complex sentences. Have you ever noticed how short most spoken sentences are? In his book Writing Dialogue, Tom Chiarella suggests trying to get most spoken sentences down to three words or less. It won’t always be possible but it’s an interesting exercise in making your dialogue sound more like real speech.
2. But not too realistic.
Real life dialogue is full of pauses, digressions, unfinished sentences and repetitions. A little of this reflects real speech patterns. Too much becomes incomprehensible. Finding the balance is sometimes tricky.
3. Be careful with speech tags.
“He said” is fine. It’s also OK to vary your speech tags a little by allowing a character to whisper or shout, but a string of characters exclaiming, pronouncing, stuttering and ejaculating is… distracting, at best.
4. And even more careful when omitting speech tags.
It can be very effective to have a piece of dialogue where there are no speech tags at all, but make sure it’s obvious who is saying what. This technique works well for short exchanges, but can get confusing during long exchanges or when there are more than two characters speaking (trust me, I’ve tried it).
5. Give characters definitive speech patterns and pet words and phrases.
This helps with making dialogue sound realistic and can really help keep it clear who’s talking when you want to leave speech tags out.
6. Use a short burst of action instead of a speech tag.
Have someone do something (anything from a nervous tic to a sip of coffee can work) just before they speak. This can indicate who is speaking without adding a tag.
7. Be careful with dialects and accents.
Again, a little brings realism to the dialogue. Too much makes it incomprehensible. Try creating the sound of a dialect through speech patterns, as much as (or more than) through misspelling.
8. Give information (without sounding like you’re doing it).
Dialogue is a great way to present information to the reader but sometimes it’s really hard to do it without sounding obvious. You can end up with sentences like:
“Hi John, are you feeling better? It was a tough year for you last year, what with the divorce, losing your job, your daughter being abducted by aliens and you ending up in rehab.”
Generally speaking if you have characters ‘telling’ each other stuff they should already know, you’re probably overusing the ‘dialogue as information’ technique.
9. Reveal character.
Having a character say something obnoxious or racist is far better than stating in the narrative “X was an obnoxious racist”.
10. Get the punctuation right.
According to one of my early writing tutors (who happened to have been an editor) this is one of the biggest peeves editors have with dialogue. People punctuate it incorrectly. I know I used to (and I usually consider myself a bit of a grammar geek). Look up how to do it properly (there’s a good “nuts and bolts” section that covers this in Writing Dialogue), or just study how it’s done in a published book.
OK, back to editing for me. If you have friends and followers who might appreciate this post, please share or forward. Thanks
Thirty Questions to Ask Yourself While Editing Your Book
“Writing is rewriting. A writer must learn to deepen characters, trim writing, intensify scenes. To fall in love with the first draft to the point where one cannot change it is to greatly enhance the prospects of never publishing.”
- Richard North Patterson
Editing your own book is a challenge. The first piece of advice any responsible publisher or experienced writer will give you is probably “pay for professional editing services”.
Badly edited work is a common reason for rejection, and unfortunately self-publishers who also decide to self-edit may find their book stands out for all the wrong reasons. But what if you have to edit your own book? What if you genuinely can’t afford professional editing services? Or what if you just want to get your book in the best possible shape before sending it off to an editor? I’ve been working on editing the first draft of my first novel and have put together a checklist for myself (please feel free to add to it in the comments section). Asking yourself the following questions as you edit can help you do the best possible job of self-editing. This particular list applies mainly to fiction writing. (A post on editing non-fiction is in the works. Please subscribe if you don’t want to miss it.)
1. Did you leave a suitable amount of time between finishing the project and the edit? The longer the project, the longer you need. For a full-length novel, you probably need at least a couple of weeks.
2. Did you use some of that time to read something that will help you in the rewrite? (I recommend the rewriting section of Stephen King’s On Writing or Get Your Writing Fighting Fit: Editing Secrets Revealed.)
3. Have you started with a kick ass first sentence? Think Orwell’s 1984 “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” Ask yourself if your book would make it onto a book reviewer’s list of ‘great/surprising/compelling first sentences’ in your genre.
4. Is the beginning where it should be? Does the story grab the reader’s attention from the very first words? Have you started in the middle of the action or wasted two pages setting the scene?
5. Is it clear straight away who the main character is? Generally speaking, readers expect the first character they meet to be the main character.
6. Is it clear fairly quickly what the main character’s problem is? And his motivations for solving it?
7. Is there someone (an antagonist) and/or something (a situation or obstacle) working against the main character?
8. Is the antagonist’s motivation as strong as the protagonist’s – and just as clear?
9. Do the protagonist and antagonist both have something vitally important (to them) at stake?
10. Will the reader be able to identify with the main characters?
11. Are all the characters realistic (remember no-one is ever all good or all bad)?
12. Is the protagonist out gunned? The easiest way to create lots of conflict is to have a character battling more or stronger characters, with bigger or better weapons (literally or figuratively).
13. Are the villains strong enough to cause the protagonist real problems? Often authors don’t really like their antagonists, which is understandable, but it can lead to them creating weak characters.
14. Is your dialogue realistic?
15. Does each character have a distinct voice?
16. Do you need every scene? Are some scenes slowing the story down? Can they be edited out or cut shorter (or broken up to disperse the information in them throughout the book?).
17. Do you need to lengthen or add a scene to keep the stakes high, or add information to the story?
18. Are your transitions quick and effective?
19. Have you transitioned neatly in and out of any flashbacks?
20. Is your setting clear to the reader?
21. Have you edited out all unnecessary words, sentences, passages and scenes?
22. Have you checked to make sure you didn’t edit out something you later refer to?
23. Does every sentence move the story forward?
24. Does anyone do something ‘out of character” for the sake of the plot?
25. Did you foreshadow any coincidences or plot twists?
26. Did you look for themes that crop up throughout your book and emphasize them?
27. Did you fact check everything you present as factual?
28. Is the ending satisfying?
29. Are all your loose ends tied up?
30. Will your final chapter make readers want to buy your next book?
Finally, even if you self-edit, it really helps to get someone else to look at your work. Consider an online or real life critique group, or a writer’s workshop where you will get some of your work critiqued. I’ve just come across the site Scribeophile, where authors can critique other’s work in return for getting a critique of their own. It looks like an interesting concept, and basic membership is free.
What’s your favourite editing tip? Feel free to share in the comments.
Ten Freelance Writing Tools for $10 or Less
There are plenty of freelance writing tools that cost a fortune, and some that are completely free (see the Freebie page for a few of those). But what if you’re ready to boost your ego and spoil yourself by investing in your writing career, but still relatively broke? What if you just sold your first $15 article and want to treat yourself, and preferably still have a few bucks left over?
Take a look at these great little freelance writing tools that cost $10 or less.
Freelance Writing: A Beginners Guide by Jason Little ($3.95)
A 53-page guide that covers everything from the attitude needed to be your own boss, through to different writing formats, the various techniques needed to market your writing services, and how to manage payments. All for less than $5, and a money back guarantee. If you’re a beginner freelance writer, you’d have to be trying quite hard to go wrong with this product.
Where To Search For Freelance Writing Jobs by Anne Wayman ($9.95)
Anne Wayman is known for her excellent online newsletters highlighting current job openings for freelance writers. Now she’s made it even easier for us freelance job hunters by handing over (for less than $10) this list of the same 59 current live links that she uses to compile her newsletters. Each link leads to real freelance writing jobs around the internet. A great (time saving) tool for freelancers who are regularly out there looking for online jobs.
Business cards from Vistaprint ($8.99 or free)
Vistaprint are currently offering packs of premium business cards starting at $8.99, and yes, you can also opt for free business cards. The only drawbacks to the freebies are that you are limited as to the designs you can choose and they come with advertising (for Vistaprint) on the back. Personally, I think I’ll spring for the premium ones next time I need them. They’re still under $10.
Webhosting (from $5.95 a month)
Yes. If you’re serious about freelance writing you will eventually need your own blog or website and your own domain name. It generally costs less than $10 a month. I use Bluehost, who are currently offering hosting for $5.95 a month and are perfect if you want to run a basic blog (like this one) or writers’ website. You can get bigger, better and more expensive hosting options, but it’s not hard to find deals with any major hosting company for under $10 a month.
WordPress ($0)
It’s free once you’ve paid for your hosting and is (in my opinion) the best and most versatile blogging platform. You can also use it to create a normal (static) website if you just want an online home for your writing resume, somewhere to post links to your clips and a way for clients to contact you easily.
Twitter 101 for Authors By Shelley Hitz ($10)
Once you’ve got your blog or site set up (or even before) you probably need to start dipping your toes into social media. There are a gazillion sites you can sign up for to create an online presence and connect with other writers, editors and clients.
I recommend Twitter (the only social media site where you’ll find me on a regular basis) and if you’re new to it (or not new to it but still confused by it) I recommend Twitter 101, a great resource for writers and authors who want to get the most out of the site.
Skype ($0 and up)
For communicating with clients all over the world, basic Skype services are free and they have paid packages for under $10 a month.
Notebook and pen (from $2)
A vital tool for any writer, even if you almost always write (and even jot notes and lists) straight onto an electronic device. There’s a theory that writing long hand uses a different area of the brain. I definitely find it’s a creativity stimulator and writers’ block buster. Notebooks (and pens) are, of course, available from any dollar store, but even if you want to splash out on something fancier like this beautiful Tree of Life notebook from Amazon, it will only cost you $8.99, or maybe less.
The Little Red Writing Book, by Brandon Royal ($9.99)
A great little writing book covering structure, style and grammar, for those of us who are full of great stories but need a little help pulling them together on the page. Available from Amazon.
A Paypal Account ($0)
I do get checks in for my freelance writing work, but they’re becoming rarer. Many freelance writing markets will now pay with Paypal. It’s free to set up an account and you can link it to your bank account to access funds. Once you get to the stage that you have a lot of transactions going through your account there is a fee, but it’s per transaction and is deducted from your funds as they go in.
Paypal is also a good secure way to pay any writers or other freelancers who work for you, once you get to the stage where you are outsourcing work.
What’s your favourite affordable writing tool? Feel free to let us know via the comments.
