2. This involves giving a passage which does not quite work and then showing how it could be improved by changing, removing or adding words. "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" is not just for the unpublished. where to put commas, how to pluralize names that end in 's', etc. For instance, the authors dissect and re-edit some parts of. Each point is illustrated with examples, many drawn from the hundreds of books Browne and King have edited. Are these people really so narrow-minded as that. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print. I've found myself making a lot more deletions of excess words, and the result seems tighter already. There are helpful chapters but do not expect too much from this book. The first time I read it was when I started the editing process for my novel. Chapters on dialogue, exposition, interior monologue and other techniques take you through the same processes an expert fiction editor would go through to perfect your manuscript. Maybe I thought having it on my shelf, or the simple purchase, itself, would make me a better writer. Sadly, I've learned that my free-flow, stream-of-consciousness way of story telling doesn't end up on the page as anything even close to what most people would expect from a best-selling novel. This”, I had recently had a Beta reader read my novel, Deb Rhodes. Dispenser-of-writing-wisdom. The power of fiction is incredible and stories like ". But, as the famous writers’ expression goes, you must kill your darlings if you hope to create a work of fiction … 4. I was looking for advice that would help me edit a first draft and this was definitely not it. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. If your looking for a expert opinion Deb is your gal.? Focus your editing in each category with a target number of … This week, I reread previously marked passages. I don't read contemporary fiction—are all writers nowadays, This was a highly rated editing book on Amazon, but even then, I was concerned that it would be dry or boring. Easy to Use Editing Interface. EMBED. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 6, 2020. I clean the house before my house cleaner shows up so she never knows how messy I really am. After years of critiquing in a critique group, I see that the issues these authors point out, repeated over and over in our member's submissions. There is a brief introduction, which sets the scene, and then it's straight into the meat of the book. Below are some thoughts. Sure to relieve any young writer, either because they have new eyes with which to view their manuscript, or because there are many mistakes they are glad not to have made. Hundreds of books have been written on the art of writing. He also works as an independent editor in his home in rural Ashfield, Massachusetts. Browne and King cover many topics some of which are: show vs. tell, monologue, beats, proportion, and repetition. Some solid advice in here but a little heavy on the exercises (which felt like they made up half the book and which I never took the time to complete). I have that book. I am a big self-editor. This is not a book on grammar but on writing fiction. Fiction is hard but addictive. We’d love your help. Heck, to understand why. Renni Browne and Dave King are two of the country's best-known independent editors. Sometimes, … Harper Collins, Jun 15, 2010 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 288 pages. Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2019. Listed in the Los Angeles Times as one of six indispensable books for writers, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, by Renni Browne and Dave King, has been a highly respected guide for writers of fiction (and narrative nonfiction) since its initial publication in 1993. Get Rid of Excess Text. The examples and techniques given by Renni Browne and Dave King in SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS are … Who else has sold more than 200 million... "A superb tutorial for anyone wanting to learn from pros how to polish fiction writing with panache." 11 Reviews. Something went wrong. I find non-fiction (and any story lacking the presence of aliens) difficult to focus on, though. "A superb tutorial for anyone wanting to learn from pros how to polish fiction writing with panache." Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere), Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies, The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression (Second Edition) (Writers Helping Writers Series), Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish, Intuitive Editing: A Creative and Practical Guide to Revising Your Writing, The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface, The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide To Staying Out of the Rejection Pile, Save the Cat! I’m going to admit it up front: … The first thing I always want to know when I'm reading a book that purportedly teaches you how to improve your writing, especially if the intent is to be published, is "Okay, how many books have. Im a writer. Although this book didn't teach me anything new per se, it explained a lot of the groundwork of solid writing and editing in a clear, concise manner, with some great examples. They do state that the old version of this book has caused just that, but unfortunately I feel they have not removed the authoritative voice - the "we have all the truths" view on writing - and therefore they will keep teaching writers the wrong way to edit. I shouldn't have been. Hundreds of books have been written on the art of writing. Sometimes learning just a few more “tricks of the trade” can take your writing to a higher level. Luckily, not everyone in the world are Brownes and Kings. Chapters on dialogue, exposition, point of view, interior monologue, and other techniques take you through the same processes an expert editor would go through to perfect your manuscript. I’m not a writer or an editor. Each point is illustrated with examples, many drawn from the start this is! 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