via Pinterest
Category: Writing 101
Thursday Ten: editing checklist
After NaNo comes editing!
I am in no way a professional author or an expert in anything writing, but I write and that means I also have to edit. For NaNoWriMo this year, I wrote Dangerous Obsession, and although it’s not completely finished, I am going through the first draft and editing as I go along. I’ve compiled a small editing checklist.
1. Strike needless words
This pretty much explains itself. Look for redundancies and get rid of them.
2. Quotation marks
Add quotation marks where necessary, especially when your character is speaking.
3. Similar character names
This can be confusing for both the writer and reader sometimes, so make sure the characters’ names are easy to recall individually.
4. CAPITALIZE!
Capitalize names, places, months, the beginning of a sentence, etc.
5. One voice or two voices?
Writers are told that is better that they stick to one voice (POV), but if you’re working with two or more characters, make sure that you include whose POV they’re speaking from.
6. Avoid using ‘literally’
Like literally!
7. Spelling
Does it look right?
8. Dialogue game
Make sure that the dialogue serves the story in every case.
9. Read aloud
Gotta make sure what you’ve written is making sense.
10. Double check everything
A writer can never go wrong with this technique. After all, we want the reader to be satisfied with what they’re reading.
***GIFs via Google Search
Are there any editing tips that you’ll like to share?
Outline? What outline?
For the past five years or so, I’ve been jumping headfirst into NaNoWriMo without warning. I don’t know what I’m going to write until the last minute and when I finally decide on what story I’m going to write, I simply dive in. I know that it’s dangerous to work without an outline, but that’s the thrill of it!
Although by the time I start putting words on paper, the story starts dictating itself so I’m rarely ever surprised when I complete a story. I like taking clichés and ideas and turning them into something completely new and exciting, and I am hoping to achieve the same result with Dangerous Obsession.
Thank you, Kage of RLyis for my signature ❤
Writing by process of discovery is my forte because novel outlining does not work for me. The characters always seem to take over and then I am forced to abandon the outline, therefore, I don’t ever feel guilty about not outlining. When I used to outline my work, I felt as if I was the translator sitting down to tell the story I already know and it was not fun. I found out that I love discovering my characters as I go along rather than thoroughly sketching them. Case in point: when I started writing, it started with the character I call Ray da Díxon and because I did not thoroughly sketch him, I went back to revisit this character and created an identical twin for him. And because I did not thoroughly sketch them, I still discover new things about them every time I write stories around them.
I write wherever I am in the story, whether it’s the beginning, the middle, or even the end. Sometimes I know what comes next, sometimes I don’t, but that’s the beauty of not outlining, at least for me, because the less I know, the more I discover as I write.
Remember, whether we outline or not, writing is a process.
DISCLAIMER: I am not here to preach about how to write to other writers. What works for me may not work for others. Writers should find their own process of creating a story and if it’s ridiculous? Eh, who cares? The most important thing is that it works for you.
Glaring (GIFs)
Glaring
“Say that again girl and I’mma let you have it!” glare.
“Oh no, don’t you do it because you won’t like it if I come over there for you.” glare.
“Why can’t things ever go my way?” glare.
“I’m going to beat you down if I ever catch you looking at Alejandro again.” glare.
“Mama said to knock you out.” glare.
“I’m warning you,” glare.
“Beat this!” glare.
Haha! I fail as a writer when it comes to describing glaring expressions.
***GIFs via Google Search
Dizzying Carousel
Tip Tuesday: you don’t always have to use ‘slow’
Sometimes, I overuse the adjective ‘slow’, so I came up with other words I can use instead. Feel free to add to it.
**GIFs/Images that don’t belong to LPM are via Google Search (Right-click for original source)
Disclaimer
Tip Tuesday: common phrases and what you can use instead
Are you guilty of overusing ‘according to’? Are you tired of using the phrase ‘on the other hand’? Are you fed up of saying ‘congratulations’? Then, this list is for you:
Infographic via Pinterest
**GIFs/Images that don’t belong to LPM are via Google Search (Right-click for original source)
Disclaimer
What are you writing?
Good evening/night/afternoon/morning.
Book reviews.
Song reviews.
Blogging.
A play.
A novel.
Magazine.
Whatever material you’re working on, once you’re writng, it qualifies as writing. And writing everyday can only mean good practice with your craft. So, what are you writing today?
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