Author: Elizabeth Spann Craig

After I finish a first draft, I start into my edits right away. And boy, is there usually a lot of editing to do!

Looking at the manuscript as a messy whole is sometimes overwhelming.

To get me started on the right track and help myself feel a little more enthusiastic about the chore in front of me, I usually start out with some easy edits that make a big difference.

The first thing I do is a find {ctrl F} for my favorite words. I’ll find a lot of ‘justs’ and ‘sighs.’ This takes only minutes to do, but makes me feel a little more cheerful.

Not sure what your favorite words are? Some folks use Wordle, which highlights the most common words in a manuscript.

The next thing I look for are weak words and words to investigate…because I might need to make the sentence stronger: That, seem, there, might, something, ‘to be’ verbs (like was ____ing), had, very, so, little, almost. This takes a bit longer, but is still really easy. Terry Odell has a nice post on using Word to eliminate problem words.

I have some new words to look for, too. There was a great post on Write it Sideways last week about filter words. Quoting the post, filter words are “those that unnecessarily filter the reader’s experience through a character’s point of view.”

Those words are (again, quoting directly from the blog):

• to see
• to hear
• to think
• to touch
• to wonder
• to realize
• to watch
• to look
• to seem
• to feel (or feel like)
• can
• to decide
• to sound (or sound like)

So, to give a quick example, a sentence using the filter word ‘heard’ might look like this:

John heard the siren.

Without the filter word, you could have this:

The siren blared.

Basically, you’re putting the reader in John’s shoes and deeper into the story.

Of course, you wouldn’t want to eliminate all of these words. And there are plenty of situations where you need them—where the wording would be too awkward otherwise.

But it’s a great place to start with editing, I think. It’s nothing if not easy. You can search for the words and just take a quick look at the sentence and see if it can be stronger or worded better.

When I knock out these easy fixes, it just helps me feel more confident about knocking out the rest of the mess. :)

Are there particular words that you look for? What words do you commonly use as fillers?

There’s a term that I keep tripping over—’best practices.’ I’ve seen it in literature my husband brings home from work, and my son has been studying it for a business class he’s taking. It’s also mentioned on television from time to time.

According to Wikipedia:

A best practice is a technique, method, process, activity, incentive, or reward which conventional wisdom regards as more effective at delivering a particular outcome than any other technique, method, process, etc. when applied to a particular condition or circumstance. (Wiki)

I thought I’d put together a sort of best practices list for writers of the advice I’ve heard and read most frequently from other writers.

Writing:
Set a writing goal, either daily or weekly.
Don’t be too critical of yourself during the first draft.
Try to be flexible about the times and places that you write.
Keep dialogue tags simple.
Showing rather than telling is usually more effective.
Make sure your book has enough conflict.

Read. It helps if you’ve either been an avid reader or are one currently.

Find what works for you (outlining or no-outlining, edit as you go or later, research now or later) and do it.

Connect with other writers who understand and appreciate what you’re going through. Others close to you may or may not.

Editing and Revising:

Try putting away your manuscript for a while.

Be aware of industry standards for word count for the genre you’ve written–and try to conform to the standards, if you plan to submit for publication.

Find an honest critiquer to offer constructive criticism. But still respect your gut.

Read the book aloud.
Printing the book and revising on paper may help.

Querying

Research agents, focusing on those that represent what you write. Check the agents against Writer Beware and Preditors and Editors.

Research dos and don’ts of query writing (lots of advice on these agents’ blogs): Rachelle Gardner’s Rants and Ramblings, Bookends, Query Shark, Pub Rants, Babbles from Scott Eagan.

Expect rejection and persevere. Learn what you can from any feedback you receive.

After Signing Your Contract and Following the Book’s Release:

Respect your editor. Think twice before arguing over a change.

Market, in some form, with as much enthusiasm as you can. Make sure your publisher is aware of your efforts.

Manage your time, especially online time.

Be careful of what you say online..on your blog, when commenting on others’ blogs, when Tweeting, while on Facebook.

Keep writing. Write while you’re submitting, write while you’re waiting for your book to release. Not only does it keep you busy, but it’s great practice.

Obviously, the most important thing is to find out what works best for you, then do it. :) What works for you…what would you recommend for a ‘best practices’ list for writers?

Here are writing links that I’ve posted to Twitter for the past week.

If you’re looking for a particular topic, just plug in your keyword into the search box at the top left-hand corner of the blog (on the black header right above my blog name…next to the Blogger symbol…the small search window is next to the magnifying glass) and the roundup with your subject will come up. To narrow your search down on the page, do a CTRL+F, type your subject, and hit enter.

I’m also archiving these posts in what I hope is an easily searchable format—if you look at the Twitterific tabs under the blog’s heading, I’m posting the links there, too.

How Do You Decide on Your Author Brand? – Part One: http://dld.bz/FJZj and Two: http://dld.bz/FJZP

When Dialogue is nothing but “Blah, Blah, Blah”: http://dld.bz/FJX3

The use of artistically-arranged crime scenes in mysteries: http://dld.bz/FT4k @mkinberg

Secret Weapons of Successful Self-Publishers (Huff Post): http://dld.bz/FJTZ

3 Things to Do While Querying: http://dld.bz/FJT3

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Now, kill two New Year’s resolutions with one recipe! http://bit.ly/dRWnXW @CleoCoyle

6 things one author wishes she knew when writing her first novel: http://dld.bz/FJTk

Crossing over with YA: http://dld.bz/FJS5

Tall, Dark, And All Wrong: http://dld.bz/FJSb

5 Ways to Develop Consistency in Writing & Blogging: http://dld.bz/FJpB

Best articles this week for writers– 1/14: http://dld.bz/FJpm

Tips for high concept writing: http://dld.bz/FJeh

How to fall back in love with your story: http://dld.bz/FNnT @WeronikaJanczuk

Deepening Your Character’s Needs: http://dld.bz/FJdX

The Character of the Successful Writer–A New Level or a New Devil?: http://dld.bz/FJdD

7 Reasons Why Writers Need To Start Using Video For Book Promotion: http://dld.bz/FJd8 @thecreativepenn

SEO and Social Networking for Writers (Who Don’t Have All Day for It): http://dld.bz/FJdv

Tips for speaking on panels: http://dld.bz/FJgu

Point of View: A Cheat Sheet: http://dld.bz/FJda

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Winner – BWW Contest http://bit.ly/he6JXm @CleoCoyle

The evolution of how @janefriedman uses Twitter: http://dld.bz/FKfZ

How Soon Do I Query Again? http://dld.bz/FJc7

Saying “I’m a Writer” – The 6 Stages of Responses from Others: http://dld.bz/FJcg

Developing Characters While Waiting in Line: http://dld.bz/FJx9 @LauraMarcella

Why it’s a good idea to promote other writers: http://dld.bz/FBVg

25 Ways To Wake Up Early (And Maybe Get Some Writing Done): http://dld.bz/FBUW

Worldbuilding: The Art of Everything: http://dld.bz/FBSF

First Vs. Third: Point of View and Character Development: http://dld.bz/FBS4

The best font for a book: http://dld.bz/FBSx

Appositives: Quick Lesson From the Style Guide: http://dld.bz/FBSu

7 Ways to Get Your Blog Posts Shared On Facebook: http://dld.bz/FBSq

The Agent’s Role in Today’s Digital Book World: http://dld.bz/FBSh

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Julie’s Favorite Salad http://bit.ly/ht9Ulh @CleoCoyle

The Making of a Novel: Courage to Tell Your Best Story: http://dld.bz/FB8K

26 Tips to Enhance Your Experience on LinkedIn: http://dld.bz/FB8h

Maintaining Your Sanity and Your Blog: http://dld.bz/FB8c

Signs of a bad writing day: http://dld.bz/F8cu @elspethwrites

Smart Self-Publishing: How to Get Published Without Getting Scammed (Huff Post): http://dld.bz/FBsd

Tips for radio and print interviews for writers: http://dld.bz/F8k3

How To Avoid Preachy Writing: http://dld.bz/F8km

Intern Tips: The Query Edition: http://dld.bz/F8kh

5 Mistakes to End Your Freelance Career: http://dld.bz/F8jN

Are These Filter Words Weakening Your Fiction? http://dld.bz/F8j7

Thanks to @SGRedling & wkee.com for my radio interview! Streaming live Fri. at 8:35 EST, if you’d like to tune in.

Why you should consider guest blogging: http://dld.bz/F8ju

The Greatest Challenge Agents Will Face: Standardization of Terms: http://dld.bz/F8hQ

Got an idea for a book? Let it stew: http://dld.bz/F6Yt

Why Writers Persevere In the Face of Doubt: http://dld.bz/F8kM @storiestorm

Taking The Emo Out of Emoticon: http://dld.bz/F6Yn

Putting Critiques to Good Use: http://dld.bz/F6Yg

RT @thecreativepenn Writing Mysteries With Elizabeth Spann Craig http://bit.ly/eg1Jdd

7 Myths About Freelance Writing Online– http://dld.bz/FxA4

How One Writer Became a Twitter Freak in Less than a Week: http://t.co/0kBnRxK @jhansenwrites

How to speak publisher – B is for Blad: http://dld.bz/FxAz

How to Write a Readable Writing Blog: http://dld.bz/FxAn

8 Ways To Convey a Professional Image When You Work from Home: http://dld.bz/FxAg

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Let’s hear it for LIBRARIANS!!! http://bit.ly/gfYxta @CleoCoyle

How Spell Check CAN Be Helpful When Proofreading: http://dld.bz/FxAb

The Neil Gaiman Master Class in Writing–Openings: http://dld.bz/Fx8D @WritingAgain

Should Writers Complain Publicly About Hardships? http://dld.bz/FxzR

Writing from the Garret: The Joys and Dangers of Readership: http://dld.bz/Fxz8

Gotten stuck? Try the good vs. evil trick for getting unstuck: http://dld.bz/F3dM @SGRedling

Resist the urge to explain: http://dld.bz/Fxzn

Low Paying Freelance Writing Gigs: Jump Off That Train, Quick!: http://dld.bz/FxyF

Can You Launch Your Book Without Losing Friends, Family, or Your Mind? http://dld.bz/Fxyj

Tips for starting out with your writing blog (or improving it): http://dld.bz/Fxuh

Want to write a mystery? My tips, from my interview with @thecreativepenn : http://dld.bz/FxwH

Formatting your manuscript – the silent scream: http://dld.bz/FxtU

7 Common Homonymic Spelling Errors: http://dld.bz/FxtF

How to let a scene write itself: http://dld.bz/FrRH @jammer0501

The 7 Secrets of an Indie Editor: http://dld.bz/FrR8

Thinking of pitching a non-fiction book? 5 questions to ask yourself: http://dld.bz/FxBp @JanetBoyer

Social Media and the Myth of the Master: http://dld.bz/FrRh @TAOXproductions

Plotting for Your Antagonist: http://dld.bz/FrR6

Tips for planning a writing convention: http://dld.bz/FrR3

50 Things to Tweet About: http://dld.bz/FjPw

A post on writing for trade magazines: http://dld.bz/FjPr

What Books Topped Bestseller Lists the Week You Were Born? http://dld.bz/FjPe

Are Publishers Becoming Technology Companies? http://dld.bz/FjNV

Got ISSN? http://dld.bz/FjN3

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Rice Pileau (Also Pilau. And Perlo. And Pilaf…) http://bit.ly/hSFdCV @CleoCoyle

Writing milestones–editing: http://dld.bz/FjNh

9 Types of Listeners’ Responses – on Twitter and Everywhere Else: http://dld.bz/FjGx

Is Your Setting Helping Or Hurting? 3 Tips To Bring It Alive: http://dld.bz/FrSq @AmieKaufman

Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu…Who Knew?: Words Without Borders’ Surprise Hit: http://dld.bz/FjJ7

10 reasons one writer doesn’t share early drafts: http://dld.bz/FrNv @elspethwrites

How one writer approached self-publishing: http://dld.bz/FjMT

Reading Writers’ Houses: http://dld.bz/FjKV

Thoughts on changing editors: http://dld.bz/FjMx

How using lists can help you write your book: http://dld.bz/FjMg

Turn Social Networking into Character Development: http://dld.bz/FjK8

10 signs you’re a published writer: http://dld.bz/FjJX

Equipping yourself to write–4 tips: http://dld.bz/FkzA @camillelaguire

Interactive fiction in the ebook era (Guardian): http://dld.bz/FjJ4

An editor answers questions about whether you can mention celebrities, lyrics, etc, in your book: http://dld.bz/FjHR

Vital Secondary Characters: http://dld.bz/FjFZ

Does your writing echo? Tips for eliminating repetition in your writing: http://dld.bz/Ffqk @jhansenwrites

Developing Your Unique Writing Voice: http://dld.bz/Fe7v

How to Dish Out Backstory in Digestible Bites: http://dld.bz/Fe7u

I don’t usually tweet classes, but will now: http://dld.bz/Fkwy Took it in ’09 & credit it for my blog & Twitter success. @blogbooktours

How to get ideas for stories – be gullible: http://dld.bz/Fe7g

The 2 Ways Writing Keeps You Off the Streets & Out of the Bars: http://dld.bz/Fe4Z

Electronic cover letters: http://dld.bz/Fe6h and http://dld.bz/Fe6j

12 Email Marketing Mistakes To Avoid: http://dld.bz/Fe63

Should You Consider a Small Publisher? Part I: http://dld.bz/Fe8j

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Cleo Coyle’s Most Useful (and Useless) Kitchen Gadgets and the Perfect Hot Dog http://bit.ly/i40kBA @CleoCoyle

One mother’s writing habits: http://dld.bz/EZTM

Why the popularity of the Kindle means that writers need stronger beginnings to their books: http://dld.bz/EZnY @hartjohnson

Realistic, challenging writing goals: http://dld.bz/EZUc

Need writing resources? An impressive list of links for your writer’s toolbox: http://t.co/4IzJWvj @jhansenwrites

The power of positivity: http://dld.bz/EZTA

Ideas vs execution: http://dld.bz/EZT4

On critiquing–pros and cons for when to offer constructive criticism: http://dld.bz/FeAC

5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary: http://dld.bz/EZTv

Is the Query System Dying? http://dld.bz/EZTs

Three Tips To Writing A Better Book Proposal: http://dld.bz/EZSG

Keeping It Readable: How Not to Write Dialogue Like Mark Twain: http://dld.bz/EZSD

The ABCs of character development: http://dld.bz/EZSC

Starting a book with the protagonist vs starting a book with a circumstance: http://dld.bz/EZS3

Building relationships with blogging: http://dld.bz/EZSw

A Twitter Case Study of an Author Brand: http://dld.bz/EZSh

Word formatting 101: http://dld.bz/EZkN @authorterryo

10 Tips for Your New eBook Reader: http://dld.bz/EWhs

Using Your Premise to Create Plot: http://dld.bz/EWhe

14 Lies We Tell Ourselves about Writing: http://dld.bz/EWhd

Recommendations for Debut Authors: http://dld.bz/EWgG

Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 1/7/11): http://dld.bz/EWfJ

If You’re Watching The Clock, You Ain’t Really Writin’: http://dld.bz/EWeB

Are You Using “There” as a Crutch? http://dld.bz/EWef

Top Reasons People Won’t Read Your Blog: http://dld.bz/EJk3

The Contradictory Nature of Great Fiction: http://dld.bz/EJkq

The journey of the eBook (slideshow): http://dld.bz/EJjN

Five Favorite Love Stories and Why They Work: http://dld.bz/EJjH

How POV Can Solve Your Writing Troubles: http://dld.bz/EJjB

Fiction editing checklist: http://dld.bz/EJj5

17 Killer Writing Tips for an Internet Audience: http://dld.bz/EJhM

How to Exhibit at Book Industry Tradeshows: http://dld.bz/EJgm

Signs you are Query Worthy: http://dld.bz/EJge

Reasons not to be afraid of reading while you write: http://dld.bz/EJfv

The First Day of the Rest of Your Life: http://dld.bz/EJfa

Avoid Capital Offenses When Using Job Titles: http://dld.bz/EJeR

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Welcome Guest Blogger Lois Winston! http://bit.ly/ijygVK @CleoCoyle

Style blunders in fiction: http://dld.bz/EJeN

Backlinking bootcamp (learning how to use backlinks effectively on your blog): http://dld.bz/EJdQ

Creating unforgettable settings: http://dld.bz/EJd4

Should we finish writing a bad book? http://dld.bz/EJcY

10 of the best explosions in history (Guardian): http://dld.bz/EEEW

I have a neighbor who is interested in my writing and frequently asks me questions about it. She’s from South America and expresses herself in refreshing ways sometimes.

One day this week she called me on the phone around lunch to ask me something about our girls’ drama class. “Elizabeth,” she said, “I’m sorry to have to call you! Did you have the inspirations and I am interrupting them?”

Sadly, no. I was actually writing when she called, but I was definitely not having the inspirations. Being on a schedule, though, means writing every day—and not just when I’m inspired. The story comes out just as easily, even when the muse is silent. But the words don’t sparkle as much.

I’ve gotten over the lack of sparkle in the uninspired days because I know I can add the sparkle later, in revisions.

The sparkle to me in a book is the feeling I get when reading it that the author was enthusiastic. And, maybe, that the characters themselves are enthusiastic and vibrant as they face whatever challenge they’re up against.

Sometimes it’s hard to put my finger on exactly what makes for sparkle. But this is what I’ve been able to find that helps:

Strong verbs—Usually they show instead of tell. And sometimes if you look for ‘to be’ verbs like is, was, been, you can find passive construction that could be written stronger.

Vivid imagery— adjectives that go the extra mile (using all the senses.) Words that add texture.

Clever metaphors and similes. Just a dash. Too many and I tend to see the puppet’s strings.

Precise nouns—Try not to overuse pronouns. And name things—”the diner” is Bo’s Diner. “The chair” could be a rocking chair, an armchair, or a recliner.

Varied sentence structure—Something a little different than a subject-verb start. And both short and long sentences.

Characters that are animated instead of stagnant. And that can be both literally animated—they’re in motion—or that their speech is lively.

What do you do to bring the sparkle back to your writing?

Panels are usually pretty easy, even for those of us who aren’t crazy about public speaking. Usually you’re seated (and frequently behind a table.) You’ll need to remember to bring a book and a plate stand to put the book on (or else prop the book up with a couple of other books.) Bring water, just in case they don’t provide it…my mouth gets dry when I’m nervous.

I’m an early bird anyway, but I always try to arrive at a panel especially early. That way I’ve got a chance to put my promo things out on the special table they’ve usually got out, find out how the venue is handling book sales (is there a volunteer from Friends of the Library helping? Is there a bookstore that has a table and is selling them? Am I responsible for selling my own books?) I always bring lots of ones and fives in case I need to make change…just in case.

Arriving early also means that I have a chance to get acquainted with the audio equipment, find out where I’ll be sitting, and greet and speak to attendees as they come in (which, although I’m introverted, makes me less nervous about speaking to a roomful of people.)

Occasionally, I’ve had to apologize and ask the panel moderator to repeat a question. Either I won’t hear the question or the author who answered it before me got off track and rambled and I forgot the question. It’s better than making up my own question to answer and not having it be germane.

If you’re stumped by the question or need an extra minute to consider your answer, then you can always ask the question to be repeated to give yourself extra time.

There are a couple of things that I’ve noticed are considered bad etiquette on panels. If you’ve written seven or eight books? That’s terrific, but don’t put them all on display in front of you. Other authors get irked. Usually the venue has a table along the conference room wall where you can display books, bookmarks, etc. Pick your last couple of releases.

Also, watch your time when you’re speaking. Sometimes authors get overly-enthusiastic and the audience warms to them and they tend to get verbose. This cuts into everyone’s time and makes the other authors think unkind thoughts. This can be dangerous when the other authors write murder mysteries. :)

Sometimes panelists look like they’re zoning, I’ve noticed. I think it’s a good idea to at least look like you’re attentive when another panelist is talking, even if you’re planning what you’re going to say.

Consider limiting the number of times you give the name of your book during the panel. Some folks tend to get a little carried away.

Depending on the panel, you might want to contact the panel moderator and offer to send him or her a bio, and even a copy of your book ahead of time.

Practice summing up your book in a few, interesting but pithy sentences. Prepare for common questions like “are you anything like your protagonist?” “What’s your writing process like?” and “What are you working on now?”

It’s nice to write a note to the moderator or the event organizer to thank them for the appearance.

Although I’m not someone who enjoys in-person appearances, panels are my favorite public speaking venue.

I know I’ve got some panelists out there…and moderators, too! Any additional tips?