I’m in California this week and Lita’s back in New Hampshire. I brought a manuscript that Lita’s been working on, to see if I can read it carefully and identify any problems. I’ve been reading this particular ms so often that it feels like I’m self-editing. And self-editing is no easy task.
I’ve also been reading The Artful Edit by Susan Bell on this trip and it has some good advice about two different views of editing: macro editing and micro editing. My basic process is to read through the manuscript while concentrating on just one of the aspects on the following macro editing list:
- Intention - why do you want this piece of writing to live?
- Character - are they palpable (real, true) and credible (reliable, believable). Each character should have a motive that is clear in your mind. It’s not always necessary to outwardly reveal that motive in the writing, but it should be consistently hinted at.
- Structure - rhythm, tension, arc - are there gaps, lags, did you kill the tension too soon.
- Foreshadowing - page turn quality
- Theme - what are the symbols (leitmotiv) that bring the reader back to your central theme or intentions. Are these appropriate? Are they patterned into the story?
- Continuity of Tone - Are the tone, atmosphere and characters coherent?
I’m naturally more of a micro editor. I’ll talk about the micro view next time.
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