Editing - First Steps

Hello everyone!

LOOOOOONG ago, I said I'd post some info on many of the steps I take when editing a book. With Treasure & Treachery just being released, I figured it was a good time to get started. :)

First steps are pretty obvious.

Step 1 - I read through the entire book and check for inconsistencies, open-ended clues, closure. For example, if I have indicated a date or how long ago something happened then reference it later in the book, did I use the same time frame?

Step 2 - I check for spelling errors.

After these two steps, I start to dig a little deeper.

Step 3 - I write my books in a program called Scrivener. One of the things it allows me to do is check the word frequency - total words and how many times I said each one. No doubt Microsoft Word and other programs do the same thing.

I look for words that I used too much. High count words need to be reduced, either by using a different word or removing it altogether.

For example, when I wrote #HuntedLives, I used 'very' almost 2000 times. Now, in a book with 61,000 words, 2000 doesn't seem like a lot. However, that depends on where 'very' was used.

So beginning on page 1, I search for 'very' (then the next one and the next one, until I've stepped through the entire book). I review each one. Do I leave it in, change the word, or just remove it?

As I'm searching for the word, I also check how frequently it's used on the same page. If I've used it 3 times in 2 consecutive paragraphs, for example, then I definitely need to change or remove at least 2 of them.

The second part of this step involves adverbs. I look for adverbs in the word frequency list. Even if the count seems low, maybe I've said 'rapidly' only 200 times, there are stronger words that I could use or the word could just be deleted.

Samples of adverbs - finally, certainly, lovely, frequently, normally, usually, previously, loudly, easily, quickly, rapidly, barely, especially, extremely. There are tons more, of course, but this gives you an idea.

The reason it's important to reduce high count words, including adverbs, is that the reader will notice when a word is over-used. You wouldn't think so but they do...and it gets annoying for them.

So while this may seem time-consuming (and it is), it's important to do. It's also fun. (Am I nuts or what?)

The good news is I've discovered that I use these types of words less with each subsequent book. I hardly ever use 'very' anymore. The same goes for other high count words.

Tune in tomorrow. I'll move on to words and phrases that 'tell' instead of 'show' (and I'll explain the importance of showing instead of telling).

Happy Editing!