Editing Suggestions Have Started!

Last night, I received some editing notes from a subscriber.  Since they were on all three of the first three chapters (instead of being on just one of the chapters as we had originally planned when the experiment was devised) I expect that it will take me about a week to implement all of the changes.  As soon as the changes are complete, I will post them along with Chapter Four.  I think that I need to hold off on posting Chapter Four, as the editing of Chapters 1-3 may effect content of Chapter Four.

Some of these suggestions include:
1.   Posting chapters in "published" form,  instead of in "proofreading" form (posting them in single-spaced justified instead of double-spaced left-aligned).  The idea with this suggestion is that we want it to look as much like a full eBook as possible, to give subscribers more of a feel of how it will look in print.  I agree with this one COMPLETELY.  I don't know why it never occurred to me, I've made notes in eBooks that I am reading before, I know that I don't need it double-spaced.  I don't expect subscribers to print the work out and edit by hand, you can just as easily make notes in your Kindle.

2.   Shorter paragraphs.  This one is difficult for me.  I do agree with it, for the most part, but I still have article-itis on this one.  As a kid, I was trained that paragraphs need to be at least five sentences long, with a topic sentence, the meat, and a closing sentence.  I know that it doesn't apply to fiction, but I think that I naturally do this when I write, even when I try not to, thereby giving out paragraphs that are too long for fiction.  And this is not the first editor who has told me this.  Nor is it the first work that has had this problem.

3.   More dialog, less inner monologue (show, don't tell).  I'm not 100% sure that I agree with this one completely.  As an overall rule, it's excellent advice.  Unfortunately, I am a very internal monologue kind of girl.  I have whole conversations with myself and others that most people are unaware of, because they are either internal monologue or internal dialog (that's right, don't tick me off, or I make you sound like a complete moron when we are arguing in my head).  So, I need to read through the book to see if Katy is that kind of girl or if I need to increase action and dialogue.

The third option is the one that I expect to take an entire week to work on.  I need to read the entire novel, and decide where this change would be appropriate, and where it would not be.  During this wait, I would love to hear your opinions on these suggested changes, as well as any other changes that you suggest.  I would also love for you to send suggestions of how you would like to see suggestion #3, if you feel it appropriate.

While you are waiting, I am implementing change #1.  I will post the single-spaced, justified copy of Chapters 1-3 today, so that you can get an idea of what the book would look like in its published format.  I will work on making the other changes over the next week.

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Christy Parker is the author of three blogs:  Ruminations from and Unkempt Mind, Learn to Crochet - In Minutes a Day, and You Be the Editor.

For comments, questions, notes or suggestions; Mrs. Parker can be reached in the blog specific forums on the product information pages listed above or via email at unkemptruminations@comcast.net.