As an editor, I’m sometimes startled by what I find on the pages that scroll across the screen of my laptop. Of course, that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. A second set of eyes is always a good thing when it comes to the fiction that our minds spew onto the page. As an addition to that second set of eyes, I believe that our own eyes can serve as another set of eyes if we experience the manuscript in a slightly different way.
Since I started writing, I’ve found, after a not-so-subtle suggestion from D.D. Scott, that reading your manuscript out loud is an excellent way to catch issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. After having done this with some of my own digital scribblings, I’ve become a believer.
The purpose of this post is twofold. First, to encourage you to read your work out loud, both before and after you editor looks at your manuscript.
Next, in addition to the first point, I’d like to encourage you all to read it in a particular fashion, focusing on smaller and then larger portions of the text.
Begin by reading each sentence as if it is alone on the page, focusing on each one’s structure and if it makes sense on its own. I know this sounds basic, but I can tell you that the idea of what the sentence is supposed to say and what the text may convey to a reader may not be identical. Actually, they may not end up existing in the same postal code. A reader’s confusion can arise due to their unfamiliarity with your own colloquialisms, but that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about trying to be conscious about how your words can be interpreted in a way that you hadn’t intended.
Next, read each paragraph alone to see how it fits together. When doing this, I recommend keeping an eye out for repetition. You don’t want to use the same word too many times in one paragraph or even one page.
You then move out to the page and chapter level until you have completed the whole thing.
What do you think, WG2E peeps? How do you proof your manuscripts pre and post editing? Curious Dudes want to know.
Wow! You’ve got my head spinning – good though. Some of your ideas make total sense and I’m going to try them out as I go through the editing process both pre and post with my next book. I’ve never had anyone mention anything “bad” about the readability – but you never know. I like how you break it down – focusing on smaller portions then larger portions.
Thanks Edit Dude for something new to try!
Hi, Jamie!
Thanks. Didn’t mean to make anyone’s head spin. Not my intention. Just saying.
Great tips here, Edit Dude! One thing I’d like to add is something I discovered recently that really WORKS! After a few passes at my manuscript, I download the “nearly ready” version to my Kindle. Then I read it in bed as if it were any other book. By getting into the flow of the story as a reader, I am able to easily recognize things that don’t work: clunky phrases, typos, places where a character’s eye color changes (I have no clue WHY I always change them from green to blue and back again! I do this in every dang book, lol), inconsistencies, etc. For anyone who is a voracious reader (and 99.99% of writers are), then getting into the mindset of “reader” with our books, instead of “writer” or “editor,” really helps! Then, ironically, the editor/writer hat comes back on again in a new and very efficient way. My books have become much better by adding in this extra step to the editing process.
Great post, Edit Dude!
Hi, Riley.
I love the idea of downloading the ‘nearly ready’ version onto your device. What a great way to catch problems or inconsistencies. I wasn’t aware of that feature. So glad you commented. Amazing what we learn every day if we keep our ears and eyes open!
Hi, Edit Dude,
A cool feature on the e-readers is that you can highlight or write notes to yourself, then type those changes into the final draft later. It’s a great way to edit, plus it just “feels” different when reading the draft on the device vs. a hard copy. The eye catches different things. So a combo of the two (reading the manuscript on hard copy first, then on the e-reader as a final pass) seems to work the best. At least for me, anyway!
Glad I could help.
Riley
Great advice! I’m using AutoCrit Wizard to weed out over used words. Painstaking, but worth the effort. Among a ton of other things, the program also locates sentences beginning with initial pronouns. It suggests you have no more than three per paragraph. I’m learning!
~Nancy Jill
I have read my work aloud,usually when I am on my own, for a while now. It does help a lot in finding things you don’t see when you are writing it. My other method, before I read it out loud, is to highlight every verb, and that way I do see repetition and amend it.
I love the idea of highlighting every verb! Awesome!
I’m reading a story right now that has one or two mistakes, typos, confusing sentence structure, or wrong word choice on every page or two. It makes me want to cry because the story is so good and the mistakes steal that away.
Damn.
I know that feeling all too well.
You think: Damn, what a great idea… and it’s not gonna work because………..
Thank you for today’s post. This is exactly what I’m working on right now. You’re timing couldn’t be any better!
Thanks, Michelle.
Awe, shucks. *kicks gravel at feet*
Happy this one hit a nerve for you. Wishing you the best!!
I’ve been reading out loud since 1998. That was one piece of advice that came to me early, and I still use it with everything (novels, short stories, columns, articles, etc.).
My steps in editing novels and short stories:
Publish.
Finish the story and wait a week. It needs to ripen.
1) Read through it once correcting the obvious mistakes.
2) Hunt down the passive verbs (was, were, been, etc.) and words that don’t need to be there (very, even, that) and words that trigger the wrong idea (began, begin, started).
3) Print the manuscript and read it out loud, making corrections along the way. I print the story because it’s incredible what I miss on the screen. I spot it immediately if it’s on paper.
4) Add correction to manuscript.
5) Send manuscript to editor.
6) Apply the corrections I agree on (no, I don’t take all suggestions).
7) Read it out loud one more time, double check anything that is still nagging at me (like an editor’s suggestion I didn’t use).
Sometimes I’ll print it a second time if large changes were made or the novel was years in the making, but often once is fine. This gives me a printed copy to store away for future discovery when I’m old and feeble and no electronic files I have are compatible with current gadgets. That is if I didn’t make a print copy, too, which I’m hoping I always will.
I agree: the best advice you can give someone is to read their work. Read it word by word, not reading as you see it in your head because your mouth will add those words even if they’re not on the paper.
Another thing I do with dialogue sections is to read the dialogue only, leaving out all the non-dialogue stuff. If you can get a second person to read with you, taking on the role of one of the characters, it helps you to see if the dialogue makes sense, is smooth and engaging. I’ve done this and it certainly is helpful.
This is an entertaining blog. But I’m looking for a group that likes to talk about building e-books using software packages like: MobiPocket Creator, Sigil, and Calibre. I want to take part in discussions about the wonders of GIMP and Inkscape. Can someone point me in the right direction (please). Alan dot J dot White at msn dot com Have A Nice Day!
I’ve been told about this but I guess I’ve ignored it. There are so many other passes I make on the book, each geared to catch specific problems. Adding another pass like this one is daunting but probably worth it.