Assessing Your Manuscript | How to Edit a Book #1

[@lowercase_ash]

I wrote down the questions in case anyone wants to copy and paste into a word doc for future reference. I might come back later and timestamp and/or divide into sections, but yeah, for now here it is lol. Let me know if I missed one! Some might be based of what she was saying and others might be from the screen pop ups, so if there's inconsistency that's why. Hope this helps! *Editing questions* Does your main character have a goal with an internal motivation? Are there any characters that can be cut or combined? Are all the core character relationships given adequate development? Have you explored your main character’s backstory in enough detail? Does your character have internal flaws and are they challenged by the story? How does your protagonist change? Is there an inciting incident, a midpoint, and a climax? Is there too much exposition in the beginning? Does the middle lack tension or direction? Are there places where the story is convoluted and could be streamlined? Is the end built off development from the rest of the story? Are there any redundant scenes? Are there any scenes that could be combined into one? Are there any plot holes or things that don’t make sense? Places the pacing is uneven? Are there events that happen without consequence? Deus ex machinas? Continuity errors? Is there enough setting description? Are there any plot holes caused by the setting? Is the worldbuilding consistent? Too much or too little worldbuilding? Are there any contradictory thematic points? Do the events cause internal change? Are there any important ideas that aren’t being explored? POV shifts? Is the scene and chapter style consistent?

[@KauroraNoKokoro]

Thank you so much!! I was hoping someone had done this! Thanks for your hard work and sharing the list with us!

[@lowercase_ash]

@@KauroraNoKokoro you're welcome!! I honestly forgot I did this, but I hope it helps :)

[@Praveencapri]

Thanks a ton

[@azcollins9138]

Wow, right in time as I finished my first draft this week. This will be of great help!

[@authormohitchawla7694]

Getting feedback from third person is always recommendable

[@lordvaderbossofdoom3960]

Congrats!

[@talktidy7523]

I think this is the best Reedsy video I have seen in a while. Really excellent material.

[@Reedsy]

Happy it helped!

[@relax10x18]

Sending relaxing vibes to everyone reading this comment❤️☁️🌹🌸🍀🌥️🏞️🏞️🏞️⛈️⛈️🥀🥀🌥️🌥️🌍⛅🌤️🌤️🌤️🌤️🌤️🌻🌼🌼🌊🌦️💜💜💮💮🌍⛅🏵️🌩️🌩️🌼🌺🌺🌏🌨️💧🌤️🌻🍂🍂🌧️🌲🌲🌨️

[@lorenarcp]

That's great timing, I'm about to finish my first draft!

[@cathleenlewis3334]

Excellent, thanks. Ngā mihi nui from Aotearoa-New Zealand 🇳🇿 💕🤗

[@adamjscholte583]

Love your vid. I usually walk away from my novel for a week before editing, and I read it out aloud to see if it flows and makes sense.

[@hatezis]

Thank you :) I'm in this stage right now, so any tip, motivation or inspiration is very very useful

[@jaceyquinn2180]

I just want to say that YOU GOT THIS!!! Also, I would recommend having a few people look over it, just to have a second and third opinion.

[@ludwigvanel9192]

I'm in the first edit of my debut! So good timing, thank you. Os, uploading to my ereader requires an epub, not pdf. Yay Calibre!

[@thegmanviews11]

Can't afford an editor and feeling like I'm not doing well at self editing so this is awesome!! Thank you so much!!!!

[@ludwigvanel9192]

"redundant scenes" this is easily detectable/avoidable during the planning etage/writing the 1st draft Keep this tight, to save time and efofrt editing

[@milestrombley1466]

Outlining and planning is good for story development.

[@onenof10]

As long as it fits your writing style. If outlining doesn’t work for you that’s fine, find the same shapes of your story after you discovery write your first draft.

[@slevinchannel7589]

Mind that fields overlap though! Not to mention analyzing those that have done it horribly wrong is also not only entertaining to watch Reviews and/or Rants. Onisions Books or Mulan 2020, whichever one: It can teach you stuff. If you wanna become better, watch some Reviews.

[@abhishekbiswas2267]

You know, I just realized after jotting entire plot down that I had actually forgotten to add a primary challenge to my prime protagonist 😐😑😶

[@Nishi-Tiwari]

I love Reedsy 🙏

[@ventusvanitas7544]

Any tips and advices for writing comics and graphic novels?

[@Reedsy]

Right here! blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-graphic-novel/

[@ventusvanitas7544]

@@Reedsy oh nice, thanks

[@PhoenixCrown]

You're so right that I have a better idea of what my book is about after writing it. I've been editing it for a while, and it keeps coming further into focus. I'm hoping it's taking me longer because it's my first book... but it's actually a really fun process, helping the story unfold. Thanks for the advice! How do I join a critique group?

[@aaronjanusch6090]

I'm more worried about what genre(s) to list my book in. Is there a neo-noir or pulp-nouveau group? My book is called Rat Bastard Jack, so... lol.

[@keerthipavuluri2732]

Thank you so much ❤️

[@UnlikelyHero]

How do you know how long your book should be? I have about 100,000 words so far but the story is sort of driving itself and I could easily take it to 200,000 words but would that be too much? It is a young adult fantasy novel so I am afraid of losing the interest of my target audience by making it a huge volume. Maybe I should break this story down into a trilogy? If so, do I release the whole series at the same time or wait a few days between releases? What are your thoughts?

[@Reedsy]

Usually, for a YA fantasy novel, you wouldn't want to go much higher than 100k, ideally more in the 80k-90k range. Splitting the book into a trilogy sounds like a good option! Usually, authors wait at least a couple months (sometimes years) between books, so they have time to market each book and build an audience.

[@UnlikelyHero]

@@Reedsy Thank you for your insight!

[@pebblescarpetcat]

I here, I finished the first draft after 7+ years, and I'm takin aaaalllll the notes >:D Anyone else looked forward to editing? Or am I just a strange one...?

[@peterfalk7999]

What is your word count for a jacket pitch? thanks!

[@tamirsigal4801]

Is the hoodie that Shaelin is wearing available for sale?

[@bertiepimplebum5633]

Shaelin...Just finished reading: "How To Write Damn Good Fiction" Advanced Techniques for Dramaric Storytelling; by James N. Frey. You must have read this same book. Plenty of ace info and advice here. I'm going to try and write another short story. (UK)

[@slevinchannel7589]

Mind that fields overlap though! Not to mention analyzing those that have done it horribly wrong is also not only entertaining to watch Reviews and/or Rants. Onisions Books or Mulan 2020, whichever one: It can teach you stuff. If you wanna become better, watch some Reviews.

[@bertiepimplebum5633]

@@slevinchannel7589 ...I haven't a clue what you.mean.

[@slevinchannel7589]

Tell this to Onision.

[@jayashreechakravarthy4949]

We can all gather in one place. Speeches. Walk around in pairs or trios. Regroup. Speeches. Fin

[@shafatabadin5013]

Hi

[@shafatabadin5013]

Sup

[@avivastudios2311]

I try to make sure each of my chapters and parts count. No excess.

[@ImaginaryMdA]

So, I just went over my character sheet. Turns out I completely swapped two essential character's defining attributes midway through the story. XD

[@joanchapin6149]

Please so down your speech, more like you did this video. A lot better. Thanks!

[@cadencev5572]

Kind of sad how most of my answers to these questions are no

[@jaceyquinn2180]

Story of my lifeeeeeeew

[@rajashekharnarayan4717]

Hi Shaelin

[@sumayyahkhan8897]

Yo I beat revtrelos

[@rev6215]

Put that on ya resume 😌✌

[@write.31]

During, edits get rid of the word had and repeated word this slows the author story and bores the writing.

[@jayashreechakravarthy4949]

Abbie will edit your character type to make it succinct. Abhigel will send a reply, telling you, who you really are(mech suit, Idiot).

[@RadChannel]

Prah-cess, you're not British

[@brycesonflowers8758]

Hi