David Weller Author Blogspot

The problem with editing your work on screen is that you can become blind to errors. The more times you read something, the less you notice these things. This is because when we become familiar with our own work we tend to read for gist rather than detail. Even running your work through the spelling and grammar check on Word won’t pick up everything. When my editor read through my MS, she highlighted things like a missing t on the word thought and the omission of the odd speech mark or full stop. All very simple fixes if you notice them. I read somewhere that it is much easier to find errors by proofreading a hard copy. Given the expenditure in paper and printing ink most of us are reluctant to do this. However, now that I’ve experimented with this method, I can attest to its value. Things which I’d become oblivious to on screen stood out like a sore thumb on paper. 

Chapter Seven didn’t require too much attention. There were a few instances of missing commas, and the use of a cliché as discussed in the previous post. Chapters Six and Seven were both fairly short and, as I didn’t feel the end of Chapter Six was dramatic enough, I combined them. I made a small addition to Chapter Eight. In the original draft I wrote: Les Brown rummaged through the scrap. ‘This is worth buying,’ he said to Hugo with enthusiasm. My editor wrote, “What sort of stuff tells us more about the world.” After I’d kicked myself for not doing so, I thought about how this should be accomplished. Describing it in this particular scene wouldn’t have had much impact. However, something the MC learned about in the previous chapter would tie in nicely. Just before the cliffhanger at the end of the chapter, I added another small scene as follows: As they headed for home across the Green, two boys from the smithy arrived pushing a hand cart. Les pointed at a pi...

Chapter Six has required the least work so far. My editor highlighted a paragraph of text which was telling. Revisions to Chapter Five enabled me to delete this. Further into the chapter I wrote “Now as it loomed before her it took on a more intimate form. Soon, every joint, crack and knot in the wood became apparent.” My editor wrote “Describe it then.” I felt a lengthy description would slow the pace and what I’d written gave the reader enough to imagine the rest. Until I can get my head round this one, I’ll leave it as written. On the second to last page I wrote “She had been guilt ridden ever since.” My editor wrote “Really, that’s the first we’ve heard of it.” In this case my editor was absolutely right. The problem resulted because I’d cut some text in Chapter Two which I thought was OTT. Once this was reinstated (see my post entitled Waste Not Want Not) my editor’s comment became redundant. 

In an earlier post I mentioned that I’d turned a short reference into a full scene. My editor had written “This could be a fun, tense scene – let’s have more.” Whilst considering the matter, I realised it provided an opportunity to deal with another issue. In her report, my editor had criticised the MC for being an unreliable narrator. She recognised that my MC distrusts the motives of a minor character. However, she pointed out that none of her behaviour supports the MC’s view. Although there is an example of unreasonable behaviour in Chapter Ten, it probably didn’t stand out enough.  The minor character is putting on an act to convince others to give her something she wants. The MC knows this, but the reader wouldn’t by her actions. I decided to show the minor character in her true colours away from those she is trying to impress. To achieve this I showed her being mean in Chapter One. I also rewrote the scene in Chapter Ten. In a later revision I cut the scene I'd...

Plotting a novel can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there are plenty of experts willing to share their knowledge with the rest of us. One of the best is Martha Alderson. She’s a charming lady from California and is known as the Plot Whisperer. In addition to several books she’s written on the subject, she has also created a series of videos which can be viewed on You Tube. 

I wrote the first draft in 1 st person present tense in order to get closer to the MC. I then changed it back to 3 rd person past. Anything the MC didn’t actually witness was related to her by another character. This was a mistake. I should have chosen the most important character present and written the scene viewed through their eyes. This would have avoided some telling writing. At the end of Chapter Four the MC is informed that her nearest and dearest have been arrested. She then rushes off at the beginning of Chapter Five to find out why. In my rewrite, I deleted the end of Chapter Four and wrote a brand new scene to begin Chapter Five. This new scene shows the events leading up to the arrest. The second scene shows her turning up at the jail to try and get them out. The result is a vast improvement on the original draft. Other things I did to improve Chapter Four: ·          I sorted out the formatting. ·    ...

In Chapter Ten someone needs to be sacrificed. I’d already doomed the MC’s best friend in Chapter Two and needed another victim. I came up with a minor character, readers could learn to hate. She makes regular appearances in scene to further this particular plot line. In Chapter Four I was compressing time as I moved from one major event to another. I made a brief mention of a visit this character made to the MC’s home and how the MC felt about it. My editor suggested this would make a good scene. At first I was sceptical. After all, it would only be about the minor character snooping around the MC’s home. What I thought would be boring has turned out to be just the opposite. It just goes to prove that even the most trivial situations can add a touch of drama. That’s one more reason to get a good editor to read through your work.

I wrote a bad query letter and received a request for a partial. I then wrote an even better one and got no reply. What makes a good query letter? If anyone knows the secret, I’d be glad to learn what it is. Your comments are welcome.

Chapter Two required far less rewriting than the first. The main aim was to enhance what I already had. Here is a summary of what I did to improve it. I reinstated a paragraph of text I’d cut out. I changed a reference to something into a full scene. I added further detail to make one scene more interesting. I changed the odd word here and there. Chapter Three remains much the same as I originally wrote it.  The main changes to the first draft include the omission of some unnecessary text. I brought the MC into one scene at an earlier stage. I tidied up some of the dialogue tags. I changed the odd word here and there.

This book is part of a trilogy and leaves some questions unanswered. In Chapter Two I made reference to an annual event. The inhabitants of my world know this occurs because they see the end result. However, they don’t know how it happens. When my editor saw this she saw it as a missed opportunity for a really compelling scene. She suggested that my MC and her significant others could sneak out of the house to find out. I could just dismiss the comment, knowing that this would be revealed in a sequel. When I looked at my notes, I decided it would not be detrimental for the reader to learn this now. . It would be inappropriate for this secret to become common knowledge to the inhabitants of my world. Fortunately for me, something happened to the MC’s best friend at the beginning of the chapter which provides a pretext for the MC to ignore the curfew. She hasn’t left the house with the intention of discovering the secret but she stumbles across it. However, because of the r...

Sometimes it becomes necessary to cut a sentence, a paragraph or even a whole chapter. I used to agonise over getting rid of material which I thought wasn’t working. Then I had a Baldric Moment and came up with a cunning plan. I created a word document to hold all those little gems I’d spent hours crafting and polishing. When I was editing Chapter Two, I thought one piece of text was a bit OTT and cut it out. When my editor read this particular passage she wrote on my MS, ‘Doesn’t she care about her best friend?’ This is one of those times when I’m glad I save instead of delete. After a quick cut and paste job the passage now resembles something my editor would approve of.

Here is a summary of what I did to improve Chapter One: Experimented with different starting points until I found one I liked. Wrote a brand new first scene to add more tension and drama. Deleted the whole of the second scene because it did nothing to advance the plot. Added extra detail to the character descriptions and actions to give a better sense of who they are. Added further incidents to the final scene to give it more oomph. I am quite pleased with the results. Well, at least for now.

A novel's first five pages can make or break it. If those don't grab the reader, it doesn't matter how good the rest is. I wanted to create a sense of mystery with my opening scene which would raise questions in the reader's mind. It certainly did that but lacked tension and drama. I'd read somewhere that experimenting with different starting points can help. The revised opening now plunges the MC into a situation packed with tension and drama, yet still retains the sense of mystery I wanted to achieve.

'Show don't tell' is probably the first piece of advice that new writers come across. Using dialogue can show rather than tell. It also builds tension and drama, reveals character in what is, or isn't, said and creates white space on the page. However, here's a word of caution. Don't put exposition in dialogue (having the characters tell each other things they should logically know.) This is referred to as exposition disguised as dialogue and is considered telling. If you commit this sin, as I did, your editor WILL NOT draw a little smiley face on your MS.

When I completed my MS I was in no doubt that I had a good story with an interesting premise. However I knew something was lacking and was so close to my own work I couldn't see what it was.Over the past few days I have read the editorial report in conjunction with the annotated MS my editor returned to me. I can see that I missed quite a few opportunities for some really tense drama. Now the blinkers are off and I am raring to go again.

A comma is a bit like a bidet. I recognise one when I see it but am not always sure how to use it.

I have received the hard copy of my manuscript back from my editor. If she started work with a new pencil it's little more than a stub now. Just as well I enjoy making revisions or I might be tempted to take up knitting instead.

It's less than 24 hours since I posted my first blog and I've already had 82 views.Thanks for looking in. I completed the first draft of my MS a few months ago and edited it until I could no longer see the wood for the trees. It was at this point I decided to enlist the help of a literary consultant. Well, the report dropped into my mailbox today. There were lots of nice comments but there are many things which need to be fixed before this book finds its way into print. I'll keep you posted.

My name is David Weller and I am the author of fiction for YA and MG readers. I hope you will follow my journey as I progress from first draft to final publication.