Self-Editing For Fiction Writers

This is a verbatim handout in a clinic the authors taught in 1990 in New York. Each item on

the following self-editing checklist is a deal-breaker for your blockbuster. You manuscript

likely has many of them. Buy this essential book; understand what the checklist items refer

to, and start self-editing.

 

1) SHOW(ing) AND TELL(ing): As you re-read your work, watch for places where you tell

your readers about personality traits, situations, or emotions, rather than showing them

through actions and events.

 

2) DIALOGUE DIRECTIVES: Watch like a hawk for places where you've explained your

dialog. Watch for "ly" adverbs and verbs for speech other than "said." And rethink your

paragraphing.

 

3) SEE HOW IT SOUNDS: Read a passage of dialogue, narration, or description aloud and

listen for the unconscious changes.

 

4) EASY BEATS: Beware of including either beats that describe dialogue or so many beats

that the dialogue is choppy.

 

5) INTERIOR MONOLOGUE: As with beats, make sure your interior monologue isn't

obtrusive or actually an explanation in disguise. Also, dispense with stage directions

whenever possible.

 

6) SOPHISTICATION: Watch for "as" and "-ing" constructions and change the sentences

that don't actually require these constructions.

 

7) BREAKING UP IS EASY TO DO: Break up lengthy sections of narration or descriptions

with frequent paragraphs, or with dialogue, or even with the occasional one or two line

paragraph.

 

8) POINT OF VIEW: Watch for places where you change point of view in the middle of a

scene. If the change is necessary, insert a linespace and start a new scene.

 

9) ONCE IS USUALLY ENOUGH: Look for places in which you've accomplished essentially

the same thing twice. Decide which of the two is strongest and cut the weaker phrase,

sentence, or entire scene.

 

10) VOICE: As you read over your work, highlight the passages that please you most. Then

highlight the passages that displease you and work to turn the one into the other.

 

11) PROPORTION: As ou read, ask yourself what interests you the most. Then take a look at

what's left and decide whether it's really needed.

 

12) CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONAND EXPOSITION: Don't describe your characters all at once.

Let your readers meet them slowly, naturally.

 

13) DON'T LET THEM SEE YOU SWEAT: Beware of words like "very" and "rather," strings of

adjectives, fancy imagery, overuse of italics, and exclamation points.

 

14) ELLIPSIS: Check your work for blow-by-blow descriptions and work to condense them.