Published by Self Published on December 26, 2020
Format: eBook
Source: Author
Pages: 135
Amazon UK
Goodreads
Before it’s time to check for commas and iron out passive voice, fiction writers need to know that their story is strong. Are your beta readers not finishing? Do they have multiple, conflicting complaints? When you ask them questions about how they experience your story, do they give lukewarm responses? Or have you not even asked anyone to read your story, wondering if it’s ready?
If any of the above is true, you may need to refine the structure of your story. What is structure you ask? Structure is what holds a story together. Does the character arc entrance the reader? Is the world building comprehensive and believable? These questions and more have to be answered by all of us as we turn our drafts into books.
In this concise handbook, complete with checklists for each section, let a veteran writer walk you through the process of self-assessing your novel, from characters to pacing with lots of compassion and a dash of humor. In easy to follow directions and using adaptable strategies, she shows you how to check yourself for plot holes, settle timeline confusion, and snap character arcs into place.
Use this handbook for quick help and quick self-editing checklists on:
- Characters and Character Arcs.- Plot.- Backstory .- Point of View.- A detailed explanation of nearly free self-editing tools and how to apply them to your book to find your own structural problems.- Beginnings and Ends.- Editing for sensitive and specialized subject matter.- Helpful tips on choosing beta readers, when to seek an editor, and a sample questionnaire to give to your first readers.
Grab your copy of Edit Your Novel’s Structure today! Now is the time to finish that draft and get your story out into the world.
I agreed to do the tour for this as I wanted to learn more about editing a book. Not only because I am 24,000 words into my book, which probably won’t see the light of day, but because I am interested to see what editors and authors have to go through to get to the final polish of their book.
Not all the sections I felt were relevant to me, but I still read them soaking up the information. This is definitely something you can flick back and forth to and I have already picked up a lot of information and some tips which I can’t wait to apply to my book when I get the time.
The author provides links to external sources and further reading material which I will be checking out. It has made me think more about the setting, timelines (which I had to check with mine) and character-building too. The checklists were also handy and I think this might be my pocket friend for a long time until I have the confidence to go somewhere with it.
I loved the references to other books and tv shows to help explain points and for a reader, it was interesting to read to see what authors/editors go through to get us that final book. Plus it has made me want to read her books too!!!
Think this will be my friend for a while! Thank you!
Until next time xxx
Thank you so much to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the tour invite and the author for a copy of this book in return for my honest and unbiased review
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
nickimags @ Secret Library Book Blog says
Fab review lovely sounds really interesting and helpful! xx
Janet MacLeod Trotter says
Very good summary of a useful-sounding text book. Good luck with your writing Zoe! x
Zoé says
Thanks Janet, I found it very helpful. Thank yuo, I need to get cracking on it again x