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donasbooks's review against another edition
5.0
To sum this text up, SELF-EDITING is an efficient, organized process for correcting and beautifying your manuscripts, to ready them for the publishing markets. How I ended up using this book after reading it was that I turned each chapter-end checklist into editing note cards that I then applied, step by step, to every manuscript I sent out to journals. I find this book's subtitle funny-- How to Edit Yourself Into Print-- because in using this book-turned-editing-note-cards, that's exactly what happened with my efforts. I went from piling up the rejections, to starting to see some paid acceptances. No, getting a story in the Saturday Evening Post doesn't make me anything fancy. But any writer will tell you, the first sales matter.
My endorsement of this text does not in any way mean that I suggest you shouldn't hire an editor at any time during your writing process. Editors can be incredibly helpful to writers of all kinds. In fact, as an editor with a graduate degree in English and Creative Writing who works for writers who would like to hire me for editing, I think it's safe to say I see the merits of both self-editing and hiring out your editing work.
Finished 2020
Recommended for professional prose writers, especially short fiction writers
My endorsement of this text does not in any way mean that I suggest you shouldn't hire an editor at any time during your writing process. Editors can be incredibly helpful to writers of all kinds. In fact, as an editor with a graduate degree in English and Creative Writing who works for writers who would like to hire me for editing, I think it's safe to say I see the merits of both self-editing and hiring out your editing work.
Finished 2020
Recommended for professional prose writers, especially short fiction writers
atmorrell's review against another edition
This is one of the best books on the craft of writing I've ever read. These editors take the everyday advice you think you know--such as "show not tell" and the like--and drive home specific techniques in order to achieve amazing results. This book is like a toolbox that I know I'll be returning to again and again over the course of my writing. Some phrases that I've leaned on or used without thinking turned out to be amateurish, and I had no idea. This book is revolutionary to my style, and I know my copy will be well-worn and well-loved over the years.
tusenord's review against another edition
1.0
Even though I think there's a need for a book that explains the basic "how-to's" for beginner writers, this book had too many good "bad examples" and too many bad "good examples" to be objective. The authors seem to have their own fixed way of seeing good writing without making room for the stylistic variations that occur between genres. The give no leeway for different tastes either, and I'm afraid they'll force many new writers into boxed-in space. They do state that the old version of this book has caused just that, but unfortunately I feel they have not removed the authoritative voice - the "we have all the truths" view on writing - and therefore they will keep teaching writers the wrong way to edit. I.e. they teach writers to edit a story in a way that will make Browne and King like it. Luckily, not everyone in the world are Brownes and Kings.
In summary, the book does touch upon most problems that need to be addressed when editing but I suggest that you read their way of addressing them through sceptical glasses.
In summary, the book does touch upon most problems that need to be addressed when editing but I suggest that you read their way of addressing them through sceptical glasses.
valerieullmerauthor's review against another edition
5.0
It is a wonderful break down of how to edit your manuscripts, what to look for, and how, by example, to go about doing so. It is the most straight-forward book on editing I've come across and I highly recommend it!!
mlhelliwell's review against another edition
5.0
What a fantastic book! I think I learned more in the four days I spent reading this book than any other book I've read on writing. I feel like my eyes have been open to mistakes I was making but not quite understanding exactly what was wrong. Showing not telling, dialogue, repetition and sophistication-it is amazing how the small things but such a huge difference in your writing, and the writers of this book have done an excellent job or explaining all of these things clearly.
I'm fighting the urge to go back and revised my 1st manuscript--I want to finish my WIP first--but when I am done I am taking out this book, my highlighter and going to tear through it!
This is a must read book. Truly. I don't say that about many books period, and even about fewer writing books. If you write, pick up a copy of this book.
I'm fighting the urge to go back and revised my 1st manuscript--I want to finish my WIP first--but when I am done I am taking out this book, my highlighter and going to tear through it!
This is a must read book. Truly. I don't say that about many books period, and even about fewer writing books. If you write, pick up a copy of this book.
ehuffman's review against another edition
4.0
Each craft book I read teaches me something. This one was a lot of stuff I'd read before, plus two chapters of STUFF I DO IN MY OWN WRITING THAT I HAD NO IDEA WAS WRONG! I'm so embarrassed. Good book, though, especially helpful for revision.