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Q&A

Posts tagged editing

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Q&A Should one invest in a professional editor before querying?

Let's say you have completed a novel. Since you're not totally naive, you have also complete a few drafts, where with "few" I mean at least more than two. You are at a point that your book seems ...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Liquid‭  ·  last activity 10d ago by Monica Cellio‭

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Q&A How do I know when I should rewrite vs. editing my first chapter

A little context for my question... A long time a go, I started writing little vignettes for a character I was playing in an RPG group. The vignettes ended up joining up and becoming sort of a ba...

3 answers  ·  posted 9mo ago by pureferret ‭  ·  last activity 1mo ago by Michael‭

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Q&A How can I catch more errors when I proofread?

I have a problem where I often proof my own writing and I don't catch all the errors while I am reading through it. I often miss entire words out of sentences or find myself repeating words. I can ...

9 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Joel Rodgers‭  ·  last activity 2y ago by ArtOfCode‭

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Q&A Text Editors. Suggesting & Tracking Changes to Plain-Text Documents

Many word processors are capable to tracking and displaying changes made to a document. Those changes are typically displayed in special markup supported by the editor. E.g. But when using a pla...

5 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Robert Cartaino‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by celtschk‭

Question editing revision
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Q&A Help! Editing Tips? [closed]

Hey, I'm having trouble editing my book. I have a crime novella but I can't edit that well. Does anyone have any tips to help? Thanks! ~Rosewood

0 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Rosewood‭  ·  closed 3y ago by Monica Cellio‭

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Q&A How do you avoid the problem of a collaborative work having separate voices?

I've not done collaborative writing before, but I've read several works, and sometimes the text strikes me as having a split personality: some parts were clearly written by one author, while others...

3 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Craig Sefton‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Monica Cellio‭

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Q&A How to keep track of worthwhile snippets from discovery writing, which don't work where they were first written?

Sometimes, when I write, I find myself writing down a path that ends up not leading at all where I wanted to go with what I was writing. That's to be expected when discovery-writing. Depending on t...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Canina‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Mark Baker‭

Question editing
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Q&A How can I shorten a piece of writing effectively? [duplicate]

I always face the problem of word limit. How can I shorten a piece of writing without causing its original essence to mar? How can I be effective in doing that? Are there any general rules? For ex...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Stacy‭  ·  closed as duplicate 4y ago by Monica Cellio‭

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Q&A What's the point of writing that I know will never be used or read?

Writing can be a very difficult, frustrating, stressful and effortful process. It can also be very isolating to the writer. Given that writing is a form of communication, what is the point of writi...

7 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Chris Sunami‭  ·  edited 4y ago by ArtOfCode‭

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Q&A How can I make my 'first draft' good enough to be published?

One of my bugbears about writing is the editing process. I'd much rather get it right first time, rather than chop this and change that afterwards. Other industries would not tolerate the rather c...

5 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by robertcday‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Kevin‭

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Meta Formatting Progress while writing an Answer

On SE, as we write our answers the formatted text appears below it; a what-you-see-is-what-you-get image. That helps me, at least, tell if I have unclosed Bold or Italics, if my links are working,...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by ArtOfCode‭

Question editing
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Meta Suggestion: Support edit comments

As far as I can tell, there is no way to explain the edit you do. There is no field to enter one. Also, in my latest edit, I tried to supply one as HTML comment in my post, but in the edit histor...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by celtschk‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by ArtOfCode‭

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Q&A Is writing three drafts really necessary?

So I understand the first draft which is basically writing whatever comes to mind but I don't understand why we have to rewrite it three times. Can someone please explain to me? What exactly do we ...

4 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Faith‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Writing a Non Fiction: Need to Format a Continuous Side Bar

I am writing a novel with two stories simulatenously running alongside each other. That is, on each page there is a main story, taking the body of the page, and there is a 'side story' which runs a...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Max‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A What's the least distracting method to inform editors I'm a woman?

I have a gender-neutral name, so people often assume I'm a man. However, a portion of the writing I do is for tech companies. Because of the lack of diversity in the tech industry, many of these c...

5 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Morgan Meredith‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A I wrote a book, but changed my mind on the ending

Does anyone with experience have suggestions on how best to go back, edit, and rearrange scenes and details? You know, without me dying in the process? The whole book needs to be restructured.

3 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by estefania‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question editing
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Q&A How significant a role have editors played on books published in the past?

I am an editor having difficulties dealing with the representative of an author's literary estate about an unpublished manuscript by a deceased author. We have a polite (and friendly) disagreement...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by idiotprogrammer‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question editing
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Q&A Copying Certain Information From A Official Website

Hey Guys I was researching on a assignment I have to submit to my university. When i was about to copy certain information i went under the "Terms of Use" seeing if i could copy the said informatio...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by The Keeper‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is it a bad idea to write and edit chapter by chapter?

I am beginning to write original novels after writing fanfictions and posting them online for about six years. My usual process is: write chapter, edit chapter, post chapter, repeat. This means tha...

4 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by sudowoodo‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question fiction editing
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Q&A How do I fix a text wall when I already have one?

When I write answers to questions on the stack exchange network my end result is often quite lengthy. While length itself isn't a problem for me, sometimes my answers end up like this. This happens...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Please stop being evil‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How do I gain sufficient emotional distance from my work to edit it?

This question was asked by a member of my critique group at the beginning of the month and I've been stewing over it for a while now. I still don't have any better ideas, so I'm turning to you. How...

3 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Jerenda‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question editing
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Q&A How many rewrites should a writer expect for a novel?

"By the time I am nearing the end of a story, the first part will have been reread and altered and corrected at least one hundred and fifty times. I am suspicious of both facility and speed. Goo...

3 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Richard Stanzak‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question novel editing
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Q&A Editing a memoir

A relative (who is no longer living) wrote a number of autobiographical pieces which I would like to publish in a book. They're very good but they need a fair amount of editing. I would like to i...

3 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by aparente001‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How do I know when my work is ready for critique?

I run a critiquing group once a month and I've had several of my members say they aren't sure how to tell when their work is ready for critique. I'll be covering this in a workshop tomorrow night, ...

4 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Jerenda‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question editing
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Q&A Do I write the entire series and edit, or edit the books as I go?

Background Woohoo! The time has come, my first book of a trilogy is one chapter away from finishing. I've done a little editing as I go, clearing up the bad chapters, but haven't properly gone t...

3 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Daniel Cann‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How can I keep my writing from being perceived as "too complicated"

This is from a piece I wrote a couple of years back: The sky seemed like a big, large pool of grey smoke. The weather was cool, moist. A fresh, earthy smell hung on the air. I peered throu...

6 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Soha Farhin Pine‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question editing style
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Q&A Using capital letters and full-stop in bullet points

This question may be related with this question. I come to the direct point. I am confused with the usage of bullet points. Is is necessary to capitalize the first letter in each bullet point? Also...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by phenomenon‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Structuring a sentence with two phrases qualifying the same ending

For a long time, I have wondered which way of writing the following is correct. (Is more than one correct?) The expected result for integers denotes that a value should be at least a specific va...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by user1295297‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question editing style
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Q&A When Showing Over Telling Becomes Too Extravagant

I recently read the question "What does show don't tell actually mean?" and in the answers, there were a few examples of showing that had extensive description. However, there are numerous websites...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by akrs20‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Programs that analyze word frequency?

I would like a utility that could analyze a document and give me stats like this: WORD: FREQUENCY: a 47,268 the 37,201 gross 215 irregardlessly 1 ...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Chowzen‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to make a dark story not-so-dark (Shining the light in darkness)

I'm writing a war story, and it's dark. However, I find that every scene turns out to be depressing because of it. Readers will be overwhelmed. Are there ways I can induce hope/shine the light in t...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Deau X. Machinus‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How much does imperfect grammar put off an agent?

I've written a novel and looking back the story line was good but the grammar wasn't great. I submitted the book to a few agents and received some constructive comments which I took on board. I hav...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by System‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A When to ask for feedback of novel?

At what stage in writing do you ask for feedback on your new story? After writing a plot outline? After the first draft? After the second draft? After you polish it for the public? What kind of...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by RichS‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Redouble, double, or double again?

I have seen double and double again a lot. Redouble, not so much. I found out that redouble can mean to double again, to double, or in general to intensify whether that is double, triple, quintupl...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by Caters‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question editing vocabulary
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Q&A Doubts about editing?

I have been working on a novel, and I've gone around four chapters in. I keep re-reading the first chapters, and I am tempted to edit them. Should I wait until I at least have a finished first draf...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by Ella‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question editing
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Q&A Why does this software suggest capitalizing the word 'dragon'?

Why did Grammarly suggest capitalizing the word 'dragon' in this sentence? It says it does not fit the context so needs to be capitalized: Small birds chattered and scooted about in the undergrow...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by lee leeder‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question editing style tools
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Q&A How to write when thinking in multiple languages?

When writing, scenes come to my mind in different languages mixed together. For example in a single scene a description will be in French, some dialogues in English, with a few words of Spanish and...

1 answer  ·  posted 9y ago by Babika Babaka‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Can I, as a reader, submit a "Bug Report" for a novel?

I just finished a new release. I encountered a passage in the book that doesn't quite make sense. Just a single sentence that is out of place. Grammatically it is fine, but in context it doesn't s...

2 answers  ·  posted 9y ago by Lyndon White‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Hyphen or en-dash

What is the correct dash usage when naming a title? I have an essay with the title: The success factors for successful e-commerce - A Linux-based e-commerce platform from an economic perspecti...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by nicoX‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How does the placement of transition sentences affects the meaning/tone of a piece?

Example: Finally, I began questioning the kid. What was her name? Where were her parents? And most important, what was she doing outside in this horrible weather? She replied to none of tha...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by Alexandro Chen‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Can the term "Glorified delivery" be used to signify giving birth?

My cousin is giving birth to twins, and I am preparing the invitation cards. I wrote Twice as much love Two blessings from above Anthony a lovely boy And Joya brings the joy The glorified deliv...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by Lynob‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question editing poetry
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Q&A What are First Drafts, Second Drafts, etc.?

I've been reading a few questions on this site, and I've seen the terms First, Second or Third Drafts. What does this refer to actually? And could someone give a clear detail of what they are, and ...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by Fikko3107‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Should I edit the first draft until I'm totally satisfied or should I leave that to the third draft?

After having waited for three months for the first draft of my novel to "cool off," I've finally decided to work on the second one. But now I'm presented with who options: 1) edit the this first d...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Alexandro Chen‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question novel editing
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Q&A How can I avoid word repetition in the following paragraph?

Eri knelt down slowly and thought about her world. The one with the solid ground in which she had stood all her life. Would that surface break apart one day? And when it did, what would happ...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Alexandro Chen‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question editing
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Q&A What's a word for a person who took a very rough story and made it into a book?

I have written a book. Well, actually, my mother-in-law told the story of her experiences as a German forced laborer in the Soviet Union after World War II. This was given in German and recorded ...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Cyberherbalist‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Maintaining the consistency of voice and spontaneity throughout a piece

So straight to it, I don't write very long pieces. Usually poetry or flash fiction and a smattering of short stories whenever it needs to be longer, though I have aspirations (mostly just dreams) ...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Jeremy‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How many errors should I expect from a proofreader?

I hired a proofreader (typos, commonly confused words, minor grammar issues etc) to look at my work, which I plan to self publish. She found most typos, but from a 66,000 word novel, missed about ...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by aaa‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is the first draft of a novel usually shorter than the finished work?

I finished the first draft of a novel I'm writing. Right now, it has 17000 words. I've heard that novels these days range from 60,000 to 150,000 words, so I'm a little bit worried (I'm hoping to ha...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Alexandro Chen‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How do I escape my own experience?

When writing academic text, you're often in the position of having to write introductory or explanatory material for your audience. Usually you write this kind of material after you've explored the...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by naught101‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Q&A How much $ to calculate for an Editor

I plan to self publish a book (non fiction). Currently I have 150.000 characters, but when it's done I will end up with around 250.000. I am not a native english speaker but write the book in engli...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Christian‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭