Sara GrantThe Ultimate Guide to Editing Your Novel
A revolutionary approach to transform your writing
Sara Grant writes across genres, having authored comedic magical books, action-adventure series and edgy YA novels. Her books are published by Scholastic, Little, Brown and Orion. She is a plot editor, consultant for inclusive fiction studio Storymix, and a creative writing tutor at Goldsmiths, University of London and the University of Winchester.
Contents Introduction How to use this book Chapter 1: Interrogating your idea Remain true to your vision
Read for inspiration
Big picture analysis
Write your pitch
The responsibility of writing for children Chapter 2: Character by character Interrogating your protagonist
Secondary character examination
Character continuum
Tangled characters Chapter 3: Finding the plot Structural edit
What is plot?
Solutions to your plot problems
Tackling your theme
Managing the middle
Plot formulas Chapter 4: Chapter by chapter Conscious creation
Structure
Taking inventory
For inspiration
Checklist Chapter 5: Scene by scene Identifying a scene
Breathing life into a scene
Setting and atmosphere
Checklist Chapter 6: Honing voice What is voice?
Point of view
Present or past tense?
Excavating voice
Enhancing your voice Chapter 7: Writing with sensitivity Tough questions
Dos and don'ts
Think big, think small
Checklist Chapter 8: Sentence by sentence Examining each sentence
Discovering how you tell a story
Checklist Chapter 9: Word by word Word choice
Tighten your writing
Checklist Chapter 10: Beginnings and endings Hooking readers from the opening pages
Evolution of an opening
Prologues
The end
Epilogue Chapter 11: The final polish Crafting the perfect title
Final check
Line editing and proofreading
The final proofread
When to stop Chapter 12: Ready for the world Why you need an agent
Choosing an agent or editor
Preparing your submissions packet
Never give up! Resources and references Acknowledgements Author biography Index
