Liz Bailey Shares Her Top Five Editing Tips

Editing your novel - five top tips

1.      Read it like a reader.

You’re wearing a different hat when you read over your draft novel.  Like your characters, you have to switch viewpoint.   It’s no longer your baby.  As a reader, you are free to like some bits and dislike others.  If you can look at the thing from this angle, you’ll notice the flaws at once.  But you’ll also notice the parts that work.

A reader doesn’t watch out for anything specific.  You don’t find her thinking, “Hmm, this author isn’t too hot on pacing.”  If the story sags, the reader just skips to get to the good bit.

So don’t read with a list of craft points in your head.  Just read in the expectation of enjoyment, like you would with someone else’s novel.

2.  Read it in as few sittings as possible.

Make time for a nice long wallow in your own book.  The faster you read it, the more you’ll recognise problems.  Sketchy reading means you aren’t carrying all the strands of the story in your head and you’ll miss things.  Make like it’s unputdownable, and take the same breaks you’d take as a reader - to eat, drink or sleep.

And you know what?  Maybe it will turn out to be unputdownable.  And if it turns out to be a wallbanger, at least you’ll be wise to that!

3.      Make brief notes.

As you go, you’ll need a pad and pen.  Jot down the page number and the briefest possible comment.  Examples:  pg 42 - don’t head-hop to Alex.  pg 65 - why hasn’t he noticed her mussed hair?  pg 82 - para on why Gail furious - confusing, rephrase.  Ch 5 - boring and saggy.

If you try and write too much, you’ll pull yourself out of the story and lose freshness as well as continuity.

4.      Write yourself a critique.

Once you’ve finished the reading, write down your first impressions about what’s good and what needs changing.  Put in any ideas you have for improvement.  This is just a bulk up for your page numbered notes and gives an overall view of the text.  You’re not trying to write an assessment report.

Trust yourself on this one.  You’re writing for readers and you’re a reader.  Your snap judgement is likely to be correct. 

5.      Tackle easy changes first.

Now you’re wearing your editor’s hat.  It’s daunting to try and fix major changes.  Let it simmer for a few days first.  Then fix a few easy things as a warm-up.  Once you start making changes, you’ll be into the rewriting process and it won’t feel so tough.  If you can’t work out how to change something, leave it and do a different part of the book.  Editing is like working a patchwork quilt: you build it up in small sections.  So it doesn’t matter where you start.

Once you start, though, keep going.  You don’t want to lose the benefit of your overall reader viewpoint.

Let’s get editing critiques under the author’s control

I’ve launched an assessment and mentoring critique service to help unpublished novelists achieve publication standard.  My main criteria are for authors to have choices about how much guidance they need, to make the service affordable and to be available for discussion afterwards.

Whether you want a read and general assessment of where you’re going and what needs looking at, or an in-depth critique with chapter and verse, you decide.  You can try me out with a chapter or two to find out how much help I’m likely to be.  And I’ll accept staggered payments to make bigger commitments more affordable.

If you want mentoring help through the writing process, that’s available too, and you can opt out at any point.  I’ll encourage you to write to deadlines you can work with and unstick you if you get stuck.

You choose.  Email me for more info on eabailey@tiscali.co.uk and there’s a blog coming shortly.

As for my credentials, I’ve just changed genre from historical romance (18 published titles with Harlequin Mills and Boon) to historical crime.  I wrote, edited and polished the first book in just over four months and landed an agent in six weeks - watch this space.  I’ve had a lite lit novel in the Booker list, and I’ve read and critiqued for the NWS, run numerous workshops and seminars, and I’m a long time drama teacher.

My unpublished novels amount to millions of words - I’ve learned the hard way.  But you don’t have to.

August Releases

Nell Dixon -JUST LOOK AT ME NOW

Little Black Dress

Publication date - 5/8/10

£6.99

Tia has reinvented herself but will her secret past as Big barb come back to haunt her when she meets her unrequited teenage crush once more?

Mary Nichols - THE FOUNTAIN

Allison & Busby

August 2010

£7.99

George Kennett aspires to be somebody in his local community and is not above shady deals to bring this about, in which he expects his wife, Barbara, to collude.  It is George's dishonest scheme to get the contract to instal a new fountain in the Market Square which brings everything to a devastating climax.

Liz Fielding - SOS: Convenient Husband Required/Winning a Groom in Ten Dates (Cara Colter) Harlequin Mills & Boon 6 August £4.99 Revenge is a dish best served cold but someone forgot to turn off the pilot light. Gwen Kirkwood- A HOME OF OUR OWN Severn House 24th August £10.99 Avril has promised to make a home for her twin brothers. Dean Scott is proud but he has few prospects and a possessive mother. Can the two keep their promises and self respect. Noelene Jenkinson -LOVING LUCY AVALON BOOKS 24 August 2010 £17.00 Lucy McCarthy returns to Australia from her work with UNICEF in Indonesia for her father’s funeral, only to discover that she is not his daughter. Old school friend, Flynn Pedersen, supports her and their former attraction is rekindled. Can each set their pasts aside and learn to love again? Phoebe Grafton - PRISONER OF DESIRE Whisky Creek Press August $3 Bored school teacher takes her brother's place and runs off to sea to seek adventure - and she finds it ! Sheila Newberry - WHO STIRS THE PORRIDGE POT? Dales Paperback (large print) 15th August, 2010 £11.99 You could say this is what Kate (and Matthew) did next, when their siblings were almost grown and flown, but this is also a memoir fondly remembering my pantomine days in Kent - and sending feathers flying... Mary Nichols -LORD PORTMAN'S TROUBLESOME WIFE Mills & Boon August 2010 Hardback £13.99 Homeless and Penniless, Rosamund is forced to marry Harry, Lord Portman.  In return for a comfortable life, she must produce an heir, but far from sweeping her into his bed, Harry seems determined to keep her at arm's length. Louise Allen -THE DISGRACEFUL MR RAVENHURST (Talking Book edition) HMB (Whole Story Audio Books) August 2010 £19.99 We hear the notorious Mr R, while searching for a stolen artefact, has had his attention caught by the unlikeliest of treasures... Rosie Harris - AMBITIOUS LOVE Arrow August 8 £19,99 Fern Jenkins' life is changed for ever when her brother is killed in action and her father dies in a mining explosion. Turned out of their home by the ruthless pit owner, Fern and her mother Wynne are forced to seek a new life in Cardiff. Whilst Wynne finds work in a factory, Fern attends the local school. But here she is bullied and is soon selling flowers outside Cardiff Central station to help make ends meet. When her mother is taken from her in an influenza epidemic, Fern has no one to protect her from her violent and possessive uncle. She longs to escape from the brutality and squalor around her and make something of herself. But with no money and her only friend away at sea, there seems little hope of her ever leaving her life of poverty behind, let alone finding the love she so yearns for... Lesley Cookman - MURDER IN THE GREEN (Audio Book) Soundings Libby Sarjeant in her sixth adventure goes down among the Morris Men. Alex Beecroft - CAPTAIN'S SURRENDER Samhain 3rd August 2010 Love? Might as well ask for the moon. But a man can dream… http://www.alexbeecroft.com/ Charlie Cochrane - LESSONS IN DISCOVERY Samhain Publishing £9.49 On the very day Jonty Stewart proposes that he and Orlando Coppersmith move in together, Fate trips them up. Rather, it trips Orlando, sending him down a flight of stairs and leaving him with an injury that erases his memory. Instead of taking the next step in their relationship, they’re back to square one. It’s bad enough that Orlando doesn’t remember being intimate with Jonty—he doesn’t remember Jonty at all.

The Glamour Continued - Saturday Evening BBQ - RNA Conference 2010

Rachael Thomas On The Best Bit of RNA Conference 2010 For Her

New Writers' Scheme member, Rachael Thomas, talks about her favourite part of the conference...

Deciding which bit of the conference was the best bit is tough. The setting was amazing, the weather gorgeous and all who attended warm and welcoming. The workshops and talks were interesting and useful. The Gala Dinner on Friday evening was fun, as was the barbeque on Saturday evening. In fact the whole weekend from start to finish was brilliant.

As a NWS member, the highlight of my weekend at Greenwich has to be the appointment with a Mills and Boon editor. During those precious ten minutes I was able to find out what the editor thought of my work and how it could be improved. It was extremely useful and I have come away full of enthusiasm and able to deal with the points raised. Who else could give such a fabulous opportunity to an aspiring romance writer, than the RNA?

Rachael Thomas

Christine Stovell on Being On Her First Panel - RNA Conference 2010

The Chot Lit Panel

A CORPSE WITHOUT A BODY

I used to work in the research department of a trades union with a lovely colleague, Maureen, who, whenever I was gnashing my teeth about some woe, would smile serenely and say to me, ‘No-one died!’.  I took some comfort from Maureen’s words after my stint on Choc Lit’s panel on Saturday. 

The theme of our slot was ‘Sharing Our Choc Lit Heroes,’ and whilst Lyn, Christina, Sue and Jane did just that, my brain decided it wasn’t going to share mine, no way.  The talk that I had practised in my study went straight out of my head when I looked up and saw... faces!  Where did all those people come from?

I thought that caring deeply about my subject would make it easier, but in fact it made it twice as hard!  Despite smiles and nods from some kind souls in the audience (I’m truly grateful to you, you lovely ladies), I stammered and stuttered through my piece before staggering off wondering how it had all gone so wrong.  But then Maureen’s words came back to me.  So what if I’d made a bit of chimp of myself?  I got through it.  No-one died.

If anyone would like a copy of the talk I meant to give, just contact me at chrisstinestovell.com and I’ll happily email it to you!

Jane Smith Tells All - The Gala - RNA Conference 2010

Jane Smith better know to many as @hprw and the author of the blog How Publishing Really Works writes about her first RNA experience...

The 2010 RNA Summer Conference gala dinner was HOT. Not just the temperatures, which during the day climbed past 30 degrees and stayed up there for much of the evening: but also the shoes, the company and the sheer fabulous fun of the whole event.

Jane Holland, Cal Andrews  & Lara Higgins

RF Long, Leanne Bibby & Stephanie Cage

Sue Cook & Jane Smith (aka @hprw)

For me, the party started off with fellow RNA-newbie Sue Cook force-feeding me a lunch of white wine and crisps, after which we attended Carole Blake’s talk about the role of agents in publishing.  Any ideas I’d had of catching a quick snooze were scuppered when Carole began to speak: she was fascinating, funny and wise, and her allotted hour was over far too fast.  Despite the attractions of the panel discussion which followed, I felt as though I was in serious danger of melting: and so we hared off to the air-conditioned bliss of my hotel to shower and change for the main event.  I soon found myself in the bar in the company of Sue Cook and Carole Blake, where I learned a valuable lesson: some RNA members have a very useful homing instinct. The instant the cork popped out of our champagne Brigid Coady and Liz Fenwick appeared, glasses at the ready, and helped us drain our bottle dry in record time. Then it was off to the Trafalgar, where the gala dinner was to be held.

Liz Fenwick

Biddy Coady

Katie Fforde

Sue Cook

More champagne awaited us there, and some more excellent company: then, thanks to a lack of proper security and some good old-fashioned blagging I ended up on the top table which was, thank goodness, by an open window as the evening showed no sign of growing any cooler.

With Carole Blake and Liz Fenwick at the same table I had little chance of attracting the attention of the wine waiters; and with Sue Cook and Alison Morton either side of me, I struggled to get a word in edgewise.  Instead I concentrated on my first course, a smooth chicken liver paté served with a rich onion marmalade and some very crisp toast. My chance to be heard came when Carole observed that the heat of the evening would test the old adage that horses sweat while ladies glow: I gaily pointed out that I was glowing like a pig, and from that point on Jan Jones kept a stern eye on my behaviour from her place across the table.

Despite my continued attempts to lower the tone, the conversation around me was as sparkling as the sequins which decorated the tables. We talked about books, writing, publishing and more books and the next time anyone tries to tell me that publishing is on its last legs I’ll suggest they attend an RNA party: I learned so much listening to everyone else that night, and not all of it was gossip!

During the main course—succulent roast chicken in a creamy sauce on a fresh-tasting bed of peas and lettuce—we discovered that the aforementioned sequins could be stuck to any exposed skin, so very glowy were we all.  Our glorious leader Katie Fforde dotted red sparkles all over her décolletage which remained in place through our dessert, an Eton mess so sweet I could feel myself tipping further towards diabetes with every spoonful.  Delicious though it was I could barely finish mine, but there were some among us who ate two full helpings: how they managed it I am not sure, but I am in awe of you, Jan Jones.

Katie Fforde & Di Pearson

Di pearson

And then came the highlight of the evening when Katie Fforde introduced Diane Pearson, President of the RNA. Ms Pearson’s speech was sharp and witty and quite gloriously indiscreet: its only fault was that it didn’t last long enough—a skill I wish more speakers could develop. Then there was more champagne and more chat, and the evening was over far too quickly.

Jan Jones, Carole Blake & Sue Cook

While the weather and the fashions were seriously hot, you might have noticed that champagne was also a common theme. But my overwhelming impression of the gala dinner was of being among friends, many of whom I’d never met before that evening. It was a rare and magical event, and one I’ll remember with much fondness. My congratulations go to Jan Jones and Roger Sanderson for creating such a wonderful event; and my warm wishes go to everyone who attended, and who made it such a fabulous party.


(Note: thanks for the photos goes to Carole Blake, Lizzie Lamb, RF Long and Eileen Hathaway)

Jeevani Mantotta- A First Time Attendee Report on RNA Conference 2010

Jeevani Mantotta talks about her first conference...

RNA conference – well worth waddling to London for.

At six am last Saturday, I was in a state of mild panic. I was about to head off for a day at the RNA conference. After some frantic checking for pen, paper, tickets etc and dithering about whether it was a good idea to be going at all (at 8 and a bit months pregnant, a trip to London on a hot day wasn’t the cleverest of ideas), my bleary eyed husband pointed out that I was going to miss my train if I didn’t leave. Now.

This was my first RNA conference. I’d been to the Winchester Writer’s conference last year and found it informative and exhausting in equal measure. Was it fun? A bit, perhaps, but mostly that was because I didn’t know anyone.

Oh, how different the RNA conference was! To begin with, I shared a taxi with two other people, whom I’d met through the email list for first time conference goers, so by the time I got there, I already had someone I could tag along with. Then there were all the people I’d met through the local chapter. But the thing that made me familiar with the most people was conversations on Romna and Twitter. People whom I’d only ever known as online names became ‘real’ as they came up and chatted. It turns out having a massive baby bump is a great conversation starter – not that people needed much incentive to start chatting.

As a newbie writer, I’ve always thought that published writers were somehow different from us mere mortals who can only dream of seeing our books in print. Not so, I found. Everyone, published or unpublished was unfailingly friendly. It was reassuring to know that everyone, even the best sellers, were unpublished once and they haven’t forgotten what it feels like.

I hadn’t signed up for any editor one to ones, but I went to all the lectures that I’d signed up to. There was an informative session on the new writer’s scheme, where the most heartening thing I heard was Melanie Hilton pointing out that most contenders for the Joan Hessayon award didn’t actually get a second read, but were people who had edited their books in the light of their NWS reports and submitted to agents or publishers. Hard work wins out – so my parents were right all along!

My favourite talk was the one about managing your writing career by Kate Harrison. It was fun, interactive and informative. As a beginner, I find it hard to see beyond that first big break. Kate’s talk made me think about it and showed me how I should be thinking about goals well into the future. And, of course, I shall now remember to save my receipts.

Kate Walker did a brilliant talk on conflict where she explained the different types of conflict and how to work it into your plot. I made pages of notes, which I need to transcribe into something a bit more readable than my hurried scrawl.

It was a hot, hot day (which made Greenwich look fantastic) and I had been hoping to sit out the day in the air conditioned large lecture room with the air conditioning, even if it meant talks I’d signed up for, just to stay in the cool. But curiosity won out and I made it to the talk on social media given by Liz Fenwick and Kate Johnson. As someone who has no website or blog and has only just found Twitter, their hints and tips were very useful. Most interesting was Liz’s throwaway comment that if people see your name often enough, they might think you were published and that could get your manuscript noticed.

I attended two publisher talks – Mills & Boon and Samhain, both publishers I hadn’t thought to target, because I didn’t think my books would fit in with their cannon. This just goes to show that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Now that I have a better idea of what they want (and what they will be wanting in the future), I can look at my manuscripts again with a more informed eye.

By the end of the day I was exhausted, but delighted with the day. Romy Fotheringham and I took the ferry back to central London and got a great look at London from the river – what a lovely (breezy!) way to end a lovely day.