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Editor-proof your writing : 21 steps to the clear prose : publishers and agents crave / Don McNair.

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: Fresno, California : Quill Driver Books, 2013.Description: xiii, 215 pages ; 23 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9781610351782 (pbk.)
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 808.02 MCN 23 008743
Online resources:
Contents:
Machine generated contents note: pt. ONE PUTTING WORDS IN ch. 1 Your classroom? It's your first chapter! ch. 2 Why you should be a hooker ch. 3 What's your point of view? ch. 4 Don't be an information dumper ch. 5 Your manuscript is a Christmas tree ch. 6 William Brennan: A "Christmas tree" case history ch. 7 Make your scenes work harder ch. 8 Don't discuss sows' ears with silken words ch. 9 You say your heroine doesn't hate your hero? Too bad! ch. 10 But they have to like each other, too! pt. TWO TAKING WORDS OUT Introduction: 21 Steps to fog-free writing Step 1 Use fewer ing words Step 2 Use fewer infinitives Step 3 Change passive voice to active voice Step 4 Avoid "expletive" and "had___that" constructions Step 5 Use fewer "hads" in internal dialogue Step 6 Shorten verbs Step 7 Eliminate double verbs Step 8 Eliminate double nouns, adjectives, and adverbs Step 9 Watch for foggy phrases Contents note continued: Step 10 Remove character filters Step 11 Delete -ly words Step 12 Get rid of all dialogue tags except "said" Step 13 Now, get rid of "said"! Step 14 Cut the dialogue! Step 15 Eliminate redundancies Step 16 Use fewer prepositional phrases Step 17 Get rid of throwaway words Step 18 Edit for conciseness Step 19 Avoid cliches like the plague Step 20 Get rid of superficials Step 21 Stop those wandering eyes pt. THREE SHARING YOUR WORDS Introduction: Sharing Your Work ch. 11 Critique partners ch. 12 Professional editors ch. 13 Publishers and agents ch. 14 Writing the query letter ch. 15 Writing the synopsis Appendix Exercise Solutions Sarah's Perils Solutions Mystery on Firefly Knob Synopsis Novels used as examples.
Summary: Don McNair lays out an easy-to-follow and systematic method for clearing up foggy writing--writing that's full of extra, misused, and overused words--in this guide to producing sparkling copy that attracts readers, agents, editors, and sales. McNair explains the common mistakes made by most writers and shows how eliminating unnecessary words strengthens action, shorten sentences, and makes writing crackle with life.
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Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Status Date due Barcode
Book Book Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bangalore 808.02 MCN 008743 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Not for loan 008743

Includes index.

Machine generated contents note: pt. ONE PUTTING WORDS IN
ch. 1 Your classroom? It's your first chapter!
ch. 2 Why you should be a hooker
ch. 3 What's your point of view?
ch. 4 Don't be an information dumper
ch. 5 Your manuscript is a Christmas tree
ch. 6 William Brennan: A "Christmas tree" case history
ch. 7 Make your scenes work harder
ch. 8 Don't discuss sows' ears with silken words
ch. 9 You say your heroine doesn't hate your hero? Too bad!
ch. 10 But they have to like each other, too!
pt. TWO TAKING WORDS OUT
Introduction: 21 Steps to fog-free writing
Step 1 Use fewer
ing words
Step 2 Use fewer infinitives
Step 3 Change passive voice to active voice
Step 4 Avoid "expletive" and "had___that" constructions
Step 5 Use fewer "hads" in internal dialogue
Step 6 Shorten verbs
Step 7 Eliminate double verbs
Step 8 Eliminate double nouns, adjectives, and adverbs
Step 9 Watch for foggy phrases
Contents note continued: Step 10 Remove character filters
Step 11 Delete -ly words
Step 12 Get rid of all dialogue tags except "said"
Step 13 Now, get rid of "said"!
Step 14 Cut the dialogue!
Step 15 Eliminate redundancies
Step 16 Use fewer prepositional phrases
Step 17 Get rid of throwaway words
Step 18 Edit for conciseness
Step 19 Avoid cliches like the plague
Step 20 Get rid of superficials
Step 21 Stop those wandering eyes
pt. THREE SHARING YOUR WORDS
Introduction: Sharing Your Work
ch. 11 Critique partners
ch. 12 Professional editors
ch. 13 Publishers and agents
ch. 14 Writing the query letter
ch. 15 Writing the synopsis
Appendix
Exercise Solutions
Sarah's Perils Solutions
Mystery on Firefly Knob Synopsis
Novels used as examples.

Don McNair lays out an easy-to-follow and systematic method for clearing up foggy writing--writing that's full of extra, misused, and overused words--in this guide to producing sparkling copy that attracts readers, agents, editors, and sales. McNair explains the common mistakes made by most writers and shows how eliminating unnecessary words strengthens action, shorten sentences, and makes writing crackle with life.

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