I am reposting this book review of Go Teen Writers: Edit Your Novel to go with this month’s theme of editing. This book is packed with so much good advice that’s it’s worth posting again to give you a second look.
Don’t let the title put you off if you’re an adult. The editing advice in this book is appropriate for any beginning writer. Or even a seasoned writer because it’s always helpful to review or relearn the basics of good writing. The book cover both both macro- and micro-editing. Don’t know what those words mean? Get the book because it will explain that macro- editing is revising the big issues, such as character development and theme. Micro-editing is all the tiny things that need taken care of, like knowing when to insert or remove commas.
One of the most helpful sections under micro-editing is the chapter on punctuation. Author Jill Williamson sets out the rules from how to punctuate dialogue to how to correctly type and use en-dashes and em-dashes. I would have loved to have had this handy guide earlier in my career.
The other half of the book provides all kinds of advice on how to get published with chapters on how traditional publishing works, how to write a synopsis and a query, find a literary agent, and deal with rejection.
The extra chapters at the end are the kind of bonus material I love. There’s self-editing checklist, brainstorming ideas, and the authors’s list of weasel words and phrases, which are words and phrases each author falls into the habit of using over and over again in their first draft. “Just” is a particular weasel word of mine. When I edit, I have to find them and retain only the ones that actually serve a purpose.
But what if you’re still writing your novel? These lovely authors have you covered with Go Teen Writers: Write Your Novel.
For another recommendation of writing book, click here.
What books on editing do you recommend?
