RevisionRevision

Sandy LenderSandy Lender

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Style GuidesStyle Guides

• Strunk & WhiteStrunk & White

• MLAMLA

• Chicago Manual of StyleChicago Manual of Style

• Associated Press (for journalists)Associated Press (for journalists)

Why we ReviseWhy we Revise

• We can’t trust our fingers to type We can’t trust our fingers to type what’s in our headswhat’s in our heads

• We can’t trust our heads to tell a good We can’t trust our heads to tell a good story all at oncestory all at once

• We’re constantly learning and We’re constantly learning and improvingimproving

• No one does it the way they want it No one does it the way they want it the first timethe first time

Revising vs Editing vs Revising vs Editing vs ProofreadingProofreading

• Revising is in-depth, big-picture, structuralRevising is in-depth, big-picture, structural

• When editing (a form of revision), you When editing (a form of revision), you make changes to syntax, grammar, make changes to syntax, grammar, meaning, flow, tone, voice, sound, pace, meaning, flow, tone, voice, sound, pace, maybe even outcome; you rearrange maybe even outcome; you rearrange scenes and sentences for clarityscenes and sentences for clarity

• When proofreading, you check for When proofreading, you check for typographical errors, usually against an typographical errors, usually against an original documentoriginal document

Why We Can’t Rely on WordWhy We Can’t Rely on Word

• Mis-use of wordsMis-use of words

• Words with similar spellingsWords with similar spellings

• Words with similar soundsWords with similar sounds

• http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v==OonDPGwAyfQOonDPGwAyfQ

Similar Sounds Trick UsSimilar Sounds Trick Us

• FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.OF YEARS.

• Count the fsCount the fs

Why We Need Editing Why We Need Editing PartnersPartners

• Seeing our own mistakes is difficultSeeing our own mistakes is difficult

• We start to play “the movie”We start to play “the movie”

• We love our characters (Peter We love our characters (Peter Jackson and King Kong—didn’t cut his Jackson and King Kong—didn’t cut his darlings)darlings)

Tips for EditingTips for Editing

• Make character index cards when writing; use Make character index cards when writing; use these when editing to be sure MC always has blue these when editing to be sure MC always has blue eyes, etc. (esp. good for secondary characters; eyes, etc. (esp. good for secondary characters; place descriptions)place descriptions)

• Ask your publishing house for a style Ask your publishing house for a style manual/guide/sheet if they have onemanual/guide/sheet if they have one

• Use critique partners/test readers (also called Use critique partners/test readers (also called beta readers)beta readers)

• Watch out for large typeWatch out for large type• DO NOT PROOFREAD ON THE SCREENDO NOT PROOFREAD ON THE SCREEN• Give MS breathing timeGive MS breathing time• See handout for things to check when editingSee handout for things to check when editing

Fire Questions at me…Fire Questions at me…

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