Self-Editing Tools for Part-time Queer Romance Authors
Self-editing tools occasionally get a bad rap. However, as a skill, self-editing in itself is vital for queer romance writers to home. Done effectively, it can be labor-intensive. When you find out all that’s involved, not just the terms but also their definitions, you may even consider whether it’s worth the time. Or the expense.
Most contemporary authors don’t write for a living, especially in the romance genre—doubly so for the queer romance writers. Given those factors, it becomes more important than ever for part-time writers to refine their self-editing skills.
The revision process doesn’t have to be any less enjoyable than the writing itself. You’ll [want] to find the magic in each word, sentence, paragraph. You’ll be tapping your creative soul for ways to add tension to every page, to find clever solutions to tough story problems.
Janice Gable Bashman & Kathryn Craft, Writer’s Digest
Every week when it’s time to buckle down and pen out my blogs for the week, my first step is always to research. It’s also the last step. Here’s some on- and offline self-editing tools I use, as well as a few writing and editing craft books you may want to add to your library. (Of course, remember that information won’t enter your brain via osmosis.)
Online Self-Editing Tools
Coming from a military technical documentation background, I have a higher-than-usual appreciation for style guides and dictionaries as my primary self-editing tools. That means I’m obligated to tell you that if you don’t invest in any other paid tools, invest in these two subscriptions:
- Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). This is the authoritative Reference Standard™ of the book publishing industry. It provides the widely accepted writing rules, whether for fiction or nonfiction. When and where you may choose to bend or break those “rules” is up to you. But you need to know them first.
- Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary (M-W). If CMOS is the reference standard, M-W is our supplemental Spelling Reference Standard™. Sometimes you need a stronger verb, adverb, or even conjunction. M-W gives you that precious gem in milliseconds.
Jane Friedman has twenty-five years’ experience in the media and publishing industry. Through her free blog for writers, she collates and provides access to guest blogs, editorials, and similar resources. You can use these self-editing tools for your own general writing research.
Another excellent blog repository filled with self-editing tools is provided by Writer’s Digest (WD). If I’m under a time crunch, WD’s blog is my preferred information source. It’s more user-friendly, easier to find what I’m looking for, and offers more depth and breadth of information. They also offer online workshops and writing-specific virtual conferences.
Offline Tools
A library’s reference book section is a goldmine of self-editing tools. As well, you can either find free writing workshops or recommend creating one to the library staff. They’re always looking for ways to help patrons learn new skills. You support your local library, and, in turn, you have a chance to participate in or help create your own writing community.
Gwen Hayes’ Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels is my primary source for judging a queer romance novel’s story structure. I can judge at which point an author started organizing their story: the beginning or the end. It also gives me a starting point for addressing any high-level structural problems the author may want to consider revising.
James Scott Bell’s Revision and Self-Editing for Publication and Richard Bradburn’s Self-editing for Self-publishers are two other craft book recommendations. They allow you to get into the nuts and bolts of your writing. Word choices, sentence structure, and punctuation use all affect your story’s flow. These two books help you smooth out that flow.
Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels
To Sum Things Up…
The bookcase in my office is filled near to bursting with self-editing craft books. My browser’s organization system has folders, subfolders, and sub-subfolders filled with links to free and paid online self-editing tools. Of course, I’m also a full-time professional editor. It’s almost like it’s a job requirement.
Kris Spisak says, “Editing is not a singular process but the Swiss Army knife of creative tools. Endless problems can be solved when you know how to maneuver the possibilities at your fingertips.”
As part-time queer romance writers, you may not have the ability or desire to hire a professional editor. Be that as it may, you have a responsibility to your readers. Your readers—current and future ones—deserve clean copy, a plausible and realistic plot, and relatable but imperfect characters. Give it to them by using the self-editing tools above. Your readers will thank you.
Reflecting On Your Story One Word At A Time!
