How to write – musings about editing and proofreading

I promised myself when I started blogging that I’d keep to a schedule.  And so far I have managed it.  But this week stuff happened..

A client contacted me two weeks ago about helping them proof read a book manuscript.  It should have reached me last week but because the authors were still working on, I didn’t receive it till Monday this week – with a Friday deadline to send the manuscript to the publisher.

I understand the time constraints but I thought I’d write today – should have been yesterday – about the importance of what you do at the beginning of a writing project.

It’s something I’ve written about before and I’m sure I’ll write about again but I’m coming to the conclusion that not only is it important – it’s vital to decide on some things up front.

1. Target audience – makes it easier to think of someone personal to write to.
2. Why you’re writing – makes it easier to consider response of target audience.
3. Structure of piece of writing – makes it easier to write when you can flow the words into a structure.
4. Length of writing – makes it easier with disciplining your writing.
5. Style of writing – makes it easier to make contact with your target audience.
6. How long it will take to write it.

What many people who write don’t take into account is number 6.  Especially if they are doing a collaborative project.  Any piece of writing no matter how short needs proofreading and editing for a longer piece.

That takes time.  More time than most people factor in.  It’s very difficult to proof read and edit your own work.  It takes discipline and total objectivity to be able to junk half a chapter of a book or a whole page on a website.  As a professional writer I’ve had to learn it.  It can hurt deleting something that took you hours to write.   But if it doesn’t do the job required it has to go.

With collaborative writing there are all manner of snags you can hit.  Different writing styles.  Different language.  Different approaches.

Time spent on the structure of a project is never wasted.  That’s why I’m emphasising that in the How To Write a Book workshop I’m facilitating in June in Nottingham.  Details will be posted on the website next week.