by Mike Klaassen

Created on: March 05, 2007   Last Updated: May 14, 2007

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-EDITING FICTION

According to Renni Browne and Dave King in Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, many editors are so overloaded that "strong manuscripts are still rushed into print even if they don't live up to their full potential, and manuscripts that aren't problem-free are still rejected no matter how much potential they may have." The bottom line for most fiction writers is that self-editing isn't optional: it's a requirement.

Self-editing encompasses a full range of issues ranging from the nitty-gritty details of word choice, punctuation, and grammar up to analyzing the big-picture elements of fiction.

CHARACTERS. Are readers provided with enough details to visualize the characters? Is sufficient background provided for readers to understand the character? Does the character have appropriate motivation to justify his actions? Does the main character experience growth during the story?

PLOT. On the macro level, does the story have an appropriate beginning, middle, and end? Are subplots interwoven into the story? At the mid level, does the story ebb and flow with an effective mix of scenes and sequels? At the micro level, are scenes and sequels powered by cause and effect?

SETTING. Is the setting interesting? Is setting incorporated into each scene and sequel? Does the broad milieu of setting add depth to the story? How does the setting affect the characters? Is setting used to help develop the story's themes?

THEME. Does the story evoke an overall theme? Do the subplots suggest other themes? How is theme reinforced through characters, plot, setting, and style? By the time the reader reaches "The End," how will he have changed?

STYLE. Are spelling, punctuation, and grammar as close to professional level as the writer can get them? Do sentence, paragraph, and chapter construction contribute to the story? Have writing modes been utilized appropriately? Is the story told from an appropriate point of view? Do the tone and rhythm of the writing contribute to the story experience? Is the style of writing appropriate for the story?

Fiction, especially novel-length fiction, can be a complicated monster. To control fiction, the writer must wrestle the beast. Fortunately, that's part of the fun of it.

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