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Editing Bootcamp: A Fiction Writer's Guide to Self-Editing
Looking to self-publish on a low budget but can’t compromise on quality?
Want to polish your book before querying an agent?
Are you a newbie fiction editor wanting to learn developmental editing?
Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.
Lots of books teach the craft of writing but not many focus on reworking, polishing, or self-editing. Learning editing skills shouldn’t be restricted to a privileged few. All writers should have access to strategies that can change a crude first draft into a polished work of art.
Editing Bootcamp will demystify the editing process by showing you how to spot and avoid common pitfalls, and correct the mistakes.
Inside you'll find:
•Actionable steps for all stages of editing.
•Seven fiction elements including structure, point of view, characters, dialogue and more.
•Handy editing checklists.
Take your writing to the next level with this concise how-to guide. Edit yourself into print.
Scroll up and Look Inside to read a sample or Buy Now with 1-click!
Want to polish your book before querying an agent?
Are you a newbie fiction editor wanting to learn developmental editing?
Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.
Lots of books teach the craft of writing but not many focus on reworking, polishing, or self-editing. Learning editing skills shouldn’t be restricted to a privileged few. All writers should have access to strategies that can change a crude first draft into a polished work of art.
Editing Bootcamp will demystify the editing process by showing you how to spot and avoid common pitfalls, and correct the mistakes.
Inside you'll find:
•Actionable steps for all stages of editing.
•Seven fiction elements including structure, point of view, characters, dialogue and more.
•Handy editing checklists.
Take your writing to the next level with this concise how-to guide. Edit yourself into print.
Scroll up and Look Inside to read a sample or Buy Now with 1-click!
59 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2020
12 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Dola Basu Singh
5 books14 followersDola Basu Singh is a cozy mystery author and a professionally trained fiction editor. Many of her short stories have been published and she has won an Editor’s Choice award from Indiereads for her short fiction.
She lives in a small yet picturesque village in Punjab, India, and loves nothing better than to sit under the mango tree in her courtyard with a book in hand, sometimes day-dreaming and sometimes writing, when she is not otherwise occupied editing manuscripts or reading storybooks with her son.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 22, 2020
Though I am not a book author, but when I was reading her book, I felt how we are drawn to a book we are reading if it has a great flow, does not confuse us and keeps us hooked. This is the work of the author, whose name we see on the book cover and also of the unsung hero of the book, the editor, who irons out the creases and what we get is a neat picture.
She has gone into the nitty gritties of editing right from plotting the book to self editing it before sending it off to the editor and publisher. And in today’s time of self-publishing, this is very important. Imagine reading a book that jumps from one place to another. I have read one such book, and unfortunately could not finish it.
This is the first book of a two part series and in this book the author has touched on a few topics like the aim of self-editing, how to spot the elements missing in your writing, common mistakes made, and she says that she aims to demystify the editing process by showing the writers how to spot errors. At the beginning itself the author says that this book is not a how-to writing guide.
In this book, the author has talked about the stages of editing, the types of editing, the process. She talks in detail about the seven major elements of fiction ie structure, point of view, characterisation, plot, setting, dialogue and conflict. At the end of each chapter she has put in a checklist which would be useful to the author.
This book is a must read for every author, whether we write manuscripts, documents, or even reviews. I shall now try to structure my reviews in this manner.
I am looking forward to Book 2 by this author.
She has gone into the nitty gritties of editing right from plotting the book to self editing it before sending it off to the editor and publisher. And in today’s time of self-publishing, this is very important. Imagine reading a book that jumps from one place to another. I have read one such book, and unfortunately could not finish it.
This is the first book of a two part series and in this book the author has touched on a few topics like the aim of self-editing, how to spot the elements missing in your writing, common mistakes made, and she says that she aims to demystify the editing process by showing the writers how to spot errors. At the beginning itself the author says that this book is not a how-to writing guide.
In this book, the author has talked about the stages of editing, the types of editing, the process. She talks in detail about the seven major elements of fiction ie structure, point of view, characterisation, plot, setting, dialogue and conflict. At the end of each chapter she has put in a checklist which would be useful to the author.
This book is a must read for every author, whether we write manuscripts, documents, or even reviews. I shall now try to structure my reviews in this manner.
I am looking forward to Book 2 by this author.
June 3, 2020
A must- have guide for first- time authors and editors, Editing Bootcamp is not a guide to writing a perfect novel, but is a book that will tell you what to look into, what to take care of, etc, should you decide to publish your work. It is a book that will give you an insight into the world of writing and editing in just a few concise yet all-encompassing chapters. Here the author herself an experienced editor with quite a fan following :), discusses threadbare the various processes involved in self-editing, Now for a reader or for an author for that matter, this process could .seem cumbersome. However, Dola Basu Singh presents the nitty-gritty of self- editing in a style that is not only enough to capture the reader’s attention, but also make the process look easy and doable. A nightmare of many, self-editing can actually turn out to be interesting if one is to follow the simple tips Dola lays out here. The only condition is that one needs to look at one’s manuscript with an dispassionate eye. One has to take a role reversal and become a reader instead of an author. The flaws will show themselves up and thus pave the way for corrections, corrections, and corrections. The end result…..A book that will be loved by he who picks it up. Now isn’t that what we all dream of :)
Now coming to what I liked about the book -
1) It is well structured (I’m not surprised since it is brought out by a person who knows her job in-and-out)
2) The contents are presented in an engaging manner, a manner that makes the read easy and interesting. Hence, no question about skipping paragraphs or pages here.
3) The editing checklists at the end of each chapter. They make the author’s job easier.
So, whether you intend to self–publish your next work or go in for traditional publishing don’t hesitate, pick up this book. It will help you sail through the editing process with ease.
Now coming to what I liked about the book -
1) It is well structured (I’m not surprised since it is brought out by a person who knows her job in-and-out)
2) The contents are presented in an engaging manner, a manner that makes the read easy and interesting. Hence, no question about skipping paragraphs or pages here.
3) The editing checklists at the end of each chapter. They make the author’s job easier.
So, whether you intend to self–publish your next work or go in for traditional publishing don’t hesitate, pick up this book. It will help you sail through the editing process with ease.
June 2, 2020
As a reviewer and as a writer, I hate unedited books. They are not only difficult to read but also make me get irritated with the author, which does not bode for a good review.
That is why I downloaded Dola Basu Singh's book as soon as I heard about it. Dola Basu Singh has a reputation of being a really good editor and so I was eager to read what she had to say about editing.
I must say her book exceeded expectations. It is so well written that there is no excuse for anyone who has read her book to not edit their work.
She talks about the need for editing not just at the hands of a professional editor, but self editing the first draft by the author itself. This step itself will improve most books by leaps and bounds.
The book is a must read for all writers as well as those making their foray into the editing world.
This is bootcamp one and the author has covered the floowing aspects in this book :
1. Structure
2. Point of View
3. Characterization
4. Plot
5. Setting
6. Dialogue
7. Conflict
She does not tell you how to write them but rather how to spot mistakes and lapses in them. I loved how clear her instructions are and how simple her language is. What totally won me over were the checklists at the end of each chapter.
If you as a writer follow these, I am sure your readers will never cringe at mistakes and lapses in your book.
I am eagerly waiting for the next book in the series to come out.
That is why I downloaded Dola Basu Singh's book as soon as I heard about it. Dola Basu Singh has a reputation of being a really good editor and so I was eager to read what she had to say about editing.
I must say her book exceeded expectations. It is so well written that there is no excuse for anyone who has read her book to not edit their work.
She talks about the need for editing not just at the hands of a professional editor, but self editing the first draft by the author itself. This step itself will improve most books by leaps and bounds.
The book is a must read for all writers as well as those making their foray into the editing world.
This is bootcamp one and the author has covered the floowing aspects in this book :
1. Structure
2. Point of View
3. Characterization
4. Plot
5. Setting
6. Dialogue
7. Conflict
She does not tell you how to write them but rather how to spot mistakes and lapses in them. I loved how clear her instructions are and how simple her language is. What totally won me over were the checklists at the end of each chapter.
If you as a writer follow these, I am sure your readers will never cringe at mistakes and lapses in your book.
I am eagerly waiting for the next book in the series to come out.
June 2, 2020
This self-editing guide by Dola Basu Singh is not a long book. But within its short length, it teaches you about the most important elements of writing and how you can edit to make them perfect. In a very clear and concise way, Dola Basu Singh explains the steps of editing and the writing mistakes you should look out for. The book is well-organized, easy to understand, and full of useful tips.
The best thing about this editing guide is the checklists the author has given after every chapter. At first, all these points may look daunting. But they are very sensible advice and will definitely make your writing more polished.
Dola Basu Singh is an experienced editor. Her knowledge and experience appear clear in the book. This book does not just show how to edit, it also has plenty of wise advice about how to write.
* I received a review copy from the author.
The best thing about this editing guide is the checklists the author has given after every chapter. At first, all these points may look daunting. But they are very sensible advice and will definitely make your writing more polished.
Dola Basu Singh is an experienced editor. Her knowledge and experience appear clear in the book. This book does not just show how to edit, it also has plenty of wise advice about how to write.
* I received a review copy from the author.
January 10, 2020
This is a very handy booklet for any writer wanting to venture into a published fiction author. Dola has not only peeled the onion layer by layer, but has also put a checklist towards the end of each chapter for you to take note. I am looking forward to Book 2 by this author.
June 5, 2020
“Editing is a human skill.” – Dola Basu Singh
This was invariably the first and last thought of this book, and it stays with you. Editing is an aspect of writing that is equally important as the process of writing itself, for a badly-written tale never gets any reader.
Editing maybe a totally alien concept for some, or the writers may not be fully aware of what exactly goes into editing any manuscript. Editing Bootcamp places the A-Z of it in front of the readers, helping them achieve a clarity on the entire process. Also, it shows you how self-editing is a doable thing even when the entire process may look a little complex and overwhelming at times.
Dola has brilliantly detailed each step in the editing process in a clear manner, without rushing through any of the topics. The checklists she has given at the end of each section is utterly helpful and surely, something that the writers (like me) would go back to at each stage of self-editing.
Reading this book has established a sense of confidence that self-editing is a doable task and also that we can excel at it given we take care of the pointers provided. This is a must-read to know everything about the term “editing”. If you have the concept clear, self-editing is something that you can surely do before sending off your polished manuscript to the professionals.
This was invariably the first and last thought of this book, and it stays with you. Editing is an aspect of writing that is equally important as the process of writing itself, for a badly-written tale never gets any reader.
Editing maybe a totally alien concept for some, or the writers may not be fully aware of what exactly goes into editing any manuscript. Editing Bootcamp places the A-Z of it in front of the readers, helping them achieve a clarity on the entire process. Also, it shows you how self-editing is a doable thing even when the entire process may look a little complex and overwhelming at times.
Dola has brilliantly detailed each step in the editing process in a clear manner, without rushing through any of the topics. The checklists she has given at the end of each section is utterly helpful and surely, something that the writers (like me) would go back to at each stage of self-editing.
Reading this book has established a sense of confidence that self-editing is a doable task and also that we can excel at it given we take care of the pointers provided. This is a must-read to know everything about the term “editing”. If you have the concept clear, self-editing is something that you can surely do before sending off your polished manuscript to the professionals.
March 3, 2021
This book has really good informative information for the developmental stage of editing. Especially for beginners. I I personally have not yet published my first book so I found the recommendations really helpful and I hope it helps me improve my writing so I can be published. The stages of editing beyond development are mentioned and why they are an important part of the process but it was not the main focus of this edition. This leaves me excited to see what comes next and I look forward to the next installment. This book by the way it was organized and the title suggest this is part of a series that will go into more depth as you get closer to the next stage(s) of editing.
For me as a novice I felt the information provided was very well developed. If you have published before this could serves as a good refresher or help you see steps you may have missed.
For example, it was suggested that you should always look for ways to increase conflict. I think it really depends on the specific storyline and type of characters. Some stories need more mystery, intrigue or the amount of character interactions or development so that is all story driven at that point and is not an absolute since each type of book is individual.
This book is a great learning tool for developing your own judgment on how to develop your story and make sure it fits together as a cohesive book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
For me as a novice I felt the information provided was very well developed. If you have published before this could serves as a good refresher or help you see steps you may have missed.
For example, it was suggested that you should always look for ways to increase conflict. I think it really depends on the specific storyline and type of characters. Some stories need more mystery, intrigue or the amount of character interactions or development so that is all story driven at that point and is not an absolute since each type of book is individual.
This book is a great learning tool for developing your own judgment on how to develop your story and make sure it fits together as a cohesive book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 25, 2021
This book didn't have steps for every stage of editing. Although the other stages were pointed put and reasons given for their importance, this book gives steps only for developmental editing. I assume the next book in this series will cover the next stage(s) of editing. Nothing included was new to me and most of the advice is pretty common. I don't like how many absolutes were used. For example, it was suggested that you should always look for ways to increase conflict. I think it really on the specific story and amount of conflict because I've read plenty of books that had too much conflict to the point that I stopped caring and didn't finish reading. This is just one example where I though it shouldn't be an absolute.
As long as you remember to use your own judgment on what fits your story, I think the advice in here can be helpful for those who aren't already familiar with developmental editing
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review, but my opinions are my own.
As long as you remember to use your own judgment on what fits your story, I think the advice in here can be helpful for those who aren't already familiar with developmental editing
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review, but my opinions are my own.
March 5, 2021
This was a relatively short book on the beginning stages of self editing.
I liked how the author addresses what is not going to be covered in the book and what kind of information you can expect to find.
The book was very well laid out and easy to maneuver. I enjoyed reading through it although I don't think I'm at the point where I'm ready to start editing just yet and am looking forward to returning to it when I'm able to put all of the tips and information into practice. I also think that a lot of the things that are included in the checklists that are provided in each of the sections are good things to keep in mind while writing your drafts. It may help in the editing process later.
I liked this book and can't wait to see the next installment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked how the author addresses what is not going to be covered in the book and what kind of information you can expect to find.
The book was very well laid out and easy to maneuver. I enjoyed reading through it although I don't think I'm at the point where I'm ready to start editing just yet and am looking forward to returning to it when I'm able to put all of the tips and information into practice. I also think that a lot of the things that are included in the checklists that are provided in each of the sections are good things to keep in mind while writing your drafts. It may help in the editing process later.
I liked this book and can't wait to see the next installment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 6, 2021
I love how this author is so willing to help others with thier passion or even for a first time writer. The information that is provided has you thinking about things you would have never thought about. You get the hows and whys of what to do in this. I think it will be very helpful for the firsttime not to mention someone that is already a budding author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 4, 2021
This first part of a guide to self editing has more than tips. There is a certain technique that this particular writer has. Easy to follow, detailed, defined and understanding. Thanks to this guide my thoughts on my writing had changed
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 9, 2021
Solid advice on how to polish up your first draft. I'm a novice to self-editing and found it really useful having someone explain what I should look out for. Checklists at the end of a chapter were very helpful.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews