The Complete Guide to Editing Your Fiction

by Michael Seidman

Using an easy-to-reference format, experienced editor Michael Seidman shows writers how to approach fiction editing from three macro editing, style editing and market editing. Writers will learn to reread their manuscript paying close attention to the continuity of narrative elements, such as point of view, characterization, sequencing and dialogue. After revising and rearranging these elements, writers will edit stylistic aspects, scanning their work with foolproof techniques that ensure proper spelling, grammar and word choice. This guide also teaches how to edit work from a marketing perspective, so writers can keep the expectations of their readership firmly in mind as they title their manuscripts and write their submissions.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, How To

Paperback

First published July 31, 2000

Reviews

[Debbie Wentworth Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seidman guides authors in how to edit and improve their stories. He covers a broad range of topics from beginning through style. Using one of his own short story manuscripts, he guides the reader through the editing process and includes the finished product. He provides several pages of checklists to use as you revise.

I found it a useful and helpful guide.

[Amanda Erickson · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I understand why he did it, placing samples throughout the book of his short story in various stages of editing seemed a little too egotistical than helpful. Pages upon pages are devoted to JUST his story, OVER and OVER. I don't think I would have minded as much had the story been 2-4 pages long, but when it was about 40 pages long... Come on! What a waste of paper (and should I have bought it instead of borrowing it from the library, I would have said "what a waste of $").

However, after saying that, there is a section of 3 revision case studies of other people's work that was good/helpful.

It has some good info in it, but there are a few other books I've been reading recently that say basically the same thing, but in better ways, for example: "Write Great Fiction: Plot and Structure" by James Scott Bell and "Revision: A Creative Approach to Writing and Rewriting Fiction" by David Michael Kaplan.

[Stasa Fritz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is "not bad," but not great. The advice on editing is in some sense a restating of what you are told to put into your fiction in the first place. That said, through the author's own prose and through interviews with others, he gives EXAMPLES of what their fiction looked like before and after. This alone was fairly useful.

It is not a fast read and there are some parts that need ignoring, but it is a valuable piece in the arsenal of writing.

[Lindsey Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a broad outline of what to look for in revision and editing - and in doing so, it mainly regurgitates texts on various aspects of writing itself, only in less detail and not as successfully. Where it becomes more successful is in the micro-editing, discussing word choice, phrasing, and the necessity of each piece. What pushed me from two stars to three were the three examples in the middle, where he takes a sample opening and breaks down why it doesn't work and how to fix it. This whole section was excellent.

On the negative, there are multiple repetitions of the author's short story in its editing process ... and honestly, in all phases of the story, I found it unappealing. There's also a certain condescending air when he talks about genre fiction, which grates on the nerves.

If you can borrow this book, I would focus on the later chapters with the examples and those where the author goes through smaller edits. The pages on specific word choice are thought provoking.

[Merenwen Inglorion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had been planning on skimming through this in a search for tips on problem areas for me (description, mainly), and ended up reading this all the way through. This book contains tips that are beneficial to writers no matter where they're at in their manuscript. From basic guidelines to fine points on plot and character, you're sure to find something that will help you on your journey. There are also several book recommendations (fiction and non) along the way.

The examples of fiction given aren't to my usual taste (most are romances, or contain more cursing than what I'm normally comfortable with), but they weren't as "adult" as most examples that I've come across, so that was refreshing.

I'll be adding this to my reference shelf, right next to Browne and King.

[Clifford Wollum]

Spent near 6 months on this one book.

[Adrienna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was struggling with one of my novels and to see how he not only condensed the story to have more meaning and action; it also shows how it was developed in dialogue, mood, flow, and so forth. I hope I can do it and blessed to have test readers now on board for these three novels that I'm not so sure about. Writers have to go through the drafts, no matter how many it takes, before sending to editor and then publisher.

[Rich Inman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished my first novel I thought, "Time to send this out!" I was lucky enough to be asked for three sample chapters, and was then promptly told I needed help.

I was then referred to this book, which literally changed my writing! It's a permanent addition to my library as I refuse to lend it out so that I can reference and re-read it.

If you want solid help on getting better editing your fiction, look no further!

[Laura Gilfillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good general advice. The author uses his own work to show the process of revision, uses other examples too. Best advice: reread your manuscript in type, where you can make notes. Also, it is more work, but by completely re-typing your manuscript you'll find other places to make changes and the work benefits. Another exercise to try is to take another author's book and edit it--an interesting method to hone your writing skills.

[Carl Brookins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Seidman, once active as an editor in the crime fiction area, is a highly knowledgeable, if sometimes irascible, man. But his understanding of the reader and of the way good genre fiction should be constructed is excellent. His talent is amply demonstrated in this volume. Every author should have this on their bookshelf.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've written or are thinking about writing your own fiction, I highly recommend this.

[Rachel E. Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful book I would recommend to most writers. The examples he uses are a bit long and boring but he does point out some great ideas. Gave me many things to thing about.