El Dorado Publishing

Editing a Fiction Manuscript

HOW TO BECOME A
SOUGHT-AFTER EDITOR

MAKE SURE YOUR

GRAMMAR IS IMPECCABLE
SOMETIMES RULES AND
No one is perfect and you may come across WORDS CHANGE
some grammar rules you haven't heard before.
Always keep yourself up to date!
This is when you bring out your grammar
books and review grammar sites.

READ AND KNOW THE LOSE YOURSELF IN

GENRE YOU ARE EDITING THE BOOK LIKE A READER
It is important that you are not just
Read the manuscript for the first time as if
familiar but well immersed in the
you were a reader.
genre you are editing.
Pay attention to your reactions, feelings,
You must know the tropes, the
doubts, and questions. Raise these to the
expectations, and the needed plot points.
author.

P0RUEA

DEVELOPMENTAL
COPY AAD
EDITING
=
=
WORD FLOW
STORY FLOW

Keep these in mind:

Keep these in mind:
- If revisions need to be made,
- Understand what the author is trying
ask the author to do them
to say: what story is she trying to tell?
- Work using track changes so
- How can you help her tell it best?
author can see your edits

PRESERVE THE VOICE REVIEW THE

OF THE AUTHOR AUTHOR'S REVISIONS

Discuss what the author wishes Once you have given your suggestions,
 to say before editing.  review the author's changes.

Do not rewrite the story.  Be open minded and remember

that it is still her book. 
Offer suggestions but allow the author
to come to the conclusions But also point out your
and revisions herself. possible misgivings.

Visit www.reallygreatsite.com for more tips.

www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl
www.oed.com
 El Dorado Publishing
Editing a Fiction Manuscript

HOW TO
BECOFWEFWEFWEFWME
A SOUGHT-AFTER
EDITOR

MAKE SURE YOUR

GRAMMAR IS IMPECCABLE
SOMETIMES RULES AND
No one is perfect and you may come across WORDS CHANGE
some grammar rules you haven't heard before.
Always keep yourself up to date!
This is when you bring out your grammar
books and review grammar sites.

READ AND KNOW THE LOSE YOURSELF IN

GENRE YOU ARE EDITING THE BOOK LIKE A READER
It is important that you are not just
Read the manuscript for the first time as if
familiar but well immersed in the
you were a reader.
genre you are editing.
Pay attention to your reactions, feelings,
You must know the tropes, the
doubts, and questions. Raise these to the
expectations, and the needed plot points.
author.

P0RUEA

DEVELOPMENTAL
COPY AAD
EDITING
=
=
WORD FLOW
STORY FLOW

Keep these in mind:

Keep these in mind:
- If revisions need to be made,
- Understand what the author is trying
ask the author to do them
to say: what story is she trying to tell?
- Work using track changes so
- How can you help her tell it best?
author can see your edits

PRESERVE THE VOICE REVIEW THE

OF THE AUTHOR AUTHOR'S REVISIONS

Discuss what the author wishes Once you have given your suggestions,
 to say before editing.  review the author's changes.

Do not rewrite the story.  Be open minded and remember

that it is still her book. 
Offer suggestions but allow the author
to come to the conclusions But also point out your
and revisions herself. possible misgivings.

Visit www.reallygreatsite.com for more tips.

www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl
www.oed.com