The Novel Writing How-To Blog
Follow the Write Your Novel Now! Blog to learn how to write your novel in months rather than years!
Creating a sense of verisimilitude in your novel
Verisimilitude is an important element of fiction writing because it helps to create a sense of immersion for the reader. When a story is believable, the reader is more likely to suspend their disbelief and become emotionally invested in the characters and the plot.
image source: https://amzn.to/45oSFzD
Big picture issues 101: The dreaded plot hole
Plot holes can be frustrating for readers and can take them out of the story. They can also undermine the credibility of the story and make it difficult for readers to suspend their disbelief. That's why it's important for writers to carefully review their work and ensure that the plot is consistent and follows its own internal logic.
image source: https://amzn.to/3qER21H
How to start revising your novel manuscript
Editing your own writing can be challenging, but it is an essential skill for any writer. By practicing these strategies, you can improve your editing skills and produce high-quality writing.
image source: https://amzn.to/3QVAQ6D
Why is it so hard to revise your own writing?
There will always be gaps between what you think you have written and what you have actually put on the page, but it is often difficult to see those gaps until you have found a way to make space for alternative perspectives besides your own.
image source: https://amzn.to/3PbLILx
What to focus on when revising the rough draft of your novel
It can be tempting to look at all the work you did writing your first draft and just call it “done” without making any changes. But revising a novel manuscript is an essential task in the writing process that you simply cannot skip if you want your first-time readers to become repeat readers.
image credit: https://amzn.to/47OPAu8
The revise & refine stage of the novel writing process
The key differences between revising, editing, and proofreading lie in the level of detail and scope of changes involved in each level of revising and refining. Thus, the revise and refine step of the writing process begins by first looking at the manuscript as a whole before narrowing the focus to individual chapters, paragraphs, and sentences.
image credit: https://amzn.to/3Osgm2E
What is a developmental edit, anyway?
A developmental edit is a type of editing that focuses on the big-picture elements of a novel manuscript such as its structure, plot, character development, and theme. Developmental editors help authors to identify and fix problems with manuscripts such as weak plot points, underdeveloped characters, or an unclear story arc. They may also offer suggestions for improving the manuscript's overall readability and impact.