Edits Every Author Should Learn

Happy Thursday! We're one step closer to Friday! Today I wanted to talk a little bit about editing and the basic things all authors should know to save time on their own edits as well as making life easier for their editor.

Know the house guidelines. You won't know these the first time you publish with them, but you'll learn them quickly. You need to know if your publisher uses OK, okay, or ok. You see, each house has a preference on how they want all there stories to be and your story is no exception.  Some use alright, while others use all right. Another thing to learn is scene breaks. Does the pub was three asticks close together *** or three with a space between * * *. Is there a difference with scene break and point of view change? All things you want to pay attention to and know. It never hurts to ask your editor for a style sheet

as well  you can save.

Aside from that, learn some of the basics for commas and dialogue tags/action.

"I am Lacey," she said. <--A comma goes before the quotation because this is a dialogue tag. And the she is lower case.

"You're funny." She laughed. <--A period is before the quotation because laughing is an action. Also note that she she is capital.

"I don't like Joe." <--No comma before Joe because the person is not talking to Joe.

"I don't like you, Joe." <-- A comma is before Joe because the person is speaking to Joe.

So, there is a little editing 101. Nothing complex or will make you the next star editor. But knowing these few things will save you and your editor time.

Got a tip of your own, I'd love to hear it!