Writing Mistakes to Catch When Self Editing Your Book (with Examples)

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Self-editing your novel or book doesn't have to be a painstaking process. Learn how to self-edit and spot common writing mistakes to hone your editorial eye. Here I walk through five easy mistakes you can catch and fix when self-editing your manuscript. With these tips, you'll be well on your way to strengthening your story and preparing it for publication (if that is your goal).
5 MISTAKES TO CATCH WHEN SELF-EDITING YOUR BOOK:
01:48 - Switching tenses
03:53 - Inconsistent POV
08:19 - Pet phrases
12:14 - Improper punctuation
16:30 - Lengthy paragraphs
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8 янв 2021

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Комментарии : 105

@creatingwithlove Год назад

There are a few other things that are relatively easy for you to catch in your self-editing but that can be absolute killers for story immersion: - Timeline errors (events happening in a sequence that don't make sense, like a character dying September 20th but three weeks later it's Christmas Eve.) - Continuity errors (a character that has fire red hair in chapter 3 but hair as black as pitch in chapter 19 and there's no explanation provided for the change in color) - Backstory!!!! My friends, my friends - it is good for you to know the character's full backstory. It is not necessary for the reader to know backstory unless it has direct bearing on the sequence of events taking place in that moment. And, even then, find a subtle way to work in the details needed to provide the insights you want the reader to get.

@jwstanley2645 3 месяца назад

I agree. I will never again finish what I call Salad stories. These are stories where it seems the writer wrote the story, chopped it into bits, tossed the bits like a salad, and put them into the book in no particular order. Gone Girl, for example was such a mess, jarring from POV to POV2 with no markers.

@brianhershon2531 2 года назад

I am writing a historical novel. Your tutorials are SO helpful I never miss them. Really appreciated.

@AlyssaMatesic 2 года назад

Thanks for the kind comment! Best of luck with your novel :)

@knghtmajic 2 месяца назад

Stumbling across your channel was a pure miracle. I have two books published, but I know there is so much more I need to learn, and wish I could have found this channel two books ago. My version of Imposter Syndrome is really causing me to force my writing forward, which is not good at all. Thank you for your insight. It is greatly appreciated.

@paulrobinson9087 3 года назад

This video on editing is so refreshing. There are a lot of booktubers whose editing videos are simply which words to cut from your manuscript, and there are a lot of grammar videos which are more suited for those learning English. Here you have really hit the mark with self-editing, which editing programs, such as Grammarly and ProWriting Aid, which are excellent in themselves, are unlikely to catch such errors. Keep up the great work.

@AlyssaMatesic 3 года назад

Thank you so much, Paul! That's exactly the gap I was looking to fill with this video. I'm so glad you found it helpful.

@brindlebucker4741 3 года назад

I enjoy your videos. I especially appreciate that your content is structured- not just personable rambling. You build and explain your points in a systematic way. The written examples are a very effective tool, and I hope you continue using them. I think it's always going to be tricky for you to find exactly the right tone to take. On authortube, the content-creators can be sarcastic, funny, ramble down tangents etc because 'I'm the author, and I'm cool!' But the editor is the one who has to give the cool author the hard news that their writing needs work. It must be a challenge to offer this sort of criticism in a way that is authoritative yet friendly and positive. I feel like you are striking a good balance. Keep it up.

@AlyssaMatesic 3 года назад

Thank you very much! That's great feedback to receive!

@adaddinsane Год назад

Thank you for knowing that paragraphs are a tool for anchoring the reader's position on the page - and not "a complete idea". As a magazine editor for 20 years, this was a crucial tool to help readers. Using a computer to read-aloud is another very useful tool for self-editing, because you tend to read what you think is there, but a machine reads what is actually there.

@intellectually_lazy 10 месяцев назад

i love paris in the the springtime

@masonengel636 3 года назад

I’ve been trying to write down my “pet phrases” when I notice them (I used to use “slightly” like a maniac 😂). But I haven’t thought of checking my manuscript for too-meaty paragraphs. I do believe in the aesthetic power of white space on the page though, because it’s of course not solely aesthetic, so I’ll have to bear that in mind when I start my next editing project.

@AlyssaMatesic 3 года назад

It's funny how we all have our own pet phrases. I use "definitely" a lot in my writings and communications. White space is so key and powerful! It really allows you to control the flow and pacing of the story. Thanks for watching!

@book3376 2 года назад

“Like”, “just”, “more”, and “slightly” are big ones for me!

@book3376 2 года назад

“Like”, “just”, “more”, and “slightly” are big ones for me!

@book3376 2 года назад

“Like”, “just”, “more”, and “slightly” are big ones for me!

@danielkelley7548 2 года назад

In the novel I'm currently working on, the entire book is written in 1st Person POV, but then switches in the last section to 3rd Person "close" POV because the kicker is that the main protagonist was reading the book to his grandkids the entire time. Is this something you'd recommend staying away from? I personally love that kicker at the end.

@kelseywood174 Год назад

Another fabulous upload, thanks! I have been committing these literary sins for years because no one told me they were detrimental to my work. Now I know exactly what to look for when self editing.

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Glad it was helpful!

@Undidiridium_ Год назад

Times like these make me thankful for also writing fanfics. I started picking up on my pet phrases when I shifted from writing in one fandom to another and notice the certain description/words I liked to cling too. Although there is still a lot of it in my book but at least I'm more aware of it now

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Being aware is half the battle! Thanks for your comment :)

@thatguyfromcetialphaV 2 года назад

It's funny because I always begin speech with Well or So. It's a hard thing to break out of.

@brianmagazu 2 года назад

lol to pet phrases exemplified in a scene about pets-- quality content

@timothychapman9787 7 месяцев назад

I'm writing a series of science fiction novels set in the 1980, with ties to historical connections to the present and blood lines have crossed many times, also there is a journey where the characters tie the story together and it continues to grow from there.

@seankrug4995 2 года назад

I really enjoy your videos. I’m about 75,000 words into my first novel about Ancient Rome. Your tips have been super helpful. Thanks!!

@Ao3AnotherLady 5 месяцев назад

Just a thought -- in breaking down paragraphs, you might want to set your page and font size to that of a novel. Like 5"x8" with a Times font of 10. Then you get a real idea of how much space your paragraphs will take up on the page of a book, not on a sheet of letter-sized paper, which I believe is the general default for WP programs.

@samanthabucktowar8004 2 года назад

This is very helpful! Thank you!

@terribuckner3256 2 года назад

Thanks Alyssa. Your videos really help organize my self-editing process.

@IchNachtLiebe 5 месяцев назад

I'm self editing my first novel right now. I dont have the funds for a professional editor at this time (maybe I will for future novels). Having people read my work has helped; Family, friends, beta readers. Especially when it comes to humor in the text. Trying to tell a joke that doesnt hit can often just be gutted. But, it is so hard to recognize a bit of humor that i think is a knee-slapping gem that other people just dont get because their humor is different. A poorly placed joke can ruin a chapter or scene and a second pair of eyes is essential.

@markmarkel5120 Год назад

Your Video’s have some sound advice. I see most of your followers enjoy your comments. Being older and having more life experiences. I find some of comments critical of authors. You seem to think reader to critical of authors. If that was truth a lot of books never get read. I have read NY best sellers and have not been that impressed. You have good knowledge of the industry. But you make sound like it’s a waste of time. When your 50 maybe you can revisit these video’s. I will finish my book and just like so many others follow the path of publication. It may not work. It’ s nice to have you, Abby, Jena, Brandon, Jerry Jenkins for all the advice. U tube been great help to get me this far. Thanks

@KarrGalaxyStudios 2 года назад

Great editing tips! The examples really help. Thanks!

@AlyssaMatesic 2 года назад

Glad it was helpful!

@kevinharper888 2 года назад

Excellent! Thank you.

@russellmarvin2850 2 года назад

I really do appreciate your video on editing. I can see I need to go back and redo some of the book to include this editing suggestions.

@AlyssaMatesic 2 года назад

I'm glad my videos helped your editing process!

@jacobschlote9658 3 года назад

Enjoying your videos so far. They are helpful and I can get an editor’s perspective. I found your channel on Reedsy, by the way.

@AlyssaMatesic 3 года назад

Thanks so much for the kind words and checking out my channel!

@robertnorok 3 года назад

Seeing how I'm self-editing right now, this came at the right time. Thank you!

@AlyssaMatesic 3 года назад

I'm so glad! Best of luck on the editing journey!

@bigphilly7345 2 года назад

Your voice is so soothing. Oh yeah, and your videos have great content too.

@kaylanorth1772 Год назад

Thank you for this set of examples. I am in the process of editing a new work-in-progress, and your post was an EXCELLENT reminder. This wasn't just a good review. I feel I also learned a few new things :D

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

How exciting! Best of luck with editing!

@williamhartin1627 Год назад

This video was profoundly informative and helpful, and I will utilize every single one of these tips in my next self edit pass. Thank you!

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Glad it helped--best of luck with your edits!

@waynegathers587 8 месяцев назад

Alyssa, thank you for sharing your insights when it comes to editing especially paragraphs and first person or third person present and past tense. In addition to breaking down paragraphs that will make the reading flow a lot easier on the page. Some of your suggestions I have implemented into my own writing. My first novel that I'am currently working on it's called aqua 7. 👍

@tyzy8411 3 года назад

I have (well, I guess everyone does) a few phrases and descriptions I use a lot, but I've learned to stay alert while writing them and try to find synonyms on the spot. The searching method is super helpful tho if you're not sure where you put yours. Loved the video, I'm sure a lot of newbie writers will take from it!

@AlyssaMatesic 3 года назад

Thanks so much, really appreciate it!

@lisev415 Год назад

1:49. Yesss 😩

@bencowles2105 3 года назад

I am working on getting some of my novels published and have been doing a lot of editing to get them ready for submission. Some times I have to be brutal but it is worth it because I can see the improvements and an agent can see it too. They typically do not like getting manuscript a with a lot of blatant errors because it is telling point that the author did not put the work in to get the book ready. Love the videos I am going to look through your other videos for more good tips and information keep up the great work.

@AlyssaMatesic 3 года назад

Thank you Ben! I'm always glad to hear that my videos have helped someone. Best of luck with submitting!

@jwstanley2645 3 месяца назад

Right. Self-editing is difficult. Honestly, in a great many pieces online, I see a huge lack of it. I can easily feel disappointed in professionals, such a in The New York Times, the LA Times, etc. These people should easily proof read one another's work. I see the same in RU-vidrs, some of whom plan, record, edit videos well, and others who post badly made pieces. SO, yes, self-proofing, and self-editing is hard work.

@emm6724 Год назад

I’ve never published but I’ve been writing for nearly 20 years for fun. It makes me proud to watch a video like this and know that I don’t make those mistakes anymore. I should publish my book.

@kristiestes22 7 месяцев назад

Do it !!🎉

@Greed23 3 года назад

This was great and I'm happy that I've been looking for most of these already on my second draft. Although the overuse of semi-colons was definitely something I needed to hear! I'm using them correctly (I hope!) but I think it probably comes off as showy and I definitely don't want to distract from the text. Was wondering where you would recommend finding a trustworthy editor-for-hire and what is, in your experience, a reasonable price for a editor pass at a novel? Thanks for the video!

@AlyssaMatesic 3 года назад

So glad the tips were helpful! I recommend Reedsy for finding professional editors. The platform vets all their professionals to ensure they have substantial industry experience. And you can search by genre to find an editor who specializes in your specific category. Each editor sets their own rates, and the rates also depend on the type of editing you're looking for (an assessment, a developmental edit, a copy edit, etc.), as well as the manuscript length, so your best bet is to request a quote.

@dalemills2906 2 года назад

Thanks for giving us your advice and knowledge. it's not just fixing commas and rewriting. Rewrite to accomplish what?? now I have a much better idea.

@AlyssaMatesic 2 года назад

Glad it was helpful!

@annmanzo 3 года назад

Great, thank you. My issues are semi-colons. Working on it.

@bencowles2105 3 года назад

That one example you read about the intruder in the cabin did not make any sense at all. Intruders do not usually take off their shoes when they break in. Aside from the punctuation errors it did not make sense. I know it was just an example but if I read something like that It would be a dead giveaway that the writer has lost the realism of the story. It would make me skeptical about reading more. Love the video. Lots of useful information. Cant wait to see more.

@AlyssaMatesic 3 года назад

Good call!

@My52PickUp 3 года назад

I really appreciate your videos and they have a lot of great information, but that background music is distracting. Thank you for the great advice.

@SteveJubs 5 месяцев назад

This example of omniscient POV head hopping is exactly how Dune, one of the most celebrated works written in English (though, admittedly, not for its writing, really), is written.

@S.A_Lloyd 5 месяцев назад

Very polite intruder, taking their shoes off 😊 I love the content, would like to hire you as an editor when I've finished my first draft 😀

@absolutelycitron1580 20 дней назад

Waffle is such a cute name for a doggo

@simngezahayo 4 месяца назад

Hey Alissa, thanks for the great tutorial! I’m working on a memoir and I like the present tense because it makes my story vivid. However, there’re some cases where I feel like the story sounds off in the present (for example, something that happened before I was born). I’m leaning towards using both tenses but would love to hear your thoughts on this.

@AlyssaMatesic 4 месяца назад

Hi there! It sounds like you might be referring to flashback scenes, in which case you would definitely want to write those in past tense (while keeping the rest of the narrative in present). I have another video about writing flashbacks that you might find helpful: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HdlFu31cThg.html Good luck with your story!

@johnpauldagondong2720 3 года назад

question about POV: can a specific chapter be 3rd person close, since the main character is the only one important in that chapter, then as we move along in other chapters, it becomes omniscient because we also get the perspective of side characters?

@stuartmitchell6991 Год назад

Pulling teeth is an understatement lol. Its like slowly having the life sucked out of you🤣 Needs must and first query went out today. Thank you for all the wonderful advice.

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Congrats on taking that first step! Querying is hard but ultimately worth it, once you get signed with an agent!

@stuartmitchell6991 Год назад

@@AlyssaMatesic I thought your post re how many to query was great. I thought maybe 10 and if nothing bin that mss lol

@tylersluys8599 Год назад

For dialogue, what about writing who the speaker is and then their following statement? Example: Dustin - "Why didn't you eat before we left for the concert?" Mary - "I was expecting vegan options to be included there."

@samcleaver3315 2 года назад

Wonderful content. Since I know you have several years professinally editing, I will use your suggestions. How much does it cost to have a editor go through a book that has already been edited in a program like Prowriting aid?

@brianshaughnessy4020 Год назад

For my 130,000-word manuscript, for just grammar editing a professional editor was going to charge me about $1,700. What really helped me was buying the latest Chicago Manual of Style and thoroughly reading it. I then stuck to it in self-editing my book. It's a lot of work but it will prevent grammatical inconsistencies.

@robinisawriter Год назад

Is a convergence of third-person omniscient and close third-person fine when it’s separated through chapters?

@zrienkersh1475 2 года назад

How to get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia was all 2nd person POV and worth reading!

@AlyssaMatesic 2 года назад

I'll have to check it out! Thanks for the rec!

@markunger1098 5 месяцев назад

Would you recommend doing this as you go or when you’ve finished the first draft?

@philippeberard8319 3 года назад

Hi Alyssa. Thank you for your great help. I have watched several of your youtube with the greatest interest. I have at the present 8 fiction projects in the works. I manage to alternate between one and the others without problems. I'd like to talk about your services and how you could help me in successfully publish my work, whether self-published or conventionally published. Thanks in advance. PS I don't know when to check if you post a reply. Do they send a notification to my email?

@d.j.mcclure78 2 года назад

I have a lot of good ideals but can't seem to stay in one place long enough to get anything done. Any suggestions?

@intellectually_lazy 10 месяцев назад

i figured continually referring to a character as dark eyed, or having a crooked smile, or as a fool was an epithet, i'm more worried a had 2 different characters refer to the blinding blue backdrop of the sky independently, but it was pretty far apart at least

@intellectually_lazy 10 месяцев назад

idk, it's kinda like, you're watching x files and you see the flare of a cigarette cherry as it is drawn on deep in the shadows. you know who's there

@rowan7929 3 года назад

Nice video. I can recommend ProWritingAid. Compatible with Word. It has helped me to find many mistakes and words I have repeated. Yes, it's not a 100% accurate, especially with its suggestions in sentences but it did help me to find mistakes I missed, even after reading several times through it. Also, it will highlight how many verbs or adverbs, adjectives, etc, which again, will help to reduce a huge amount, as it again, comes up with suggestions.

@AlyssaMatesic 3 года назад

It is definitely helpful to see how many adverbs and adjectives you're using, as many of them can likely be deleted to streamline the prose. Thanks for adding this tip!

@learnloveteachrepeat 2 года назад

Present and past tense was a terrible edit in my memoir. It made me dizzy. Interesting points. Thank you. Do you recommend any reliable way to find a dependable beta reader or editor?

@AlyssaMatesic 2 года назад

I did a video on how to find a book editor here!: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ovlO3Hk7cDM.html As for finding beta readers, there are definitely groups online on Facebook and other social media platforms where people shout out their manuscripts/offer beta reading services. While the vetting process can take a while, finding a good beta reader team is worth it!

@learnloveteachrepeat 2 года назад

@@AlyssaMatesic thank you so much! I did watch the video and am so grateful I have stumbled upon your videos.

@codingwithguyfranciscopoli9887 Месяц назад

I fail to see how switching from omniscient to close third person is really a problem. I guess then I'm doomed to make this mistake forevermore.

@dumbshow Год назад

More granular tips like this would be great.

@lapacker 3 месяца назад

It helps reading your manuscript 20,000 times so you can catch everything! Even then, you can't be certain.... so better make it 20,001 times!

@KateJack777 3 года назад

All good :+>

@brucefreeman-ws8sj 2 месяца назад

Do you ever serve as an agent? I would love to have your help. I am talking about my second novel, which I want to be traditionally published. I self published a novel three years ago - The Great Mr. Lloyd - great reviews, 4.5 rating. Still available on Amazon. Now, I want to go traditional route. I think I really have something here. Crime novel. 50000 words.

@davidcoller5033 2 года назад

I am enjoying your videos a great deal. Thank you. I remember reading Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" (I know, I know. Yuck.) where 4 different characters "pitched forward". That book never saw an editor. Also, a grammar error in one of your examples: At 13:15 "...there were a set of men's tennis shoes..." This should read "...there was a set of men's tennis shoes..." shouldn't it? A "set" is singular.

@AlyssaMatesic 2 года назад

Good eye David! Thank you for your comment :)

@MrDanroche 2 года назад

I have a hard time with the close and omnipresent third person narrative.

@goosewithagibus Год назад

Maybe it's just me, but I actually like omniscient third person that head hops a bit. Not a ton, just a bit.

@danielburns1556 2 года назад

Since omniscient knows all, couldn't the omniscient narrator narrate what the characters are thinking? You mentioned the bottom two paragraphs making a switch from omniscient to close third person, but I don't understand, because I thought the omniscient narrator can reveal what each character is thinking because the omniscient narrator knows all. Would those bottom two paragraphs have leave out the thoughts of the characters for the example to be omniscient? The narration ques the reader into who is doing the thinking, which provides a switch to the character doing the thinking, while still being from the omniscient narrator's perspective. Can an omniscient narrator say what characters are doing internally, such as thinking, feeling, sensations, etc? Or does mentioning those things make it third close? I don't want to confuse anyone, so no one listen to me, please!

@chuckwieser7622 2 года назад

For your Julie Todd and Amy example... Couldn't a Omni-3rd describe what's going on in each person's head. The whole passage, especially the first paragraph, makes it sound like its third person omniscient.

@melvindodson6827 Год назад

You are very beautiful and smart

@francessheldrick908 2 года назад

Closed Captioning is a mess.

@ye_zus Месяц назад

You seem to have an incorrect view of what omniscient means. It means 'all knowing.' Meaning the narrator can hop in-and-out of characters heads as it likes. The example you showed is clearly all written in omniscient POV. Yes, head hopping is its own issue, but I would expect a professional editor to understand terms that high schoolers learn. Omniscient narration is absolutely allowed interiority.