Editors will charge a small fortune and some will attempt to influence your judgement about everything involving your work. The demand for payment comes first, before the first round of so called editing begins. Successful authors often say we should learn to edit. A necessary pain of editing will save a potful of cash for an enterprising author.
Microsoft Word is my choice for a writing platform for reasons that could be confusing should I attempt to explain now. The backward P is an invaluable feature for checking spacing of words and sentences. Click to turn on to make the effect visible and off to remove the text effect. Word has many valuable features, including spell check. It will, at certain times, correct spelling where it is not needed. Reading as you write should dispense with the erroneous correction. Always follow the necessary pain of editing.
I like the attitude LOUIS L’AMOUR had when he said, ‘I will do my best in writing and try to do it again, while I am able.’
Once you have done your best, leisurely read the text and make changes to glaring miscues. The purpose is to assess the value of what is written, while relaxing and enjoying reading. Put yourself in the place of a person who bought your publication and begins reading.
The difficult parts are next. Make the sentences speak to the reader, as best you can with following corrections. Keep your unique personal touches by not attempting to pattern your work after some other author. A necessary pain of editing should be done several times.
Another round of correcting spelling, punctuation and word usage. Simple is best, but helping the reader understand and enjoy is paramount.
As I grew in my early days spent reading as I savored expanding my vocabulary and kept a dictionary close by.
A cardinal rule seems to be that a comma should be used before AND in all cases, almost. I am rebellious when it comes to that thinking. The word AND connects. If a comma is needed, my thinking is to use a period and make another sentence.
Edit again and again, when you feel more editing is needed. At some point Google Docs should be used. Contact me to have further instructions at ronaldwalkerauthor.com. When you have finished using Google Docs, run the text thorough another process using Word Editor. Endure the necessary pain of editing as it will require patience and effort.
I now come to an introduction for the use of ARC readers. They can be your best allies. Find them through social media and have an understanding that they will have a copy from a publisher after the final publication is completed. A necessary pain is editing, again and again. Protect your work by publishing it as an eBook on Smashwords.com/signup and join, before you allow someone to have access to a copy of your work. This brings me to elaborating about a subject I am proud of, my work. South Of The River , Best Of Luck , Rafe Coleman Federal Marshal , Rayford Coleman Civil War Veteran , Rayford Coleman Texas Cattleman , Never Too Late , Decorated For Duty , Buzzard Shields South , Buzzard Shields America , Buzzard Shields North , Rodeo Radiance , Rodeo Reunion , Rodeo Reimaged , Neighbors With Benefits , Sexy Assassin . Click on each title to go to the book page on Smashwords. Click the button marked Read On Line for freedom to read a percentage of the text Smashwords.com allows. Choose the book to read and send a message on ronaldwalkerauthor.com website telling your email address to have a half of coupon for your use on Smashwords. With an agreement of an honest review for the eBook I will email another coupon for your next choice.