These Handy Hints sections are offered for emerging writers to use absolutely free of charge and I will add to them from time to time.
The valuable role of the delete button
I have been working on the latest DCI John Blizzard novel and am editing the final version before I submit it to the team at my publisher (The Book Folks, a Joffe Books company) for consideration for publication.
As I have mentioned in blogs before, but it’s worth mentioning again, even at this late stage an author still has to be prepared to be brutal with their words.
In my case, the words that tend to become victims of the delete button turn out, when I analyse it, to be the ones which were written to increase the word count.
Now, in the final edit, they must go because they’re unnecessary, usually excess dialogue or internal point-of-view passages that overdo it.
Does that mean I wasted my time writing them? Far from it, they were the words that triggered those many others that did survive.
When they are removed in that final edit, it’s like removing the bits of scaffolding that kept the building up when you were still engaged on construction but are now no longer needed.
Removing them tends to give the remaining chapters extra pace and a sharper focus and, for me, the words that don’t make the final cut are just as important as those that do.
The tried and trusted Page 95 Test
I am working on the latest DCI Jack Harris novel and will find myself with a working first draft in a matter of weeks.
My guide when assessing it will be the Page 95 Rule, hence turn to page 95 (always page 95, book after book, in the interests of consistency!) and read it top to bottom. If it’s an excellent page, you know you have produced a good draft, if it’s not very good… you know the rest!
It may sound simplistic but I have never known the Page 95 Test to fail.
The rules behind the creation of fiction
If you find these hints useful, I have brought everything I know about the craft of fiction into a book called On Writing. Covering everything from creating plot and place to characters and tension, from how to beat writers’ block and how to translate the author’s personal experience into compelling fiction, from taking in an overview of the opportunities presented to emerging writers by the dramatic changes in the publishing industry and including my thoughts on approaching publishers and agents and preparing manuscripts for self-publishing, the book is available in ebook (99p) and paperback £5.00 formats on Amazon.
On Writing also has expert contributions from authors, publishers, editors and experts working with literary organisations and builds into a compendium of valuable advice for writers seeking their big breakthrough. You can also hire editing, mentoring and proofing services through me. Details are included in the Editorial Services page on the main menu.
John Dean - Crime Writer 