Once upon a time, in a fantasy world of writing, publishing houses employed editorial staff to help writers polish their work for more public appeal. Fantasy over. Now a writer must be both an editor and an author. Accepted work is generally published as submitted without the aid of a seasoned eye. It is imperative to put your best foot forward and know that your manuscript is solidly ready for public reading.
First Chapter
Narrative writing certainly has its place in a work of fiction but it doesn't belong in the first sentences of the first chapter. Gone are the days when a writer had the leisure of leading the reader on a slow journey around the setting. The difference between a selling novel and a would-be selling novel is very often as simple as show vs. tell. In the book, Self-Editing For Fiction Writers, the statement is made; 'You want to draw your readers into the world you've created, make them feel a part of it, make them forget where they are. And you can't do this effectively if you tell your readers about your world second-hand. You have to actually take them there.'
Characters
Nothing excites the reader more than meeting a character they can love, or hate, or compare to themselves. Janet Evanovich's books are extremely popular due in part to her main character, Stephanie Plum. Modern women understand and associate with Plum's sometime bungling actions. Just as earlier century women felt empathy with Jane Austen's characters. Things to avoid when building character are summarizing or sketching your character for the reader. Let them make up their own mind by planting subtle hints regarding the character's traits and habits.
Point of View
Generally fiction books are written in three points of view. First person, third person and omniscient. Each is limiting and each has an advantage. First person keeps the story in the main character's prospective. Third person point of view allows you to move between characters letting the reader become more involved with each of the players in the book. Omniscience provides more freedom by not confining the narrative to an specific character but it lacks intimacy, the result may be loss of the readers emotional interest. Some authors, however, use all points of view within the same book but that can create confusion and must be handled with the utmost care.
Reading Aloud
Reading your work aloud is one of the most effective tools for self-editing. Reading into a tape recorder is even better. When you play it back you can hear the rough places, the too long sentences, and other problems.
Source: Self-Editing For Fiction Writers, Renni Browne and Dave King, HarperCollins Publishers,1993
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