Today I’m taking part in the blog blitz for Editing Your Novel’s Structure by Bethany A. Tucker. This short, punchy guide to assessing and editing your work is a must read for anyone who has just started on their writing journey and is looking for next steps after finishing their first draft. It’s supportive, it’s informative, and it will leave you feeling like there’s hope for your hot mess of a manuscript after all.
Title: Editing Your Novel’s Structure: Tips, Tricks, and Checklists to Get You From Start to Finish
Author: Bethany A. Tucker
Publication Date: December 26, 2020
Publisher: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Nonfiction
Themes: Writing, Craft, Editing
Synopsis
Editing Your Novel’s Structure: Tips, Tricks, and Checklists to Get You From Start to Finish
Before it’s time to check for commas and iron out passive voice, fiction writers need to know that their story is strong. Are your beta readers not finishing? Do they have multiple, conflicting complaints? When you ask them questions about how they experience your story, do they give lukewarm responses? Or have you not even asked anyone to read your story, wondering if it’s ready?
If any of the above is true, you may need to refine the structure of your story. What is structure you ask? Structure is what holds a story together. Does the character arc entrance the reader? Is the world building comprehensive and believable? These questions and more have to be answered by all of us as we turn our drafts into books.
In this concise handbook, complete with checklists for each section, let a veteran writer walk you through the process of self-assessing your novel, from characters to pacing with lots of compassion and a dash of humor. In easy to follow directions and using adaptable strategies, she shows you how to check yourself for plot holes, settle timeline confusion, and snap character arcs into place.
Use this handbook for quick help and quick self-editing checklists on:
– Characters and Character Arcs.
– Plot.
– Backstory.
– Point of View.
– A detailed explanation of nearly free self-editing tools and how to apply them to your book to find your own structural problems.
– Beginnings and Ends.
– Editing for sensitive and specialized subject matter.
– Helpful tips on choosing beta readers, when to seek an editor, and a sample questionnaire to give to your first readers.
Grab your copy of Edit Your Novel’s Structure today! Now is the time to finish that draft and get your story out into the world.
Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Editing-Your-Novels-Structure-Checklists-ebook/dp/B08PSP82ZQ
US – https://www.amazon.com/Editing-Your-Novels-Structure-Checklists-ebook/dp/B08PSP82ZQ
Review
As a newer writer I have always found that approaching texts on craft, editing, and story structure to be intimidating and occasionally a little dense, so when I saw that Tucker’s book was aimed at novice writers and was only 135 pages, I jumped at the opportunity to get my hands on it. And let me tell you, it was absolutely worth it!
If you’re looking for a positive, uplifting guide to applying a critical eye to your own work, consider Editing Your Novel’s Structure to be a clear voice in your cheering section. It gives you permission to finish that first draft – affectionately called a beautiful mess – no matter how flawed it may be, and guides the reader through processes in which major flaws can be ironed out after the draft has been completed. It breaks big concepts like plot, pacing, and character arcs down into smaller more manageable chunks and provides a wealth of checklists to aid in the process.
It was heartening to see so many anecdotes and common mistakes sprinkled throughout, as they provide both humour at moments where many authors struggle with their own works and the tools needed to overcome those obstacles. While some of the advice has been heard before (sometimes we all need a little repetition for it to sink in) there are tons tip and tricks that make perfect sense and spark those ‘aha’ moments.
This quick reference tool is something that I will be keeping on hand and referencing again and again. It’s highly accessible, broken down into intuitive sections, and provides a wide array of further readings for those that want move beyond the basics and into the nitty-gritty.
I strongly recommend this resources for any aspiring writers!
About the Author
Bethany Tucker is an author and editor located near Seattle, U.S.A. Story has always been a part of her life. With over twenty years of writing and teaching experience, she’s more than ready to take your hand and pull back the curtain on writing craft and mindset. Last year she edited over a million words for aspiring authors. Her YA fantasy series Adelaide is published wide under the pen name Mustang Rabbit and her dark epic fantasy is releasing in 2021 under Ciara Darren. You can find more about her services for authors at TheArtandScienceofWords.com.
Social Media Links – theartandscienceofwords.com, mustangrabbit.com
Many thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in this Blitz.
MiniMac Reviews 
Fantastic review I’m tempted by this one!
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Honestly, you wouldn’t regret it! It’s so teachable and approachable 🙂
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