Let’s face it, we all judge books by their covers. The same is true for writing. Good presentation is key to publication because it shows that you both care about your writing and respect the editor’s time spent reading it. To help you along the way, I have provided my top five books on editing written by successful authors and editors.
1.) The Artful Edit by Susan Bell: A quick an easy guide to the basics of self-editing, this book explores the importance of revision through the editorial collaboration of The Great Gatsby as well as through tutorials, strategic tips, and exercises. Susan Bell inspires readers to think beyond the stereotypes of editing to discover the art of creating great writing.
2. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King: With superb ratings on Goodreads, Amazon, and many other book-reviewing sites, Self-editing for Fiction Writers provides editorial advice on manuscripts. From dialogue to general formatting, Browne and King have developed key advice and tutorials about all the aspects of a manuscript based on the many books they have personally edited. In addition to hands-on exercises and anecdotes, the book provides illustrations from cartoonist George Booth for those visual learners (like myself).
3. SAVVY Self-Editing: A Guide for Developing Your Own Editing Process by Anoinette Wayman and Tony Jaymes: Down to earth and straight-forward, this book breaks down the editing process into three stages: Content, Sentence, and Copy Editing. The authors provide techniques, examples, and charts to ensure every writer can apply these editing techniques to suit their work in the best way possible. Getting editors and agents to read your book takes a solid understanding of self-editing, the application of which must support your unique style and voice. If you’re one to experiment with your work, then this is the book for you.
4. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King: Hype for this book is not based on King’s popularity alone, his memoir explores his journey through the craft of writing and provides advice stemming from personal experience. The book is rooted in King’s captivating life-story with advice on writing and publishing woven between artful descriptions and relatable anecdotes. A clear majority of reviewers call it a “must-read for writers” whether you’re a Stephen King fan or not. Take it from a guy who’s succeeded––he probably knows what he’s talking about.
5. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott: Perhaps the most specific of these suggestions, Bird by Bird provides writers with advice on writing from “Shitty First Drafts” to “Publication.” Woven between bits of personal experience, Lamott’s book on editing is humorous, relatable, and easy to understand. She has a bit of advice for every step of the writing process.