Fiction / Novel Editing

The sentence that opens Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s acknowledged masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude has achieved the rare distinction of being considered one of the most gripping introductory lines ever written. It immediately introduces the reader to not only the author’s distinctive ‘voice’ but his unique style; the light, charismatic and sure touch that is the hallmark of his novels, the body of work for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. Whether the genre is historical, romance, fantasy, thriller, adventure, science-fiction or mystery, a novel is a work of fiction and a great opening line can make it memorable and One Hundred Years of Solitude works as a most magnificent example of the novel in all its fictional guises. With its childlike fantasy and exploration of the many faces of solitude, grief and happiness there is a timeless and enduring connection in this remarkable novel that invites rereading and the reward that accompanies it of layer upon layer of previously unnoticed themes and details.   There is scarcely anything in the novel that does not serve the plot or its many sub-plots, and throughout it all, the style of Marquez remains uniquely his; lucid and easy to read.

Developing Marquez’s wonderful example further; writing an opening sentence that sets the style and tone of your work will introduce your protagonist, and subtly seed some of the themes to be developed in your novel. It sets your reader on an unstoppable path. In other words, the opening is the hook,and must create something that entices the reader (agent and publisher) to read further.

WordsRU’s online editorial service understands how strongly writers feel about preserving their own distinctive ‘voice’ and having their fiction writing remain true to their original concept. We understand that authors want an editor who can improve the quality of their writing, enhancing the overall presentation but not changing the style of writing or the story. Whether you are attempting your first novel or you already make a living as a professional writer, WordsRU’s experienced professional editors will check your manuscript for trouble spots leaving you free to concentrate on the creative side of writing.

Our professional editors thoroughly check your manuscript including a grammar check, as well as correcting punctuation, tense, spelling and typographical errors. During our copy edit and substantive edit, we will strengthen or rework sentences as may be appropriate to heighten the impact and flow of your narrative. Our fiction writing editing will also ensure that word choice, sentences and paragraph structure are consistent and carrying your story in a fluid and readable way. In addition, during the course of the edit the balance, structure, layout and overall presentation of the manuscript will be considered and you will receive feedback from your editor about these aspects.

If you are a first-time author, it is best to complete your manuscript before approaching an agent or publisher. Write your novel, work on it until it is in the best shape possible, then — to give it the best chance of that hoped for favorable reaction — ensure that it is professionally edited and allow WordsRU’s experience to give your work its best chance of success.

In addition to the importance of your opening lines, here are a few other tips from WordsRU’s
experienced professional editors on writing and editing fiction:

• Use your own unique perspective on life as the basis for your writing.
• Prepare a story outline that includes all the characters and plot developments. Use it as a ‘map’ as you create your story. The map is not locked in concrete – it can be altered to reflect developments that occur once you are under way — but it will keep you on track. Remember that you do not need to start your story at the beginning, and that prologues can be a very useful writing tool.
• Develop your plot so that every action/scene builds and reinforces the tension/conflict and impact (and be flexible in moving sections around to achieve this).
• Establish your characters with telling details that make them appear real — make them compelling and interesting.
• Remember that a reader’s own imagination plays a large part in their understanding and enjoyment of what they are reading.
• Be flexible – if you are on the wrong path, start again. What you have done is not wasted as you will carry forward what you have learnt to the next manuscript.
• Make sure you keep control of your chosen voice (or voices) throughout the work and check for any unintentional slips or lapses. 
• Dialogue should serve to advance the story otherwise it can become tedious.
• Strong writing evokes each of the senses. Active voice is stronger than passive voice. Similarly, strong verbs work better than verbs supported by adverbs.
• Make sure that there are no loose ends (the outline ‘map’ is a big help with this).
• Get your manuscript professionally edited – not your best friend who might do it as a favor. Be prepared to invest in yourself — you will be surprised at what a fresh pair of eyes comes up with and how helpful the feedback and comments are in taking your work to the next stage!