iUniverse shows you How to Proof your First Draft – Part 2

Our first article, iUniverse shows you How to Proof your First Draft – Part 1, looked at screen revision or print out, revision completion date, and starting your revision. In this second editorial we take you further into the processes needed to complete your first draft in a timely and hassle free manner.

Where to place your corrections

Using double-lined and good margins around the proof will give you plenty of space for amendments and reminders. Use the margins for dialogue which is vague or a prompt of how a character looks. Larger ideas can go in your notebook.

Red ink is best for deletions, blue for insertions and the other two colors as a day by day swap, making it easier to see each day’s changes. Use the same colors in your notebook for improved changes to the storyline.

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iUniverse shows you How to Proof your First Draft – Part 1

Here at iUniverse we know that as an author there comes a time when the plot has been followed, the characters have made their play and the hero walks into the sunset, and you place “The End” on the final page of your manuscript. Hours, days, weeks and many months of penning thoughts and ideas into what you hope is to be one of your biggest accomplishments is complete.

At this point you’ve probably had another inspiration bubbling away, and you’re champing at the bit to start writing. The hero and tale you have just completed has had its time, it’s become lackluster and grey, the storyline old. A seasoned author knows to hold back the reins of their new project and bring home the one waiting to be cleaned up and patted down ready for its journey into the publishing world.

Generating the will power and energy to edit the manuscript you have finished is yet another hurdle. Whether you edit it once, twice or ten times, it’s advisable to come up with a plan to make it the best you can before pushing it out the door. Here are some ideas to consider when revising a proof.

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iUniverse gets you to your First Draft – Part 2

Our first article, iUniverse gets you to your First Draft – Part 1, highlighted two specific areas as you start your first draft, the title where we gave you some ideas on the best options, and penning your book which covered areas of organization. In this second editorial we take you to the next steps in the journey with how to layout out your manuscript, writing or using a keyboard and living with your book. Writing is a big task and knowing what’s involved will make the journey more fun.

Laying out your manuscript

Having plenty of space around what you are writing will be very helpful when it comes to making your proof more attractive to work with and giving enough space for any edits you place on a proof. Set your page margins so your copy block is about 10.5cm (4.2 inches) wide and 18cm (7 inches) tall. This should, depending on your paper size, center your copy box in the sheet of paper.

Writing or using a keyboard

No matter which method you are using; a pen, pencil or keyboard and in some cases voice-recognition software which is now relatively inexpensive; the procedure you implement for writing should be a constant. Once your notes and research material are divided into chapter piles you can spread them out over an area, in an order which you understand and start writing from what is in front of you. Remember what you are penning is your first draft, it’s not Shakespeare. It’s just your thoughts, ideas and if appropriate a plot, being put into a semblance of order. Whatever you do, get it down somewhere on paper or a hard disk and make a copy!

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iUniverse gets you to your First Draft – Part 1

In this the first article of a two part series, iUniverse gets you to your First Draft, we look at what is critical in your journey to how, when and what you should be doing to get to the end of your first draft smoothly and with less hassle.

With all new endeavors we all have a tendency to jump in head first with only a small thought of the consequences further along the line. Writing and publishing is no different than any other. Insufficient planning the first time you put your foot into the publishing pool can give you a big headache.

iUniverse Publishing understands that each book has its own intricacies. If you are writing fiction for children you might have to involve an illustrator for the drawings. Deciding to write a non-fiction book on birds may mean having a photographer aboard. In both cases, the illustrator and photographer need to be paid and credited, unless you are in collaboration which in many cases makes life a lot easier in the long term.

Make sure the funds you have put aside for writing and publishing are used wisely because you certainly don’t want to miss a potential writers’ conference or large book fair due to you not following a planned schedule.

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10 iUniverse Tips on How To Edit Your Drafts

Before handing on your manuscript to your editor, it’s a must to take care of the basics to facilitate the editing of your book. If you think you have no use for an editor and you can weed out unnecessary words and correct misspellings and grammar slips all by yourself, we hope to ease your task with these iUniverse editing tips.

Learn the rules as a foundation for book editing skills.

When editing a book, it is important to use grammar and punctuation correctly. There are several resources available to help you improve these skills. The Brief English Handbook by Edward A. Dornan and Robert Dees is a required reading for English majors at American universities. It covers grammar, punctuation, and the writing process among other English skills, in great detail.

See more at: http://www.iuniverseselfpublishing.com/after-publication/editing-drafts/

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