The document provides tips for authors on revising their work for submission, including taking time away from the initial draft to edit with fresh eyes, eliminating unnecessary details, clarifying ambiguities, and having beta readers provide honest feedback on how to further improve the story and flow of the writing. Authors are advised to work closely with editors, as editors aim to strengthen the work by suggesting changes to better convey the story, and their role is to catch any issues before readers do to create the most polished manuscript possible.

1. Getting ready for submission and
working with your editing team

2. So write your heart out!

3. Make it
about more
than just
sitting
down and
telling your
story. Learn
to tell your
story to its
best effect.
•Study constantly.
•Blogs and craft books are great resources,
but other authors works have a lot to teach
you, too.
•What do your favorite authors do that allow
them to tell their stories effectively?
•Study films and TV shows.
•Learn and practice new techniques.

4. What effect
does it have
on the
story?
Does it help
you tell a
better
story?
How will it
affect the
reader’s
experience?

5. Harry Potter:
Too long for the target audience.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane:
Adverbs. Lots of them.
The Time Traveler’s Wife:
First person, present tense.

6. Spit, polish, repeat

7.  Give yourself a cooling-off period
after your initial draft.
 About a month is good. This will
allow you to come back to the draft
with fresh eyes.
 Read through your manuscript
again
 Eliminate instances of showing, not
telling where possible and effective.
 Eliminate unnecessary adverbs.
 Clarify ambiguous story points or
character actions/motivations.
 Improve the sound and the flow of
language.

8. It can mean the difference
between an acceptance or a
rejection (or bring new meaning to
the phrase “family dinner”).
You editor is there to help you
polish, not to re-punctuate your
manuscript.
Same goes for spelling and
grammar.
Take the time to make your
manuscript as perfect as it you
possibly can. It shows.

9.  Give your manuscript to a few other people who can be trusted to give you
honest, unsentimental feedback.
 Honest, constructive criticism is key at this step. Someone telling you that it’s
perfect and doesn’t need any more work is not helpful at this stage in the
process.
 Likewise, someone who will only tell you what’s wrong without pointing out what
is working isn’t much help.
 Consider what your beta readers tell you and revise accordingly
 Repeat as many times as necessary.
“Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or
doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right.
When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and
how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.”
– Neil Gaiman

11. Gives us the Precious!

12.  12-point font, usually Times New Roman or Courier
 1-inch margins all the way around
 Paragraphs left-justified
 Double-spaced (unless the publisher or editor requires something different)
 Only one space after the end punctuation of a sentence. (Seriously. Two spaces
give the formatters an eye twitch.)
 No extra line between paragraphs.
Always, always – no matter what – check the publisher’s/agent’s guidelines and
follow their instructions to the letter.
Each one is a little different, and not following directions can mean that your
manuscript is never even read, no matter how awesome it is.

13. Your editor is your friend.
No, really. Why are you laughing?

14.  An editor will provide comments and
suggestions aimed at strengthening
problematic aspects in the work,
both stylistic and substantial.
 Your editor may suggest changes
and/or clarifications in the story, or
alterations to the language.
 Ask questions so you understand
why suggested changes are being
proposed.
 DO work with your editor. Try to
reach an understanding of the
editorial needs of your work and
balance them against your vision.
 You're the author; ultimately it's
your work.

15. But that’s just not true.
 You editor’s job is to catch any issues or mistakes in your
manuscript before your readers do. And readers WILL catch
them. (Want proof? Google “Harry Potter plot holes.”)
 Your editor is there to push you to make your manuscript as
perfect and polished as possible. Sometimes that means
pointing out what isn’t working in the story and nitpicking your
comma placement.
 Besides, your dog is adorable!