The Publishing Performance Show

Dave King – Self-Editing Techniques Every Fiction Writer Must Know Before Publishing


Listen Later

Dave King is a professional fiction editor with over 35 years of experience and co-author of the bestselling writing manual Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, which has sold over 200,000 copies and been adopted as a textbook worldwide. With translations into Italian, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Korean, the book maintains its position in Amazon's top 10 fiction writing manuals. Dave apprenticed under Renni Browne, a former editor for William Morrow and Stein and Day, learning the craft through hands-on manuscript work. Today, he helps authors at all levels refine their manuscripts through his unique 50-page collaborative editing process that trains writers to become their own best editors.


In this episode:

  • 30-year backlist bestseller adopted as textbook, 6,000-7,000 copies annually
  • Philosophy degree to glass grinding plant to professional editor
  • Apprenticeship as the only way to learn editing
  • 50-page back-and-forth collaborative editing technique
  • Copy editing vs. mechanical vs. creative editing
  • Point of view as the #1 issue in manuscripts
  • The cottage cheese test for character perspective
  • The dialogue voice test for distinct character voices
  • Why writers as beta readers can be dangerous
  • Diagnostic reading report at $2 per page before detailed editing
  • More forgiving of narrative summary in sci-fi and historical fiction
  • How J.K. Rowling broke all the rules but created effective world-building
  • Real editing transformation: changing the ending with the supportive boss
  • Finish your manuscript before hiring an editor
  • ING phrases and subordinate clauses that weaken writing
  • Multiple beta readers agreeing means pay attention
  • Fourth-Ringing Tonguishness: Anglo-Saxon vs. Latinate words
  • Hitting manuscripts with fresh eyes like a reader would


Resources mentioned:

  • Writer Unboxed: Archive of Dave King's editing articles
  • Notable article: "Fourth-Ringing Tonguishness" (on Anglo-Saxon vs. Latinate language)
  • Paul Anderson's analog magazine essay (1980s) on translating atomic physics into Anglo-Saxon equivalents


Book Recommendations:

  • Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060545690?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl


Connect with Dave King:

  • Website: www.davekingedits.com
  • Editing services and consultation information available on website
  • Article archive with topical index available under "Advice" section
  • Diagnostic reading reports: $2 per page (250 words per page)


Connect with Teddy Smith:

  • @teddyagsmith
  • Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
  • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
  • Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
  • Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
  • Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
  • Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/



...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Publishing Performance ShowBy Teddy Smith

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

12 ratings


More shows like The Publishing Performance Show

View all
The Sell More Books Show: Book Marketing, Digital Publishing and Kindle News, Tools and Advice by Bryan Cohen and H. Claire Taylor: Self Publishing Author Entrepreneurs

The Sell More Books Show: Book Marketing, Digital Publishing and Kindle News, Tools and Advice

313 Listeners

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

624 Listeners

Self-Publishing with ALLi by Alliance of Independent Authors

Self-Publishing with ALLi

58 Listeners

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience by Kelton Reid

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

224 Listeners

SPA Girls Podcast by SPA Girls podcast - self publishing for authors

SPA Girls Podcast

102 Listeners

The Self-Publishing with Dale Podcast by Dale L. Roberts

The Self-Publishing with Dale Podcast

72 Listeners

Writer's Routine by Dan Simpson

Writer's Routine

311 Listeners

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

8,985 Listeners

You Are Not Broken by Kelly Casperson, MD

You Are Not Broken

1,086 Listeners

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips by Savannah Gilbo

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

1,465 Listeners

The Indy Author Podcast by Matty Dalrymple, The Indy Author

The Indy Author Podcast

34 Listeners

Self Publishing Insiders by Draft2Digital, Kevin Tumlinson, Mark Leslie Lefebvre, Dan Wood

Self Publishing Insiders

25 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

29,265 Listeners

Brave New Bookshelf by Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite

Brave New Bookshelf

22 Listeners

Indie Writers Club by James Blatch & Cara Clare

Indie Writers Club

13 Listeners