The Ultimate Guide to Editing Your Novel: A revolutionary approach to transform your writing

by Sara Grant

Overview

When it comes to creating children's and YA fiction there is often a focus on how to start and write until you reach an ending … But what happens when you have a finished manuscript of hundreds of pages? How do you transform your rough draft into a publishable one?

Expert author, editor, mentor and lecturer Sara Grant provides the answer through a systematic approach to editing. Her step-by-step guide demystifies the process of preparing a manuscript for submission to agents and publishers or for those self-publishing. It is a lifeline for new writers and those intimidated by the world of publishing; for more experienced writers it is an invaluable diagnostic tool to dip in and out of.

This practical workbook includes exercises and examples for:
- Interrogating your idea
- Enhancing your plot
- Scrutinising characters, chapters and scenes
- Analysing sentence and word choice
- Honing your unique voice
- Writing with sensitivity for young readers
- And finally, polishing your manuscript for submission.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399418867
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/27/2025
Series:	Writers' and Artists'
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.85(d)

About the Author

Sara Grant writes across genres, having authored comedic magical books, action-adventure series and edgy YA novels. Her books are published by Scholastic, Little, Brown and Orion. She is a plot editor, consultant for inclusive fiction studio Storymix, and a creative writing tutor at Goldsmiths, University of London and the University of Winchester.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction
How to use this book
Chapter 1: Interrogating your idea
Remain true to your vision; Read for inspiration; Big picture analysis; Write your pitch; The responsibility of writing for children
Chapter 2: Character by character
Interrogating your protagonist; Secondary character examination; Character continuum; Tangled characters
Chapter 3: Finding the plot
Structural edit; What is plot?; Solutions to your plot problems; Tackling your theme; Managing the middle; Plot formulas
Chapter 4: Chapter by chapter
Conscious creation; Structure; Taking inventory; For inspiration; Checklist
Chapter 5: Scene by scene
Identifying a scene; Breathing life into a scene; Setting and atmosphere; Checklist
Chapter 6: Honing voice
What is voice?; Point of view; Present or past tense?; Excavating voice; Enhancing your voice
Chapter 7: Writing with sensitivity
Tough questions; Dos and don'ts; Think big, think small; Checklist
Chapter 8: Sentence by sentence
Examining each sentence; Discovering how you tell a story; Checklist
Chapter 9: Word by word
Word choice; Tighten your writing; Checklist
Chapter 10: Beginnings and endings
Hooking readers from the opening pages; Evolution of an opening; Prologues; The end; Epilogue
Chapter 11: The final polish
Crafting the perfect title; Final check; Line editing and proofreading; The final proofread; When to stop
Chapter 12: Ready for the world
Why you need an agent; Choosing an agent or editor; Preparing your submissions packet; Never give up!

Resources and references
Acknowledgements
Author biography
Index

Editorial Reviews

I thought I was good at editing, but Sara's systematic methods were next level. She is the unrivalled expert in the field.” —Sue Wallman, award-winning author of YA thriller I Know You Did It

From the Publisher