An Editing Checklist

Hello, writerly friends, and welcome to another installment of What's Up Wednesday.  WUW is a blog hop created by Jaimi Morrow and Erin Funk to keep writers connected and encouraged.  For more information, check this out.

What I'm Reading:  I am currently reading AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES, by the masterful John Green.  If you have ever watched Mr. Green's vlog and thought to yourself, "THIS is the guy who wrote THE FAULT IN OUR STARS???  All heart wrenching and romantic???  This guy is a goof ball!"  

Well, I'm not sure what happened there... but my point is AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES has had me laugh-snorting every other pages.  Some of that John-Green-Quirkiness made it into the book this time, and I am loving it.  

What I am Writing:  My WIP (THE BOOTLEGGER's LETTERS) went from this:

To This:

But you will notice that I haven't worked on it today yet, so I hope I can add another 1K.  I did have one afternoon where my three-year-old was having a birthday party so writing went out the window.  So my goal for next week would be to add another 5K.  That would be good... yeah I'll try that.

I did get a few chapters of my MG Sci-Fi edited.  Some more.  Again.  I am hoping to have that thing ready to query sometime this year.

What Works for Me:  I haven't actually tried this yet but I think I need to develop some sort of editing checklist, because my biggest problem with editing is that I don't really have a plan.  I need to be able to check things off the list (like you can with drafting).  Problem is, I don't really know what that list should have on it.  Here's what I got so far:

1- Fix obvious mistakes (spelling, grammar, parts where I forgot people's names...)

2.  Go back and check for "to be" verbs, was, were, ing

3.  Check to make sure each scene is important and in the right order

4.  Voice check- make sure each characters voice remains constant

5.  Overused words- In scrivener you can go to Projects and then Text Statistics to see what words you use the most.  This is an important tool!

What else should be on my editing list?  Help a noob out!

What Else is Going On: My baby boy had his third birthday party at Legoland.  It was epic.

UNSOULED in The Fountain City

Is it Wednesday again?!?  That means it's time for WUW!  What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop created by Jaime and  Erin Funk, to help connect writers on this writing journey. Visit their blogs for more information!

WHAT I'M READING:  This week I finished Neal Shusterman's UNSOULED, the third book in the Unwind Series.  It is a major testament to this series that even though I read books one and two a LONG time ago, I still remembered the main characters and most of what was going on.  I can't wait to read book four, which comes out soon.  Or maybe it's already out, but the dang library didn't have it yet.  Neal's acknowledgments hinted at movies to come, which would make me pretty excited.  

WHAT I'M WRITING:  Banging out that rough draft for THE WAR IN CABIN 12.  I actually got away to the library last night and got 3,000 words further down the road.  I am getting close to the end, so hopefully I can type THE END pretty soon.

WHAT'S INSPIRING ME RIGHT NOW:  Tonight I get to go see THE FAULT IN OUR STARS on the big screen with some good friends.  I know, I know, I am probably the only card-carrying John Green Fangirl that hasn't seen it yet, but I was waiting for a few people to read the book first.  Which they didn't.  Cause that's how book clubs go.  Can you imagine writing a book that gets made into a movie?!?  How amazing would that be!

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO:  Well the float trip last weekend was amazing.  At least the parts I can remember.  Probably shouldn't be saying that since I am supposed to be a YA Author.  Sorry future publicist.  And this weekend I get to see two of my besties from high school who have since moved to California and Colorado respectively.   I feel a lot of pressure to hype up Kansas City to these girls...  BBQ and Boulevard it is!