Line Editing for Filter Words
Line editing for filter words is a skill to master for line editors.
Tips on Line Editing for Filter Words
Filter words in fiction are words that get in the way of the reader experiencing the moment. These often relate to senses: “I saw John get out of the car” instead of “John got out of the car.” The second version allows the reader to experience the scene more directly, as if they are right there themselves watching John get out of the car.
Similarly, “Roger heard the bell ring” versus “The bell rang.” In the first case, we are a step back from the bell, and in the second, we’re right there as the bell rings.
One of the most common filtering phrases you’ll encounter as a line editor is pronoun + felt:
Here’s an example:
I thought of Good Dog’s injuries, and just as Beyok predicted, I felt my blood run hot.
Removing those filter words, it becomes:
I thought of Good Dog’s injuries, and just as Beyok predicted, my blood ran hot.
A writer colleague of mine gave me words to live by: “Never let a character feel something unless they’re actually touching it.”
Tips for Editors & Writers
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Coaching Opportunities with Potential Clients
I think of coaching as anything that helps a writer write their book, improve their book, sell their book, or otherwise advance their writing career but which isn’t a straightforward edit on a complete manuscript. In other words, if I help an author write a query letter, or brainstorm solutions to plot problems, or review
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Coaching and Editing Discovery Drafts
Discovery drafts are typically the first draft of a novel that an author uses to explore the story they’re writing, whether the story has been prompted by a situation, a setting, a character, or a theme. The discovery draft typically includes stops and starts, directions the story could take but doesn’t, characters that fade in
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Editing for Character Development
When you’re editing for character development, keep in mind that even small changes have ripple effects throughout the entire manuscript. So any changes you suggest need to be important, or else you’re asking the author to do a lot of work for little reward. For example, sometimes I’ll see editors suggest things like, “Hey, you
