Write Great Fiction Revision And Self-Editing »

James Scott Bell is the author of the Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure and a contributing editor to Writer's Digest magazine. He is also the author of more than fifteen novels currently teaches fiction writing courses at Pepperdine University and is a regular speaker at writers conferences.

www.jamesscottbell.com

Don't let the revision process intimidate you any longer. Discover how to successfully transform your first draft into a polished final draft readers won't be able to forget.

In Write Great Fiction: Revision & Self-Editing, James Scott Bell draws on his experience as a novelist and instructor to provide specific revision tips geared toward the first read-through, as well as targeted self-editing instruction focusing on the individual elements of a novel like plot, structure, characters, theme, voice, style, setting, and endings. You'll learn how to:

• Write a cleaner first draft right out of the gate using Bell's plotting principles
• Get the most out of revision and self-editing techniques by honing your skills with detailed exercises
• Systematically revise a completed draft using the ultimate revision checklist that talks you through the core story elements

Whether you're in the process of writing a novel, have a finished draft you don't know what to do with, or have a rejected manuscript you don't know how to fix, Revision & Self-Editing gives you the guidance you need to write and revise like a pro.

Introduction On Becoming a Writer 1

Pt. 1 Self-Editing

Ch. 1 A Philosophy of Self-Editing 8

Ch. 2 Characters 18

Ch. 3 Plot & Structure 45

Ch. 4 Point of View 60

Ch. 5 Scenes 70

Ch. 6 Dialogue 94

Ch. 7 Beginnings, Middles & Ends 124

Ch. 8 Show vs. Tell 140

Ch. 9 Voice & Style 148

Ch. 10 Setting & Description 162

Ch. 11 Exposition 174

Ch. 12 Theme 178

Pt. 2 Revision

Ch. 13 A Philosophy of Revision 192

Ch. 14 Before You Revise 203

Ch. 15 The First Read-Through 209

Ch. 16 The Ultimate Revision Checklist 216

Epilogue: The Trick That Cannot Be Explained 254

Appendix: Exercise Answers 256

Index 264