Recommend-A-Book-Wednesday: Browne & King's Self-Editing For Fiction Writers

Usually on Recommend-A-Book-Wednesday I try to review a midlist book.  I want to give publicity to those who don’t have the advantage of a publisher-paid-for publicity campaign. However today I want to recommend a book written by authors who don’t really need help because the book they wrote can help a lot of authors who do.

When I was writing my first manuscript, Sex, Murder And A Double Latte, I had no professional training in creative writing.  I hadn’t written so much as a short story since high school. In short, I didn’t know what I was doing which is why I went to the bookstore and picked up a bunch of how-to-write-a-novel-books. Those books were helpful to varying degrees but only one was indispensable: Self-Editing For Fiction Writers: How To Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King.

By the time I picked up Brown & King’s book I had already written the first draft of my novel but their advice helped me see my manuscript with fresh eyes and I realized that I had a lot of work to do.  After reading their insights about point of view (third person vs. first) I went back and rewrote the entire manuscript so that it was told in first person.  I also realized what I needed to cut, what I needed to clarify and how to make those clarifications without treating my readers like idiots incapable of picking up on subtlety.  Little things like when to use brand names and when to just call it a jacket were explained as were how to use internal monologue without over-doing it. By the time I had implemented all the lessons I had learned from Self-Editing For Fiction Writers I had a manuscript that was a hundred times stronger than what I had started out with.  Sex, Murder And A Double Latte, my first attempt at a book earned me a three book deal and within a month I had another contract for So Much For My Happy Ending.  

Five years have passed since my first book hit the shelves and last month I celebrated the release of my 6th book, Vows, Vendettas And A Little Black Dress. And yes, while I was writing Vows I thought back to all the things I had been taught by Browne & King and before I ever handed it to my editor I made sure I had stayed true that early training.  

So for all my aspiring author friends and for my published author friends who think they could use a refresher course, I really recommend that you check out Self-Editing For Fiction Writers.  For me, that $10 book translated into advances that have, over the years, totaled well over $100,000.  If that’s not a good investment I don’t know what is.

As always I encourage you to leave your book recommendations in the comment section.  I think all of us here are constantly on the look out for engaging and entertaining reading material. I know I am!

Kyra Davis 

Bestselling Author of:

The Sophie Katz Mystery Series
and
So Much For My Happy Ending
Order Vows, Vendettas & A Little Black Dress today!