Editing Your Novel's Structure by Bethany A Tucker

For today's post I'm delighted to welcome back Steven, my occasional guest reviewer, with his thoughts on Editing Your Novel's Structure by Bethany A Tucker. Many thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel's Random Resources for invitation onto the blog blitz and to the author for Steven's review copy.

 

The Blurb:

Before it’s time to check for commas and iron out passive voice, fiction writers need to know that their story is strong. Are your beta readers not finishing? Do they have multiple, conflicting complaints? When you ask them questions about how they experience your story, do they give lukewarm responses? Or have you not even asked anyone to read your story, wondering if it’s ready?

If any of the above is true, you may need to refine the structure of your story. What is structure you ask? Structure is what holds a story together. Does the character arc entrance the reader? Is the world building comprehensive and believable? These questions and more have to be answered by all of us as we turn our drafts into books.

In this concise handbook, complete with checklists for each section, let a veteran writer walk you through the process of self-assessing your novel, from characters to pacing with lots of compassion and a dash of humour. In easy to follow directions and using adaptable strategies, she shows you how to check yourself for plot holes, settle timeline confusion, and snap character arcs into place.

Use this handbook for quick help and quick self-editing checklists on:

- Characters and Character Arcs.
- Plot.
- Backstory.
- Point of View.
- A detailed explanation of nearly free self-editing tools and how to apply them to your book to find your own structural problems.
- Beginnings and Ends.
- Editing for sensitive and specialized subject matter.
- Helpful tips on choosing beta readers, when to seek an editor, and a sample questionnaire to give to your first readers.

Grab your copy of Edit Your Novel’s Structure today! Now is the time to finish that draft and get your story out into the world.


Purchase Links:

UK
US

Steven's Review:

This is an excellent resource for writers setting out on the journey to their first novel. Having said that it is also useful in reminding others of the detail that may have slipped from their more experienced scrutiny.  

It is described as a handbook by the author and can be read linearly, or it can be dissected and dipped into and used in pieces or picked up for inspiration. I think it does what it sets out to do successfully and provides the reader with the opportunity to rethink, perhaps rework their structure with guidance. Or it may confirm that what they are doing is fine, instilling the new writer with the confidence to carry on.  

The tone of the book is informal as the writer goes with the reader on what could be a daunting journey. The style makes it a much smoother progression and it is a style that is well chosen for the intended audience. It is an overview stuffed with detail and the section ‘When to Seek Professional Services’ is essential reading for new writers. The whole handbook has a layout that is easily accessible and well referenced enabling the reader to flick back and forth or dip into.  

I finished it quickly and it left me inspired to return once more to a work of my own that has lumbered along. As a result of reading this book one work has become two and both are now steaming ahead. This was an easy to access instructional and inspiring read. One that I will use time and time again.

The Author:

Bethany Tucker is an author and editor located near Seattle, U.S.A. Story has always been a part of her life. With over twenty years of writing and teaching experience, she’s more than ready to take your hand and pull back the curtain on writing craft and mindset. Last year she edited over a million words for aspiring authors. Her YA fantasy series Adelaide is published wide under the pen name Mustang Rabbit and her dark epic fantasy is releasing in 2021 under Ciara Darren. You can find more about her services for authors at TheArtandScienceofWords.com.