Showing posts with label editing fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label editing fiction. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

EDITING A NOVEL

FOUND IN A NOVEL: One eye had started to close.

We began to close.

The author, Robert B. Parker, meant Spenser and Hawk were getting closer to their prey. But that's one close too many.

I'd change that second sentence this way: We were gaining on Zachary, or We were getting closer to Zachary.

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ENTRIES FROM THE DOG BLOG

BLOG ENTRIES FROM THE AUTO RACING JOURNAL
(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)

Sunday, April 15, 2018

He sauntered slowly forward

FOUND IN A NOVEL: He sauntered slowly forward to the break of the poop...

This is the first part of a sentence from one of my favorite books, The Sea Wolf, by Jack London. I just wondered ... could he saunter forward quickly?

I'm not sure that "slowly" is necessary here. "Saunter" makes me think of "slowly." 

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ENTRIES FROM THE DOG BLOG

BLOG ENTRIES FROM THE AUTO RACING JOURNAL
(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)