X is for X Ray

Historical Novelist’s A-Z of Writing

 

X is for X-ray

 

By the time I finish a novel, I am so familiar with it that my brain switches off and I see what should be on the page instead of what is actually on it.

 

I need X-ray eyes to make sure the novel is as perfect as possible before I submit it to my publisher.

 

First of all, I use the grammar and spell check to make sure there are no grammatical errors or spelling mistakes.

Next, I read the novel from beginning to end checking the contents. Are the details correct? Is there too much or too little description? Is there enough emotion? Is the pace too fast or too slow in each scene? Is there a hook at the end of each chapter which will make the reader want to read on?

 

With regard to the last question, I was delighted by an e-mail from a policewoman in South Africa, who was due to go on duty at 6 a.m. Before she went to sleep she decided to read a little from my novel Tangled Love set in Queen Anne Stuart’s reign 1702-1714. Many cups of black coffee later when it was nearly dawn she finished reading it. 

 

After checking the contents, I check the linguistics by highlighting words such as and, was, were, had, that and because to see if I have used them too frequently. Whenever I have I rephrase the sentence.

 

A final check of the formatting, spelling and grammar and it’s time to submit the novel.

 

 Rosemary Morris

Historical Novelist

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

Published by MuseItUp Publishing.

 

e.books available from MuseItUp Publishing, amazon, nook, kobo and elsewhere, Sunday’s Child, False Pretences,Tangled Love, Far Beyond Rubies,also available as a print book,  and The Captain and The Countess

 

Buzz Deal $0.90 £0.77 ends 12 p.m. 17/08

Rosemary Morris’s The Captain and the Countess set in 1706 is available as an e-book for 77p from www.amazon.co.uk and for $0.99 from www.amazon.com,

https://museituppublishing.com, kobo and elsewhere until midnight on the 17^th August.

 His heart captured by the Countess, only Captain Howard sees pain behind her fashionable façade and is determined to help her.

V is for Viewpoint

For the reader to identify with the main protagonist in each scene everything needs to be shown through the eyes of the viewpoint character.

For example, the following is a brief extract from my novel The Captain and The Countess, in which Edward, Captain Howard sees the Countess for the first time.

  
    “Lady Sinclair,” someone murmured.
     Edward turned. He gazed without blinking at the acclaimed beauty, whose sobriquet was ‘The    Fatal Widow’.  
    The countess remained in the doorway, her cool blue eyes speculative.
    Edward whistled low. Could her shocking reputation be no more than tittle-tattle? His artist’s eyes observed her. Rumour did not lie about her Saxon beauty.

The reader sees Edward's reaction to the countess and his reaction to her beauty.

Instead of 'head-hopping' - switching from one person to another person's viewpoint - sticking to a single viewpoint makes it clear to the reader which character they should identify with.

Of course, if a short story or novel is written in the first person the entire story is from a single viewpoint.