Blog Blitz Book Review: Editing Your Novel's Structure by Bethany A. Tucker

Editing Your Novel's Structure: Tips, Tricks, and Checklists to Get You From Start to Finish

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 humor. 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.

Amazon UK           Amazon US 

I've written more than a handful of novels but have not got past the first draft stage. I picked this book up to help me organise my manuscripts and to understand the different stages of editing. 

When it comes to writing and self-help books related to the craft, it's welcoming when more than a couple are available to beginners. Ms Tucker's easy to follow instructions and insightful information is a welcome addition to a writer's bag of tricks. It helps a writer to focus on specific aspects of their work before they begin a new project or polish up a current piece of work.

Editing Your Novel's Structure falls into the category of books you can keep coming back to… as not everything is relevant straight away. Some recommendations are not relevant to the genre I write. However, most of the advice contained within this compact guide either backs up what you already know or offers insightful tips to improve your work regardless of what genres you write.

Written in clear and concise language, this compact guide is a quick read divided up into easy to follow sections. Overall, this will probably be a source I will keep referring to indefinitely.

***Review copy received courtesy of the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources***

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. 

Social Media Links – theartandscienceofwords.com, mustangrabbit.com