Don McNair - Editor-Proof Your Writing: 21 Steps to the Clear Prose Publishers and Agents Crave

Praise for Don McNair and Editor-Proof Your Writing

All writers, seasoned or newbie, should read, absorb, and put to use the lessons Don McNair offers.

New York Journal of Books

Don, I have to tell you that Im VERY impressed with your book and already have a number of people in mind to suggest it to. Two of them are English teachers who are writing books and the others are writers I know. Kudos on compiling a book that is so engaging to be a resource book. I would have loved to have had this when I started. I love that you tell your readers to get professional editing before a book goes out. I cringe at how many say Im not spending for that then expect to build a career in this business.

New York Times best-selling author Dianna Love

McNair offers great editing tips that will be sure to strengthen your manuscript!

USA Today best-selling author Cynthia Eden

Heres what aspiring writers say about Don McNairs 21-Step approach to fog-free writing...

Don, I have to take time out from editing my WIP to tell you how much I am enjoying your class. The information you give us is fabulous. I just counted the books I have purchased in the last twelve months dealing with writing. Twenty-seven! Twenty-seven books that have given me less usable information than your one class. Thank you. Thank you!

Linda Cousine, Aliso Viejo, CA

I loved the class. For years people told me my writing wasnt clear, yet never explained why it wasnt. Your class explained why. I rate the class a ten.

Charlotte Summers, Dallas, TX

Thank you so much for this class. I learned a ton that I can even use in my day job of writing marketing copy, so it was sort of a two-fer.

Linda Fletcher, Novi, MI

This was the most detailed, spot-on, editing advice Ive ever gotten, bar none. The lesson format conveyed a lot of information in a simple, elegant form. And you brought my attention to errors I was still making despite having taken other classes on the subject. I had no clue how many mistakes I was making. Once I picked my jaw up off the floor, I realized what a wake-up call youd given me.

Patricia Davis, Oakland, CA

I LOVED this class. I wanted to let you know that this is, hands-down, the best class Ive ever taken. It is immediately useful, and is taught logically and with enough examples that it is easy to see the problems in my own writing. Thank you so much for offering such a wonderful resource. Im excited about looking at my WIP again! And, oh boy, can I see the difference after taking this class. Thank you!!!

Suzy Short, Richmond, VA

I have mixed feelings about our class ending tomorrow. Ive learned so much, and I dont want it to end! I started with a 105,600-word WIP, and have defogged it down to 100,000. If this class went on much longer, I might be sitting here with a short story, instead of the next great American novel!

Capri Smith, Chesterfield, VA

Your lessons helped me tremendously! Ive actually re-opened a channel with a publisher, and your lesson on author intrusion is what made it possible. Youre separating the men from the boys here, lemme tell ya. I have months of work ahead of me, but I cant wait to dig in.

Debbie Robbins, St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada

I used to make 30 passes trying to find the editing problems. Now, with your 21 Steps, Im sooooooooo much more efficient. I can constantly refer back to examples to help me avoid each Steps traps.

Leslie Randall, Palo Alto, CA

Your 21 Steps program is succinct, to the point, provides great examples and homeworkits excellent all the way around. I liked that I could work at my own speed, and wasnt inundated with 100 emails a day since my time is so limited. Thank you!

Louise Behiel, Calgary, AB, Canada

Ive learned boatloads in this course. The way your lessons communicate what to do and not do is very engaging, and your real-life examples bring it all home. Your teaching style is very effective, and Im now applying a whole new lens to my writing. Ive learned that the 200 pages Ive written is just a working outline, and that those information dumps and backstories were my way of getting to know my characters. All that information was useful, but now it wont make it into the story.

Melanie Martin, St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

I just wanted to let you know that Ive just sold Catch Me a Catch, the story we worked on in your class! This is my first novel, and Id like to thank you for all the help and guidance that helped me get there.

Sally Clements, Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland

I learned a great deal. You presented solid solutions to universal writing problems, and I definitely found my money and my time well spent! This course could very well make the difference between success for me and struggling along with the same old problems, getting nowhere. Its one thing to know whats wrong and quite another to know how to fix it.

Susan Granade, Mobile, AL

Thanks for a great class! I learned so many things that seem so obvious. Ive read a lot of books on editing and writing, but this course showed the steps in a clear and concise way. You have given me direction and confidence in my editing process.

Cici Edward, Chicago, IL

Dons workshops are the best. His own writing is so CLEAN, a real pleasure to read. While some workshops are about, Dons is a how-to. He shares very specific techniques to clean up your own writing and provides handouts and exercises to identify your own brand of fog. My standard for online workshops is what I have to show after Ive completed the class. I can promise that Dons class is well worth the time and money.

Rita Van Fleet, Mobile, AL

I printed out your lessons and read them at bedtime. I have already made several edits to my WIP based on the information in your lessons. I have taken several online writing classes, and this is one of my favorites. I like your style!

Rita Garcia, Diamond Bar, CA

I loved the course, and learned a lot about editing my own work. I edited the first three chapters of my WIP and theyre much tighter (and shorter). I liked the format, the assignments, and being able to correct my work. Thanks for a great course that definitely improved my WIP and, hopefully, future books.

Beverley Batema, Kelowna, BC, Canada

EDITOR-PROOF

YOUR WRITING

21 Steps to the Clear Prose

Publishers and Agents Crave

DON MCNAIR

Fresno, California

Editor-Proof Your Writing

Copyright 2013 by Don McNair. All rights reserved.

Cover image text courtesy of Kimberly A. Goode.

To my wife Rita, the light of my life, the essence of my soul.

Published by Quill Driver Books

An imprint of Linden Publishing

2006 South Mary Street, Fresno, California 93721

(559) 233-6633 / (800) 345-4447

QuillDriverBooks.com

Quill Driver Books and Colophon are trademarks of

Linden Publishing, Inc.

ISBN 978-1-61035-178-2

eISBN 978-1-61035-199-7

135798642

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

McNair, Don, 1938

Editor-proof your writing : 21 steps to the clear prose : publishers and agents crave / Don McNair.

pages cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-61035-178-2 (pbk. : alk. paper)

ISBN 978-1-61035-199-7 (e-book)

1. Authorship. 2. Editing. 3. Authorship--Marketing. I. Title.

PN147.M476 2013

808.02--dc23

2012049061

Contents

INTRODUCTION