Renegade Writing

It used to be that publishers would have a "Reader" (Manuscript critic) on staff. In these days of rationalisation and outsourcing, the job of reader is, as often as not, a freelance position. So, why would you hire a professional reader? Well, at the most basic level, because you want to find out whether or not you actually have a story.

Yes, I know, of course you have a story. After all it's what you spent the last (enter number here) years of your life writing.

But, while you may well have a story to tell, is it what you put on paper? Does what you wrote make sense, follow a logical sequence? Does the dialogue sparkle? Does the action show what is happening or is it just explained?

Show, don't tell.

Does the hero's hair colour change in the sixth chapter? Did he really just screw a silencer on to his revolver? (This won't work because of the gap between the chamber and the barrel allows a lot of the noise to escape.)

Is the language appropriate for the time period of the story? Did the main character of your story, set in the 7th century, just say “kilometres”? Don’t laugh, I’ve seen it, and from an established author who touts himself as an expert on 7th century Ireland.

Grammatically correct dialogue, come on, nobody speaks like that.

These things can stop a great story dead in its tracks. And yet, these points just scratch the surface.

Other things such as the length of sentences. The syntax and structure of the writing, repetitious wording and writing patterns can spoil an otherwise great reading experience.