3 Criteria for Bestselling Novels
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A SKILLED WRITER
The foundation of a bestselling novel is a skilled writer who can weave compelling stories with vivid characters and captivating settings. This is hard work, but don’t fret you needn’t be perfect — just willing to improve your craft and your novel.
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AN EXCEPTIONAL EDITOR
Behind every great writer is an exceptional editor. Sadly there are few good editors out there that can take a struggling novel to masterpiece.
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PROPER TIMING
The timing of a release can make or break a book’s success. If the market is oversaturated with similar books, it will likely get lost in the shuffle. Timing can make all the difference in reaching a wider audience and increasing sales.
DO you need an Editor?
The short answer? Yes, you do!
An Exceptional Editor Can...
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1. Objectively evaluate what's working and what's not in your novel.
Even the worst drafts have potential, a good editor can point specifically to what you’re doing well and where your story fails.
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2. Give clear, specific feedback on the writer's work.
An exceptional editor offers concrete solutions to improve the weak points of the story, helping the writer to see their work in a new light. The editor isn’t condescending in this feedback. They understand that writing is a vulnerable and personal process, and they approach their comments with tact.
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3. Provide you with the critical next steps your should take to finish your novel.
A good editor knows what to fix next and when to challenge and push a writer out of their comfort zone, but also when to step back and let them take the lead. They listen to the writer’s vision for their story and work collaboratively towards achieving it.
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4. Evaluate your novel on the sentence level and manuscript level
The good editor can see the forest and the trees. They can identify the parts, chapters, scenes, and beats of your novel and provide clear feedback on it. They can drill down to the sentence level to help you make your writing more engaging.
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5. Coach you from Zero to First Draft
A good editor can help you take a solid, story idea from nothing to a working manuscript. They understand the structure and elements of narrative so well that they can consistently point you in the direction or get you back on track before you wander too far in the wrong direction.
What happens if you chose a an bad editor?
One of the worst things you can do with a manuscript you’ve written is hand it off to a bad editor.
You will end up moving backwards on your storytelling rather than forwards.
A bad editor may—
- provide you with poor, abstract feedback, that will waste a lot of your precious time and energy.
- introduce new problems into your novel further driving it into a disorganized, unstructured mess.
- Fail to deliver you with a working manuscript.
- waste your hard earned money.
Ready to get started!
The Fable Forge Available Services:
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First Chapter Critique
A simple, but rigorous review of the first chapter of your novel with clear, actionable feedback.
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Zero to First Draft Workshops
Having trouble getting your writing started? Not a problem. I can help you get from story idea to a solid first draft in no time at all!
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The Fable Forge Manuscript REview
A comprehensive content edit of your manuscript including clear, actionable feedback to move your manuscript from good to great. A First Chapter Critique is required to determine if you book is ready for this service.
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Micro Edits
Having trouble with a specific chapter or scene? Perhaps you’re just stuck and need some guidance. My Micro Editing Service provides clear, actionable feedback on sentence, scene, or chapter level.
Meet your Story Editor
Oliver is uniquely positioned to help writers forge their novels into masterpieces.
Oliver Evensen
Exceptional Editor 😉
Oliver Evensen is a Writing Mentor, Scrivener Coach, and professional editor.
He has mastered Scrivener and has been using it to write novels, novellas, blogs, and more for the more than 15 years.
He is also the Outreach Specialist for Literature and Latte, the creators or Scrivener and Scapple, and worked on their technical support team for 5 years.
First Chapter Critiques and Micro Edits
Your first chapter sets the stage for your entire book. Our First Chapter Critiques and Micro Edits zero in on the crucial opening scenes. We focus on aspects like pacing, character introduction, and reader engagement, ensuring that your story hooks readers right from the start. This service is ideal for writers looking to make a strong first impression or struggling with a specific scene. Don’t wait—schedule a Zoom call with me today.
The Full Forge Manuscript Review
For an in-depth evaluation of your manuscript, opt for The Full Forge Manuscript Review. This service thoroughly examines your entire work, helping you identify critical issues and providing actionable feedback to address them. I can assist you in transforming a nearly finished manuscript by diagnosing its weaknesses and offering guidance on rectifying major problems.
1-on-1 Zero to Final Draft Workshop
Sometimes, the journey from idea to final draft needs a more hands-on approach. My 1-on-1 Zero to Final Draft Workshop offers personalized mentorship at every stage of your writing process. Whether you’re refining your plot, developing characters, or polishing your prose, my workshops provide the guidance and support to bring your vision to life. Ideal for writers seeking customized feedback and continuous improvement, avoiding costly mistakes that waste time and energy.
Get My SCrivener Starter NOvel Template 100% Free
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