Why you must narrate your manuscript

The noun manuscript evolved from the Latin manu scriptus, meaning “written by hand.” Manu is “hand” and scriptus is “to write." It refers to old documents actually written by hand before books were made, but it can also refer to a writer's unpublished work whether it's handwritten or typed.

 Why you must narrate your manuscript?

Ever asked yourself, ‘is my novel really ready for book printing and publishing?’ If not you should have. This is because a large majority of slush pile manuscripts are discarded simply because they’re not ready. Also a important question that what are things required for a paper book publisher?

 The historical present looks like the past, but it isn’t.

What tense are you going to use to narrate your story?

For must writers, that choice is clearly the historical present—i.e., the past tense.

Before sending your manuscript in to be professionally edited, ascertain that your “present” is consistent. For most people, the “present” will be in the past tense. If you have used the present tense for your “present,” be sure all your action is in the present tense: no mixing allowed!

  Time sequencing is meaning making.

It is more effective to write about events as they occur in the memoir universe rather than to write all you know about one topic or character and then all you know about another.

 Does it have a complete, compelling plot?  

Does your manuscript have a beginning, middle, and a satisfying ending with each page filled with tension of inner and outer struggles of the protagonist so that reader anticipates the good and bad consequences of this character's choices. 

 Here is a brief check list.

·Check that your chapters are correctly numbered/titled.

·Read through each at least three times changing any incorrect punctuation, grammar and sentence construction.

·  Be on the lookout for past tense and present tense errors (editors hate these.)

·  When you read each chapter, try reading out loud imagining that you are at a book signing in a big store. This will make you more aware of mistakes.

 Try videoing yourself reading your work. Then play it back and listen to it with a critical ear.

·Have you eliminated all unnecessary characters, plotlines and words? Remove anything unnecessary to the story as you need it to move fairly swiftly or you will most likely lose your reader.

·Never assume it’s ready just because you finished retelling the story that was in your head. What about what might be in the readers head? Did you communicate the story that you conceived, well? Or will the reader be left with more questions than answers? Think about the connection points between events and characters. They need to be clear and well timed. Maybe the protagonist needs introduced at an earlier stage? Maybe you need to hint at the motives of the main villain or round out the character of the heroines love interest? Make them see what you see.

· Remember he or she probably has thousands of potential novels lying on their desk. Make yours STAND OUT. Do not have excessively long introductory chapters or opening paragraphs. Use your words like bullets or arrows. Use them to drive home your point quickly and efficiently. Grab their attention. Do not say in twenty words what could be said in ten.

.·Beware of changing styles part way through. Be consistent. If you have chosen a character driven plot or a story driven plot, ensure that you have stuck to that. Changing part way through will muddy the waters and annoy your reader. The same goes for your writing style. If you start out descriptive, stick to it. If you narrate, narrate.

.Conclusion

For many writers it’s tough knowing when their literary baby is ready to fledge the nest. Even after sending it to all corners of the globe many often tinker with it endlessly, changing this word and that. But that is no bad thing in many respects as the great Leonardo Da Vinci himself once said, “Art is never finished, only abandoned.”

Keep on improving and adding to your storehouse of knowledge then, you will be better equipped to reach your goal of finally becoming a published author. The above suggestions can all be effected by self-editing, and they can go a long way towards saving a writer editing fees. You may referwww.onlinegath.com for print on demand, paper book publisher etc.