The Ultimate Guide to Editing Your Novel
Sara Grant

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Published: 2025

When it comes to creating children’s and YA fiction there is often a focus on how to start and write until you reach an ending … But what happens when you have a finished manuscript of hundreds of pages? How do you transform your rough draft into a publishable one?

Expert author, editor, mentor and lecturer Sara Grant provides the answer through a systematic approach to editing. Her step-by-step guide demystifies the process of preparing a manuscript for submission to agents and publishers or for those self-publishing. It is a lifeline for new writers and those intimidated by the world of publishing; for more experienced writers it is an invaluable diagnostic tool to dip in and out of.

This practical workbook includes exercises and examples for:
– Interrogating your idea
– Enhancing your plot
– Scrutinising characters, chapters and scenes
– Analysing sentence and word choice
– Honing your unique voice
– Writing with sensitivity for young readers
– And finally, polishing your manuscript for submission.

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