Last week we published a guest article from Immanuela Meijer, an editor and the Paolini family’s assistant, who offered invaluable advice on editing the first draft of your manuscript. The essay is a must-read for anyone now facing the daunting task of working with the first draft of their book!
Immanuela’s editorial was a fitting end to our month-long event aiming to help our community of aspiring authors successfully participate in NaNoWriMo, the annual challenge to pen a 30,000 word novel throughout November. In addition to our editing advice article, other posts included:
- Christopher Paolini’s advice on plotting your story and worldbuilding
- These writing tips and tricks from Christopher Paolini will help you grow as an author!
- Young authors share how inspiration from Christopher helped them succeed with writing
- How to edit your book or manuscript
Now, as a culmination to our month-long writing advice adventure, we’ve partnered with Immanuela and Talewind Editing to give away one of her “two page preview” edits, which she describes on her website:
Many patterns are clear within the first paragraphs of a book. The preview [edit] allows you to receive feedback that you can apply to the rest of the project before submitting the completed manuscript. It’s also a great way to see if Talewind Editing is a good match—like any good relationship, both parties should feel at ease working with one another.
A winner has been chosen! Congratulations to Elyse P.!
Bummed you didn’t win? Never fear – Immanuela offers her preview edit for a very reasonable price! Head on over to Talewind Editing to learn more and get in touch to begin your editing adventure!
Enter to Win – Rules and Requirements
For a chance to win, answer our question about the status of your book/manuscript in the widget below. One winner will be selected at random and should they meet the required criteria (an actual in-progress or finished draft/book), they’ll be contacted via email to coordinate the prize!
The giveaway ends on December 11th at 11:59 PM MST and a winner will be announced on December 12th.
Fine print: We reserve the right to disqualify any entrant we feel is going against the spirit of the giveaway by using multiple accounts or employing other nefarious means to game the system. Additionally, we will disqualify any entrant who is not seriously working/hasn’t completed a book to be edited.
You can learn more about Immanuela’s editing services by visiting TalewindEditing.com.
So when are you announcing the winner?
I entered but i got cut off while typing in the details. It wont let me edit or reenter. I hope this doesnt disqualify me. I am extremely excited about the opportunity.
Considering i believe this to be the necessary motivation to try to get my book published, I’d hate to lose out on a technicality. I spent years developing plot, story, characters and edits.
If theres a way to fix my entry please let me know!
Entered! I am so ready for my novel to be shared with everyone.
if I win, here it is:
https://docs.google.com/a/alpinesd.org/document/d/1qsqBibwltv4A8nC5LIzHmUPkgW_amYUuyWo1z4UQkdc/edit?usp=sharing
if this doesn’t work, sorry! I wrote it on my email from my school district.
Oh gosh, I’d love to enter, but my manuscript is in Spanish 🙁 XD
do it anyway. just copy it and paste it into google translate. then make a google doc of it, using the English translation..
Not a great idea, those translations aren’t perfect and if Kay won the editor would pull out their hair simply due to the imperfections of Google Translate.
I entered, but I do not know if my book is far enough along to warrant the edit. I am seriously working, but I started fairly recently.
Hmm… I’m tempted to enter but I’m not sure if I should. 😛
Just make sure you meet the criteria. I’m going to be strict when selecting winners because I want to be sure that the opportunity goes to someone who is deserving (which isn’t to say that you aren’t – I don’t know your situation!).
Hmmm… I submitted once, but now the widget says I have 5 entries. I don’t know if that will present as an attempt to game the system, but for the record, I have made no such attempt. Otherwise, this has been quite fun.
Same for me. I’m not sure if this is supposed to happen but it did for me. *shrugs*
I think it’s supposed to do that (just to make your victory easier and harder for you at the same time if that makes sense).
Just means your answer entered you for five chances to win, which is how I set it up. I realize that it’s a bit confusing, but don’t worry, you didn’t do anything wrong. 🙂