Even the smallest details in your story require fact checking. As an old saying in journalism goes, “If someone tells you your mother loves you, verify it.” So the last few items in this section of the checklist have to do with verification. ☐ Claims have been verified by reliable …
When to Use a Bibliography
Last time, in our discussion about endnotes, I mentioned that a bibliography is helpful but not required. The reason it’s not required is that all the information about the books you cite can be contained in the notes. The bibliography simply presents that information in alphabetical order. You might want …
How to Use Notes and Bibliographies
The next item on the Nonfiction Editing Checklist has to do with citing your sources: ☐ Footnotes, endnotes, invisible notes, and reference lists have been used appropriately and are formatted correctly. The Chicago Manual of Style offers several options for citing your sources. The first of these is the least …
The Difference Between Infringement and Plagiarism
I shouldn’t have to say this, but I must. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. Writers of all people should know that passing someone else’s words off as your own is Not Done. Yet it happens often, sometimes with spectacularly embarrassing results, even to professionals.
Place Your Story for Best Effect
Although memoir writers have an entire book in which to tell their story, many nonfiction writers use their personal stories only as an introduction to a broader topic. When that’s the case, you need to consider what place in the book will be the best to showcase your personal story. …
I am thankful for you
Here in the States it’s Thanksgiving, and as I reflect on the many things I’m thankful for—home, family, friends, my congregation, freedom, and meaningful employment—I want you to know that you have a place on that list, too. When I started this blog just under three years ago, no one …
Tell your story without masking yourself
Under the heading of “don’t deceive your reader,” I want to file this piece of advice. When you’re telling your story, tell it directly, and don’t pretend it’s someone else’s. I see this a lot, and I don’t understand why authors do it. They launch into a tale about “someone” …
Maintaining Truth in Narrative Nonfiction
A special challenge of narrative nonfiction is deciding how closely you want to stick to the truth. Do you want to be fully dedicated to it, come what may? Or do you want to soften some blows, change some names to protect the guilty? Maybe you feel a little creative …
Capitalizing Deity Pronouns
One more post on editing books for the Christian market, and this one’s a touchy subject. The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style calls for lowercase deity pronouns (that is, he and his when referring to God). This deeply offends some people, who see it as a sign of disrespect, despite …
Take Extra Care with Scripture Citations
Quoting Shakespeare is one thing. It’s easy enough to open a copy of Hamlet to get a citation right. Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.—William Shakespeare. The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark. The Harvard Classics 1909–14. Act V, Scene …