#edit writing

@tolkiensiblingsweek day one | protection | fíli & kíli

DISCLAIMER: These tips work for me, they may not work for everyone, but I hope that at least some of these may be helpful for some of you.

1. Figure out your writing style

Do you overwrite? Underwrite? In my drafting and writing stages I tend to just let the words flow. During the editing stage, I fix up what I wrote. If you tend to underwrite, try to find where you can expand and write more details. If you overwrite, see what you can cut down.

Similarly, if your writing lacks in dialogue, try to add some. If your need more description or action, add some of that.

2. Sort out your goals

This mainly applies to chapters in novels, however it can also be applied to short stories. Whenever I am editing a chapter, I try to figure out what my goals for it are. For example, to solve a conflict, to introduce a conflict, to add tension, to introduce a new character or anything else. Then I try to see if I’ve accomplished that, and how I can try to make it more effective.

3. Read aloud

This one’s quite well-known, read out your work so it’s easier to catch mistakes or awkward phrasing.

4. Variation in sentence structure

While doing line edits, it helps to vary your sentences and structure. Make sure that your sentences don’t all start with the same word, or are all the same length. Vary the types of sentences and the length of those sentences. This can also be used to change the tone, build tension, etc.

5. Simplicity

Hey everybody. I know how much I want to get all my WIPs out to you guys, but I haven’t really got the time. But, once I do finish them, it would really help so much if I could get a second opinion. If any of you are good editors and are interested, could you please please maybe send me a message and help me out? Please don’t feel obligated to do this. Only if you really want. And you can choose whatever ship, fic, series, etc. you want to edit. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I really appreciate it! :)

@tolkienfashionweek day three | classes and professions | smith-princes of the noldor

Of the smith-princes of the Noldor there is much recorded, and yet much more that has been lost. Mightiest of them, and of all smiths in Arda save Aulë himself, was Fëanor, called Curufinwë, in whose works the Doom of Arda is caught. But skilled also was his son Curufin the crafty, and his son Celebrimbor, greatest of the People of the Jewel-smiths in the Second Age. Many were their creations: weapons, and armor, and tools; but also lamps lit from within, and beautiful jewelry, fillets and necklaces and rings, and gems created from the skill of their hands. Indeed from Fëanor came the Silmarils themselves, and from Celebrimbor the Rings of Power (though his work was not unaided as was his grandfather’s); but from Curufin it is said his greatest work was Celebrimbor, his son. Yet he perhaps produced the most of any of his line when it came to weapons of war, and if one could claim to possess a sword forged by the Lord of Himlad, that is of great worth, despite the darkness of his later deeds. Whilst in the forges, the smith-princes wore simple aprons of leather; one who saw them in court or in the field of battle would scarcely recognize them as the same practical laborers. For gems and precious metals were ever the delight of the Noldor, and their princes wore only the finest of clothing and jewelry, made by their own hands. Of the smith-princes, alone in his preference for simple attire was Maeglin of Gondolin; but he was not of Fëanor’s line, and took more after his father, the Dark Elf of Nan Elmoth. Yet he too was a mighty smith, and his works should not be discounted among the best of the First Age.

@esotolkienweek day three | skies, demand | velindo

Wéland (Smith): Eriol asks innocently is not Aulë him that we call Wéland and they (Rúmil?) laughing says no and tells of Velindo or Gwilion the fay — one of Aulë’s folk who was sent by Aulë into the world to fetch at his need some of the gold heavy red gold of the dwarves. There his pride swelled by reason of the amazement of men and dwarves at his skill; and he never returned to Aulë but set up on his own — and was once famous far and wide but with the fading of the fairies his power has waned. He was not wicked but very vain — Eriol touches on the Bodvildr legend [in which Wéland escapes the captivity of the cruel king Niðhad and elopes with his daughter by flying away on invented wings] and Rúmil says that if it is true it shows the vanity of Wéland (Niðhad must be a dwarf king).

—Parma Eldalambaron No. 15,  “Early Runic Documents”

@russingon-week day five | rebirth | day shall come again

@tolkienseaweek day one | yearning, unrest, wandering | maglor x daeron