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How to Trim a Manuscript That’s Too Long
Trimming words is often the hardest part of writing—which builds a case for a solid outline up front to organize your ideas and prevent “rambling” too far off track. Still, every book goes through a process where some material is left on the cutting room floor. If your manuscript needs to be trimmed based on your publisher’s or industry-standard guidelines, read on for strategic cutting tips.
How Long Should My Book Manuscript Be?
As a book editor, I often receive manuscripts that are much longer than the industry standard. I understand this, since authors often write a full draft and then want feedback on what to trim. Yet it’s also worth discussing what’s an ideal length, and offering tips to help you trim on your own. Shaving your manuscript before an editor reads it will save you time and money.
If you’re traditionally publishing, you’ll receive a “word count” target upon contracting. If you’re self-publishing, you get to choose. Either way, concise writing has its benefits.
Let’s explore the typical word-count ranges based on current industry trends, and influenced by my own experience.
When Reality Is Fading, Write in Vivid Color
What is real?
With AI infiltrating everything we do, and politics convincing us that hatred and vindication are desirable traits, and change coming at a pace that induces whiplash, reality becomes hard to distinguish. At best, reality is blurry—and blurring.
Does it matter?
Using Storytelling to Power Your Business or Nonfiction Book
As an editor, I edit a ton of business books. To be honest, many of the pitches I receive begin to look the same, with book titles like “Reach for the Top: Six Must-Have Leadership Skills.” Then they go on to list the “x number of steps” the reader should go through to transform their management or leadership.
There’s nothing wrong with this. A solid pitch and outline should be descriptive and well-defined with steps or components. But when it comes to writing the actual book, having those pieces of the formula isn’t enough. To sell well—which means you’re reaching your ideal readers while getting them to recommend your book—your writing must be both informative and engaging. It must transform or elevate your reader.
In short, it must stand out.
Including stories is a great way to do that.
Business Book Author McKenna Sweazey: Be Generous About Timelines
SPIRITUS BOOKS: Tell us a little about your book, How to Win Friends and Manage Remotely, and why you wrote it.
MCKENNA SWEAZEY: I’d been batting around an idea of an empathy-based leadership book for a while, and when the pandemic hit, I suddenly had both some extra time to do it and a renewed focus on why empathy is really important in digital interactions.
For the Love of Descriptors!
For the love of everything holy, please stop inserting words that do nothing but clutter your writing.
Before littering your writing with a slew of meaningless descriptors, ask yourself these questions:
Explore posts by topic:
All Blog Posts
- author coaching 1
- author spotlight 9
- book editing 2
- book writing 2
- courage 1
- fear 1
- ghostwriting 1
- guest author 2
- hiring an editor 1
- hybrid publishing 1
- leadership book writing 1
- maya angelou 1
- memoir writing 2
- poetry 1
- protest 1
- self-publishing 2
- traditional publishing 1
- voice 1
- who can edit my book? 1
- writers block 1
Search all posts: