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Andrea Merrell
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Murder of a Manuscript: Writing and Editing Tips to Keep Your Book Out of the Editorial Graveyard Paperback – January 12, 2014

by Andrea Merrell (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 52 ratings
Few things are more heartbreaking for a writer than giving birth to a manuscript and handing it over to an agent, editor, or publisher—only to see it killed in its infancy. How do you prevent your prodigy from taking a bullet to the heart? By learning the basics and making sure your manuscripts are as clean and professional as possible.

Whether you’re a new writer or a seasoned author, the ability to edit and proofread your own material is crucial. Along with recognizing common errors, a writer should know the lingo of the writing and publishing industry, and have a good grasp of plotting, POV, crafting dialog, and so much more. Murder of a Manuscript will test your knowledge and give you the tools to polish your prose so the epitaph won’t read: Here lie the remains of my first book. It never had a chance to show the world how wonderful it could have been.
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  1. Print length
    50 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    January 12, 2014
  4. Dimensions
    5 x 0.12 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1941103057
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1941103050
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 12, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 50 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1941103057
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1941103050
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.08 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.12 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 52 ratings

About the author

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Andrea Merrell

Andrea Merrell

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Andrea Merrell is Associate Editor for Christian Devotions Ministries and Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (LPC). She is also a professional freelance editor and was a finalist for the 2016 Editor of the Year Award at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference (BRMCWC). She teaches workshops at writers' conferences, has been published in numerous anthologies and online venues, and is a graduate of Christian Communicators. A finalist in the 2015 USA Best Book Awards, Andrea is the author of Murder of a Manuscript: Writing and Editing Tips to Keep Your Book Out of the Editorial Graveyard, Praying for the Prodigal, The Gift, and Marriage: Make It or Break It (releases 6/25/17). To learn more, visit www.AndreaMerrell.com or www.TheWriteEditing.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
52 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book helpful for new writers, providing practical guidance and getting straight to the point.

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Information qualityReadability
11 customers mention "Information quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides practical guidance and is helpful for new writers.

"...learned a lot from them, but this little book gave me some very important information that I didn't find anywhere else...." Read more

"There's good information in this book, but I already knew most of it. A lot of it was about grammar, which happens to be my strong suit...." Read more

"...The tips with summaries at the end of each chapter and the resource list are everything you need to prevent your manuscript from ending up in the..." Read more

"...Andrea did a great job at raising awareness about writing rules every author should know." Read more

7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand, appreciating its concise format as a practical guide for new writers.

"...On top of that, this book's concise explanations were easier to understand than longer books with page after page of information...." Read more

"...It is easy to read, yet there are no empty words. She gets straight to the point using her own experiences and well place tidbits of humor...." Read more

"This book is a needed companion for every writer to use before submitting a manuscript . It's clear, concise and user friendly...." Read more

"Andrea Merrell is an experienced editor who shares tips for self-editing your manuscript in this short book...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely helpful. Very important information in a concise little book.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I have read many books on the writer's craft. I have learned a lot from them, but this little book gave me some very important information that I didn't find anywhere else. Why read page after page to find out some of the most basic things you want to know? On top of that, this book's concise explanations were easier to understand than longer books with page after page of information. I am so thankful that I purchased this book.
    Helpful
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  • NRG
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good information
    Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    There's good information in this book, but I already knew most of it. A lot of it was about grammar, which happens to be my strong suit. I bought the book hoping to find out more about developing plots and POV, etc. I was disappointed. It's a very short book for the money, I thought, and didn't really meet my needs. It might be just the thing for someone else though.
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  • Lea A. Johnson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Murder of a Manuscript: Writing and Editing Tips to KeepYour Book Out of the Editorial Graveyard
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Andrea Merrell has provided a must resource for every writer. As someone who has had a manuscript returned bloodstained, I am grateful for this truly helpful work. It is easy to read, yet there are no empty words. She gets straight to the point using her own experiences and well place tidbits of humor. Andrea has transformed necessary reading into desired reading for novices and professionals alike. The tips with summaries at the end of each chapter and the resource list are everything you need to prevent your manuscript from ending up in the editorial graveyard. Bravo Andrea!

    Lea Ann Young Johnson
    One person found this helpful
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  • Carol Heilman
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical guide for polishing a manuscript
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a needed companion for every writer to use before submitting a manuscript . It's clear, concise and user friendly. Thank you, Andrea Merrell!
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  • Brandie Muncaster
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful for new writers.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I wish I had read this book before I started writing. It would have saved me a lot of time, money and embarrassment. Glad to own it now to use for reference as I begin writing my first novel. Andrea did a great job at raising awareness about writing rules every author should know.
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  • Alex
    4.0 out of 5 stars Kill your manuscript
    Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting little book. It had a number of helpful tips. I like the fact that each chapter ended with a bullet point list of what was covered for ease of reference.
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  • Tina Parker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jumpstart Your Publishing Process
    Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Why is your perfect story not getting the attention it deserves by editors? Andrea Merrell has some timely advice to move beyond the dream stage and into the publishing process. The book world is rapidly changing but an author who meets editorial and publication protocol is three steps ahead of the game.
    Murder of a Manuscript is full of effective and practical guidance. The latest in the Writing with Excellence series, its compact size belies its usefulness. Ms. Merrell offers encouragement in getting help as you begin your journey from imagination to putting words to paper. She weaves basics of grammar with reference materials and personal experience. Each chapter ends with a recap section. There is also a quiz at the end of the book to test your skill.
    Not intended as an exhaustive resource—that would take a full library, Murder of Manuscript sharpens your pencil as well as supplies the list for that library.
    One person found this helpful
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  • V. S. Herlocker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wait. Don't submit your manscript before you read this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Andrea Merrell is an experienced editor who shares tips for self-editing your manuscript in this short book. Her hints cover the most common errors that editors find in manuscripts--and although the cover suggests book length manuscripts, Merrell's advice applies equally to writing articles, books, and even your query letters to publishers. If you are ready to submit your manuscript, measuring it against Merrell's checklists could make all the difference between a quick rejection or a thoughtful read of your material.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Dianne W
    4.0 out of 5 stars More a summary of editing tips rather than a deeply practical hands on guide, well written
    Reviewed in Australia on October 13, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I picked this book up thinking it was about writing a murder mystery but it's not about murder at all it's about editing so I found the title confusing. Fixing a manuscript is fixing it, not killing it, but the tips in this book are potentially useful to the new writer.

    And while the book is well written, it's more a summary of things you need to do rather than a practical treasury of how to fix things and where to go to find further information on how to comprehensively edit. It's not as practical as it could be. There is a useful quiz in the last chapter to test how well you absorbed the content so that is useful and a nice touch.

    I would also have liked the URLs in the book to be clickable and for the book to take the international market a bit more into account but that's just window dressing. In essence, this is a well written book that is worth a read.
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  • Pépin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Look out for the "Little Foxes."
    Reviewed in France on October 31, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    As the author Andrea Merrell says "Everyone has to start somewhere." I started by finding the title "Murder of a Manuscript" excellent and I can say the same for the contents. This was my first introduction to the "Little Foxes," which is now firmly lodged in my mind. "Murder of a Manuscript" is part of the "Writing with Excellence" series; a series which I look forward to reading.
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