The Six Traits of Writing:
I use the six traits when I write and when I critique. (I learned the hard way that without my six traits checklist, there are simply too many decisions to make and trying to figure out WHERE to start can lead to NOT starting at all.) So I begin at the beginning of the list and move forward one step at a time.
- Ideas
- Organization
- Voice
- Word Choice
- Sentence Fluency
- Conventions (grammar, spelling, and punctuation)
The six traits of writing also cover the three different types of editing.
Developmental editing looks at the BIG Picture. It looks at the structure of the story and examines:
- The Ideas: Can readers follow the logic of the story? Is it believable?
- The Organization: How does the story flow from page to page, from scene to scene? Does the tension build as the pages turn?
- The Voice: Which voice does the story use (first, second, or third person)? Does the story (or chapter) have a single narrator?
Line editing looks the small details. It examines the manuscript line by line, focusing on:
- Word Choice
- Sentence Fluency
Copy editing focuses on the final trait:
- Conventions (grammar, spelling, and punctuation)
I always begin at the top of the six traits list.
Correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation won’t fix a book with flawed logic. Choosing new words for a single sentence doesn’t repair a disorganized story arc. The structure of the story must come first, because if the BIG Picture isn’t ready, your story isn’t publishable yet.
Want a free sample? Download a copy of this e-book, Write Your Next Children’s Book Without Writer’s Block.
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