Master the editing Process
As I near the end of editing my latest novel, I’ve been reflecting on why editing can be so difficult and discouraging. I’ve come up with a few reasons:
Editing makes you evaluate your writing from the perspective of a critic, which forces you to come to terms with your weaknesses.
Editing can be a long, arduous process, and after spending months or years writing the novel, this can seem like another hurdle standing in front of your goal of publication.
You don’t even know where to start!
I grapple with these reasons in my editing process all the time. I have to constantly remind myself that:
I’m not a perfect writer. No one is. But with editing, I can turn my rough draft into the perfect novel! The sooner I embrace the weak points in my novel, the sooner I can begin the process of making my novel into what I dreamed it could be.
Editing is the superpower that makes your first draft into a polished masterpiece. Editing is not the roadblock to publishing your novel; it’s the key to making your novel publication-ready. After all, with Amazon KDP, you can publish your novel at anytime. It’s only through editing that you ensure that you can be proud of what you put out into the world.
The editing process is different for every writer, but if you don’t know where to start, then there are blogs, like this one, where you can learn the ins and outs of editing.
So, if you want some guidance on where to start, keep reading!
I will approach this topic with my own experience. My process may not work for everyone, and it’s not the end-all be-all. I just hope that it gives you some ideas for your own editing process.
Step 1: The editing process starts way before the novel is completed. I always outline my novel before I write it. That way, I can catch any plot holes, pacing issues, and character development problems. In the long run, outlining the novel lessens the work I have to do during the editing process. I talk more about the novel outlining process, including a free novel template here.
Step 2: Write the novel. Just put it on paper without regard to grammar or word choice. Draft one is meant to be messy.
Step 3: Here is where the editing process actually starts. After you finish your novel, put it down. PUT IT DOWN! Don’t look at it or read it for 3-6 months. This allows your brain to rest. This rest helps you come back to the novel with an objective and well-rested view. This is not only important for your brain and creativity, but resting is an important part of the creative process. Really, after God created the earth, He rested. He didn’t have to, but He did it to model to us how important resting is. I’ve personally noticed that my editing is more focused, precise, and enjoyable following a writing break. After all, distance makes the heart grow fonder.
Step 4: After your break, I re-read my novel with an objective perspective. I note the way my writing makes me feel. I note where I want a bit more description and where I want less. I note how I feel about the characters and the plot. It’s a lot of feel work because my goal is to see how my reader would feel reading the book, and coming off a six-month break, this is the perfect time to do it. I also make minimal physical edits. I may write hearts next to scenes that I love and highlight the scenes that had a negtaive affect on me as a reader.
Step 5: Now that we have re-read the novel, let’s get into the work. My first round of editing focuses on improving the big-picture issues in the novel. I go chapter by chapter and make sure my dialogue is consistent with the characters. I address pacing- adding, subtracting, or removing scenes. I often end up adding more imagery and description.
Step 6: I work on the finer details such as word choice, grammar, and punctuation.
Step 7: I give the novel to beta readers. To be honest, I’m still working on accepting positive and negative criticism. I’ve picked out beta readers from different age groups whom I trust to give me honest feedback. Because I know they wouldn’t purposely give negative feedback to hurt me, I can better handle their advice and thoughts.
Step 8: Make the changes from your beta readers.
Step 9: Hire a professional editor who can look at your novel from an objective standpoint. There are many services an editor can offer, from developmental edits (edits and feedback focused on the plot) to line editing (feedback focused on the finer details like grammar and punctuation). Since I outlined my novel and had it go through my own editing and beta readers, my novels are usually ready for copy editing (which is feedback focused on plot, characterization, and grammar, sort of like a midpoint between developmental editing and line editing).
Step 10: Make the changes from your editor’s feedback, and give your novel a final once-over. I know that I’m done editing when I feel like any further edits will harm the novel rather than make it better.
My editing process turns out to be around ten steps. Sometimes I skip a step. Sometimes I add extra editing or breaks. But either way, this process allows me to rest and breathe, get outside perspectives on my novel, and make sure my novel is tight all around.
I hope this helps! By keeping a positive mindset, editing can become as enjoyable as the writing process!
