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How To Edit Your Novel (Without Dying Or Setting Your Hair On Fire)

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Statistic say that 97.2% of writers absolutely dread editing.

And these statistics are super accurate because I asked myself 97.2 times whether I liked editing or not and I cried EVERY SINGLE TIME. So that survey was a success.

But the fact of the day is: you must do it.

If you want to be a writer, you need to edit. And I mean this from the very depths of my stone cold heart. * If you have never seriously edited your novel(s) then you’re doing yourself a HUGE disservice in your writing growth. Editing is when you really build your novel. Editing is when you learn. Editing is when your words learn to mean more. Editing is when you set your hair on fire and run into a brick wall five times while beating yourself in the face with a teaspoon.

Oh, ummmm…wait. Ignore that last one. THAT NEVER HAPPENS. **

But editing is HARD. And I will give you a brief list of reasons why it’s so hard. Ha. As if you needed convincing.

  • There’s a lot more PRESSURE on you now. 1st drafts were like “HIT THE KEYBOARD AND CALL IT A NOVEL” but in edits you actually have to…you know…pretend you know what language this book is written in.
  • When you finish, you’ll have to let people read it. #KillMeNow
  • Oftentimes you finish edits and realise your edits need edits. #KillMeTwice
  • The problems can be so HUGE and MONUMENTAL that you don’t know HOW to possibly fix them.
  • Or, even worse: you would edit but you have no freaking clue HOW TO START.

I am here to help you with #5: HOW DO I START EDITING. And by “help” I mean I’ll do nothing of the sort except show you how I do it and my way is continually the best way.

HA! I’m kidding. The important thing (as with all aspects of writing) is to figure out what works for you. But if you still don’t know where to start, working off other people’s advice can be #extremely #helpful. Then change things so your process suits YOU. The only right way to write or edit is the way that works for you.

 

* My heart is, unfortunately, not very deep. But you get my drift.
** #LIES

I have posted about editing before, with my editing process back in 2015 and my 2nd drafting process back in 2014…which was practically before the egg was invented. Things will be repeated from there! But who was even following me back in 2014 except for my mother and many Russians, hmm?! SO HERE WE GO FOR THE FRESH VERSION.

Also YES I USE SCRIVENER. And no you do not have to use Scrivener! But I wrote an ode to why Scrivener is my favourite of ever here, if you’re keen to be convinced.

 

 

STEP #1: MAKE YOURSELF A SCHEDULE AND A PROMISE.

Because editing is super easy to back out of and if you don’t have a deadline (like an agent !! asking !! for it !! yesterday !!) then you’ll need to be your own deadline.

Make a plan! Mine generally looks like “edit 1 chapter per day.” Then make a promise! Mine often looks like “if you edit every single day you can buy a book at the end”.

For me, guilt is also huge motivator. Like I want to be a writer. I want to make it a career. I don’t get to do that if I don’t show up and type the words.

And heck yes there are days when you won’t be able to edit. I decided to (a) edit my 2016 NaNo novel, while (b) MOVING HOUSE TO A LOCATION 2,000KMS AWAY OMG CAIT WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU. So there were days in that when I couldn’t edit because I was too busy crying over how to pack 600+ books in 14 boxes or being carsick.

But the point is: make goals and stick to them. Be serious with yourself. Your book and you deserve this.

STEP #2: START BY RE-READING YOUR WHOLE MANUSCRIPT

This often feels like stabbing yourself in the eyeballs with small bees. Because 1st drafts are not generally very good. Okay fine: they’re awful. But stop melting onto the floor, you can do this.

STEP #3: TAKE NOTES ON HOW TERRIBLE A WRITER YOU ARE.

OKAY FINE I AM JUST KIDDING. Don’t kill your delicate self esteem. Feed your self esteem brownies and tell it that it is working hard and one day will fall into a pit of jewels and be able to buy a moon. Or, ya know, one day you’ll get a nap. I don’t know. Aim high or low, it’s up to you.

Moving forward.

Make lists of things that need fixing. If you’re using Word, use the “comment” feature! Or just pull up a fresh document and start writing things down as you read.

I keep a lot of my notes in my head which is 50000% unadvisable because you WILL FORGET THINGS THAT WAY.

One of my notes was “make romance actually romantic” so that can tell you right there how doomed I was.

STEP #4: WRITE DOWN WHAT YOUR BOOK’S THEMES, MESSAGE, AND WHAT POINT IS.

Because, if you’re like me, you’ll forget at least 9 times a day what you’re trying to SAY with this novel. So write it down. This will make writing blurbs/pitches easier too. Also go ahead and write those if you don’t have them yet. I write my blurbs before I even START the novel. #Winning

WRITE DOWN:

  • your reoccurring themes
  • how your character changes/grows
  • what messages you’re talking about
  • what hogwarts house your characters are in *

 

* What???!??! THIS IS CRUCIAL AND IT’S WORK. And FYI I write mostly Slytherins and Hufflepuffs and have no regrets.

STEP #5: TURN YOUR BRAIN INTO A STORM.

By which I mean “brainstorm” but turning into the X-Men Storm herself is 10/10 a good idea too.

Some of your notes for fixing could be “FIX MASSIVE PLOT HOLE” and so you need to actually think about how to fix it. By which I mean you need to make sure you have TIME TO THINK. A lot of people fill up every square second of their day…sometimes they even fill up the triangle seconds. #DoNotRecommend If you don’t have time to just imagine scenes and solutions, how are you going to fix this???

How I Brainstorm:

  • exercising while thinking about my book is my 500% preferred one. Moving physically helps me to move mentally.
  • I sometimes lie down on the floor and think…do not recommend. Usual ends in a nap.
  • Talking with a friend about the plot problem often ends up in you solving it yourself.
  • OR your friend might say something helpful.
  • But usually no.
  • Ew humans.
  • Failing a friend, I find writing to myself about the problem helps. Aka basically writing almost a journal entry (or a blog post you’ll never post!) where I say this and this and this are the issues…could I do this and this to fix them? No? Okay, maybe THIS then. Write yourself lists of options.
  • I stand out in the weather and let my brain get rained on. Still waiting for this to work???? Maybe someday???

 

This might take a few days, which is totally cool. The thing about editing is that you need to be prepared to put in steady but tediously serious effort. And IT IS WORKING. Even if you’re not adding words to your manuscript yet, this is still crucial! Not all writing is actually writing words down.

STEP #6: NOW GO AHEAD AND RE-WRITE THE WHOLE DARN THING.

“Ummmm, Cait,” you say, thinking of that small brick you keep in your backyard that you plan to brain me with in a second, “you said this post was about EDITING.”

Well it is about editing. Some people edit a sentence and it looks cool. I prefer to totally rewrite it. Because I write a sentence once, and I have a sentence. I write a sentence twice, and I have a better sentence. I always always make my book better the second time round. I think of a better word! Or I make the sentence clearer, shorter, more concise. Or I make the sentence make sense, which I believe is handy.

I like to split my manuscript into two screens and then rewrite and delete as I go. I keep one screen in red to remind me of the BLOOD OF MINE ENEMIES.

Failing Scrivener, you can do this in a Word doc too, with either two docs side-by-side, or just red text below and rewrite the new above.

Honestly it’s a lot of work and every 5 minutes I check for job openings as a sheep herder in Iceland.

STEP #7: GO AHEAD AND SET YOUR HAIR ON FIRE NOW.

WAIT WAIT WAIT NO SKIP THIS STEP JUST SKIP IT OMG WHO’S WRITING THIS POST.

STEP #7 (FOR REAL NOW): THINGS I TAKE NOTICE OF AND TRY TO FIX OR ELSE JUST GENERALLY CRY ABOUT.

  • Repetition — how many times did I describe his eyeballs??? Delete them all.
  • Overused words — Like I used “tuck” so freaking much I nearly wrote a book on how to fold a bed-sheet.
  • Chapters — I don’t write first drafts in chapters, I write scenes. So now I have to figure out chapter breaks.
  • Cliffhangers and Hooks — I’m a big believer in always making sure the reader is ENGAGED. To my book. Like I want to see them married, okay? So the first sentence in each chapter = must be a hook. The last sentence in each chapter = hopefully is mildly cliffhangery. Make the reader want to keep reading.
  • The first sentence, of course, must be perfect. WHYYYYY IS THIS SO HARD. I like my first sentences to (A) obviously totally hook the reader in with 100% levels of awesome, and (B) tell who the narrator is, and (C) set the scene, but also (D) set the whole book. No pressure.
  • REPETITION. I say this twice because I’m annoying. But also because this. is. so. crucial. You WILL over-explain. You WILL say the same thing too many times. YOU MUST FIX THIS NOW AND YOU MUST TAKE IT OUT.
  • Make sure your characters are consistent. And interesting. All your characters need complexities. All your characters have their own goals and subplots.

STEP #8: ADD THINGS IN.

  • Add in description. I suck at description so bad. So 2nd drafts and edits are when I put that in. You might need to take over-described scenes out. Know your own failings and strengths!
  • Add in the 5 senses. Ohhh this is SO IMPORTANT. If you want to take your book from “yeah that was cool” to “I ACTUALLY FELT LIKE I WAS IN THE STORY” for readers, the super big secret is: the 5 senses. Don’t just tell us what the characters see. What do they smell? (SMELL IS SUCH A GOOD ONE.) What do they taste. What do they feel. What’s the texture like???
  • Don’t use 5 words of description, use powerful ones. So when you want to say “She ate a sandwich” say “she ate a toasted cheese sandwich”. Don’t go into this too much. Like, heck I do not want to know the exact shade of fuchsia of your underwear. But the little descriptions are what makes the book feel real. Take a second more to say her shoes were scuffed, instead of just “she put on shoes”…something that helps describe the character. When you do this, you take out the need to do MASSIVE info-description dumps.
  • Add in (or take out) characters! I always add in my villains in draft #2. Because I’m a failure.
  • Add in scenes. If you don’t have enough, now is a good time!
  • Bulk up your book by fleshing out scenes. I actually need to trim my books, so please don’t listen to this advice, okay Cait? But as for anyone else who has a puny book who needs to eat more: flesh out your scenes. Did you just say she cooked dinner? Put a pivotal character conversation in amongst her cooking.
  • MAKE SURE EACH SCENE COUNTS. If it doesn’t actually move the plot forward, axe it. I like axing things. It’s fun. Fuels my Slytherin soul of the dark.

STEP #9: FIX TYPOS

I mean, duh.

Bu also learn how to spell, or you end up like me using “venerable” and “vulnerable” interchangeably until your critique partner * starts weeping.

 

* Hi Emily. Do you have so many regrets.

STEP #10: BE PROUD OF YOURSELF!!

I know it’s popular to always say “Oh my book isn’t good enough yet” and like, true son. It’s probably not. But you still need to learn how to be PROUD of the things you achieve.

I’ll be honest: I so so freaking loved this book I just edited. The editing was really tough, obviously. But I loved my characters. I loved seeing them fleshed out more. I finished it and just was SO PROUD OF IT. It’s not perfect after draft #2, but it’s getting there.

Also award yourself with cake at all times. Because yes.

STEP #11: IT’S OKAY IF IT NEEDS ANOTHER DRAFT.

My completion of draft #2 edits is generally formatting it onto a Word doc, doing another complete read-through to catch typos, and sending it to my critique partner or sister or, in this case (but not always), my agent. It’s a good time to get a second opinion! Then you can go into round #3 with a better idea of what needs fixing.

However you might want to do another rewrite. Or another line edit. I do line edits in with my massive edits because #lazy. Whatever works for you! Follow your instincts!

However if you’re saying “nope, I must do another rewrite it’s not perfect yet, the world can’t see it” then you are WRONG, JANE. VERY WRONG. You will never never get it perfect by yourself. You can read your book 187 times and there will still be plot holes and mistakes and typos because you’re too close. The second opinion is crucial. Do it.

“So where do I get a critique partner if I don’t haaave one, Cait?” you whine because I haven’t fed you any cupcakes this WHOLE POST because I ate them all and am a monster.

Excellent question. I have no idea. I can’t even remember how I found mine. Friends can be good! But sometimes you need someone who isn’t afraid to be tough. There are critique partner match-ups and things on occasion across the internets. I could host one?? But I don’t know if it’d be big enough to be worthwhile, SO LET ME KNOW. But finding CP’s is like a huge topic so we shan’t eat it now. Just know you. can’t. do. it. alone.

Which is a huge relief, let’s be real.

STEP #12: I DON’T KNOW, MATE, TAKE A NAP OR SOMETHING.

I generally have a “post-editing hangover” which my mother will attest to because I just sit around the house moping all day because I LOST MY BABY PROJECT. IT’S OVER NOW. So take a nap or make a sandwich or wash your cat or eat the moon or socialise or all those things you were neglecting.

You’ve done well, pure child of the darkness.

Now go write more.

 

There was a lot of information here and we’re probably all DEAD. So here’s a brief recap.

Just remember:

  • Write down the message of your book.
  • Editing isn’t a speed contest. Go slow. Be thorough.
  • Write yourself notes of problems to fix.
  • Give yourself time to brainstorm.
  • Make your description vivid but concise.
  • Don’t repeat yourself.
  • Don’t repeat yourself.
  • And be proud of what you’ve achieved, even if it’s not perfect yet.
  • ALSO CAKE, YOU KUMQUAT, OBVIOUSLY CAKE.

 

have you ever edited your novel??? BECAUSE YOU REALLY SHOULD. and also let me know if this was helpful or if you want more posts like this! and tell me YOUR process so we can all get tips from each other: how do you go about editing?? what project are you working on now?

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Comments

  1. Love this post – I never see actual “how to do the editing thing” advice, so that was good. Also cake. Here, have a piece of mine.

    Reply

  2. Oh Cait, if you hosted a find critique partners thingamebob I’d be so excited! My book/s have or currently are being edited and I am in major desperate need of critique partners!
    a thing I find helpful when editing is to print off a hard copy of the story, to read and mark in red pen. It’s easier i find!
    loved this post anyway

    Reply

    • Eeeep, well I’ll let you know! I think it could be really fun to do, but I feel like we’d need at least 20 people to participate in order to try and match people up the best we can!?? So I’ll look into it more! 😀

      Also printing it off would be AWESOME. I’ve not done it but I kind of want to someday.🎉

      Reply

      • Great blog post – many thanks and will investigate Scrivener.

        I always print off my drafts and go through with a red pen. It is amazing what stuff you find that gets missed on the screen.

        Reply

  3. “Actually make romance romantic.” OMG CAIT HAHA. I LOVE THIS.

    Okay, so dude, this post literally could NOT have come at a better time for me… so THANK YOU. Editing is HARD. Like back-breakingly bone-splittingly HARD. Especially, for me, when I have suuchhhhh a fixed idea of what I want my book to look like–and I get so frustrated when it’s doesn’t come out that like. My current WIP I’ve reworked several times, and it still just doesn’t FEEL right, you know? But already–though I’ve just started this draft–I finally feel like it’s becoming the story it SHOUDL be. (Even though it will need a lotttt more editing most likely once this draft is done.) Okay so I have a few points to add in case they’re helpful for anyone here:

    1. TRACKED CHANGES. I use this on Word Doc. all. the. time. (not sure it’s on scrivener, but it should be somewhere.) I find it so helpful in figuring on what I’ve deleted, and I can easily bring it back if I change my mind.
    2. Like you, I make lists. Usually I’ll write down what scenes I want to add, delete, character/plot changes… whatever the novel requires, basically .
    3. TRUST YOURSELF. And go with gut-instinct. For me this is hugely important, because most of the time, gut-instinct is spot. on.
    4. Chocolate.
    5. Procrastination.
    6. More chocolate.

    Reply

    • I’M HOPELESS. SOMEONE SAVE ME.😂 No but really I was re-reading the draft and like they didn’t even look at each other and BOOOM in the middle — kissing. *sets hair on fire*

      Editing is that hard omg. 😭 I’ve done severe edits on several books now and EVERY TIME I realise I have no idea what I’m doing. And I toootally know that “it still doesn’t feel right” time. I’m still actually reeling with the feeling of having finished this book as a draft #2 and kind of liking it?!? I just need to get some feedback from humans and see if I’m totally deluded.😂 I hope your editing goes really well too! FEED YOUR BOOK CAKE!! Or feed you cake. Like either/or.

      I wish track changes were on Scrivener too omg. So helpful. And I think gut-instinct is totally underestimated for it’s awesome. I was editing a scene I liked but like I kneeew deep inside I could delete it. GAH. Killing your darlings is hard sometimes.😂

      PROCRASTINATION IS MY FAVOURITE METHOD.

      Reply

  4. I’ve never finished a book, so I can’t say. though sometimes I find myself editing as I go. but I really need to finish writing my book, I think the problem is that I need more side plots. *brains starts screaming* and so that means I have to think up side plots…..I’ve also only got the main character and one main-ish character, so I’ve got a limited amount of stuff I can do to them. hey look, I’m thinking up situations, but how do I tie it into the story?
    Most crazily, ~Olive

    Reply

    • Definitely finish your book!! It is the most crucial part to being a writer, probably. 😉 PLUS IT’S SO REWARDING AND FULFILLING!! GOOD LUCK, OLIVE. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.

      Reply

  5. Oh, editing. It’s my old nemesis and friend both at once. Sometimes I want to scream and cry, other times I read a sentence and think: “….you know what? This is actually pretty good!” I’m in the thick of editing (and have been for several months), so this was a super helpful post! I hadn’t thought of writing down themes and such before, but now I will! 😀
    Thanks for another great post! <3

    Reply

  6. Ah this post makes my heart ache.
    My major problem is the actual typing? Like, I have the book(s) in my head, and very long hand written chapter descriptions but typing the whole thing makes me want to do this thing you perfectly described “…beating yourself in the face with a teaspoon.” because WHY DID I START WRITING WHEN I CANT TYPE THE ACTUAL WORDS. The whole process of having to sit still for however many hours and just type type type is brutal for me because
    a) I don’t want to but I have to and
    b) because I keep getting stuck in that one paragraph that’s not quite THERE yet and re-write it until my fingers bleed – that has never happened but its just my luck that it might- and then I give up. So frustrating!
    Thanks for the useful post though, if I ever get to that point…

    Reply

  7. I think my editing process has more people reading it more often than yours XD. I had one of my best friends read through the first draft before I did and it really helped because it meant I had someone to talk to as I read through it then started draft 2. But I also don’t completely re-write ha ha, oh god, I have more people reading draft 2 so hopefully they won’t tell me I need to 😬.

    But a very funny post and it has reminded me of some things I still need to do in the editing process so thank you.

    Reply

  8. Ok, I honestly never thought of writing down the message of my book before I start editing. (That said, I generally don’t write down the message of my book AT ALL because I write for story, not theme, but yeah.) I may have to start doing that.

    Also, your editing process is a lot like mine, which makes me happy. 😀 Obviously if I am like the awesome Cait, Dragon Queen of Darkness, I must be doing something right. The difference is that I kind of skip straight to the “Rewrite the thing!” and don’t bother with the “Write down the message” and “brainstorm” and “make editing notes.” It works, since I write the first draft more slowly and it’s usually cleaner. That said, I should’ve done some of those things for the novel I’m currently editing, and I will have to do them for some of the novels I have to edit.

    Random question: do you edit out-of-order? Or only in order? Because normally I edit in order, but on my current project I’ve been editing out of order to a degree because I have three or four different plotlines (I started out with three, but then one of the characters in the main plotline decided to get herself lost and another character decided to go after the lost character so now I have five different groups to keep up with and why did I do this to myself?) and I’ll switch between them sometimes so that if one is driving me crazy, I can work on a different one instead. What about you?

    Thanks for the fabulous post!

    Reply

  10. These tips are great! But also ahhhhhhhh editing. My usual process: take all the chocolate and hide under the bed where my first draft(s) cannot glare at me. I never actually edit. Too intimidating. But for my current project, I tried editing as I go but that turned out to be a terrible idea as it took me a year to write the first two chapters.

    Reply

  11. I loved this post, thank you so much! Do you also have posts on how to be a good CP? Or on how to start writing if you’re nervous but curious? #askingforafriend 😀

    Reply

  13. I think I’m the only person in the world who actually *likes* editing??? Right now I’m trying to outline my novel for Camp NaNo and it’s AWFUL. I’d rather be editing something, tbh.

    Also yes–it’s completely crucial to sort my characters (and their moms, and their pets, and the future kids of my otp) into their Hogwarts houses. Completely.

    Reply

  14. CAIT. This is legit some of the best and most honest editing advice I have ever read. Thank you!!! You have actually inspired me to be a tiny bit excited about editing my 55,000 word monster of a novel. How did you do this??? XD Anyway, this is some good stuff right here. Thank you so much. (Also, please publish many sassy fantasy books because most likely I will end up reading and eating all of them.)

    Reply

  15. I love figuring out my characters Hogwarts houses! As well as the other questions I’ve heard asked at panels like What type of coffee would they be and Which YouTube channel would they run. ☺️
    Thanks for all the great tips!

    Reply

  18. This was super helpful! I’ve never fully edited a novel before, but that’s because I’ve never fully finished a novel before. (I’m a novice *laughs at terrible joke*) I’m currently working on a Snow White retelling in novella form, so I’ll be using a lot of these tips to help me edit it! Awesome post 🙂

    Reply

  19. AGH, CAIT, THIS WAS SO SO HELPFUL AND I WANT MORE POSTS LIKE THESE. The edits I’m doing right now aren’t as “hardcore”, since it’s just for a writing contest. Or maybe it SHOULD be hardcore…

    I heard about the rewriting thing! Someone said that if you look at things in an editing viewpoint, you won’t fix everything. But if you rewrite it, you’ll catch a lot more. So I’m definitely taking that advice!

    Also that would be SO AWESOME if you hosted a CP match-up! Although I think any CPs of mine would be close friends of mine… and not people I meet on the internet. Even though when I say close friends I mean close friends both irl and online…?

    AND I NEED SCRIVENER. I think I’m going to try out the free trial for NaNo in November, and then hopefully someone will give me forty bucks for my bday (in November) so I can get it. XD

    Reply

  21. Where to begin…… This was so helpful !! I love the idea of writing yourself editing notes while reading through your work bc I am a forgetful grape ( like I can’t even tell you what I wore yesterday 😂).
    I am also trying to become a sheep farmer in Iceland ( I believe we have had this conversation before) so maybe we should be neighbors and have our dogs bring each other cake and occasionally yell Hi from the window (but you know like once a year , just so we know the other is still alive lol)
    You should definitely do more posts like this !!

    Reply

  22. I actually enjoy editing, especially when I come across passages that don’t quite suck. It’s like, “I wrote that? Cool…” I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to first drafts, so they’re not super-rough; I like to make sure I’ve got all the major plot points and characters in place from the start, because I find it very difficult to make big changes later. So, usually, when I’m doing my first edit, I have a fairly decent story to read (which is kind of fun) and I can just concentrate on the smaller stuff (sentence structure, repetition, minor character traits, etc.)

    But editing’s a double-edged sword. Just the other day, I found a horrifying typo where I pluralized something with an apostrophe. #nonono (I suspect I’ve been on the Internet too much lately; I’m starting to absorb bad grammar through osmosis.)

    A second set of eyes is helpful. I know I’ve found typos (the sort that a spellchecker won’t catch) after the third or fourth reading. Sometimes it’s just a matter of you being too familiar with your work. One thing that I do find helpful is reading aloud. I guess having to actually see each word in order to say it (as opposed to just skimming the line) helps. So that would be my tip for editing… although that’s probably more of a final polish sort of thing, and not all that helpful for dealing with plot holes or wayward characters.

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  23. Your posts never cease to make me laugh. :p and critique partners are brave, brave souls. I actually recently finished editing a novelette and sent it off to beta-readers, and I STILL MESSED UP SO MUCH, LIKE HOW. Writing is hard, and sheepherding looks lovely this time of year. Clearly procrastination is better.

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  24. THIS IS SO HELPFUL OMG. WOW. YES. Your advice and tips are STRAIGHT FIRE, dude. I’m a pretty slow writer, and a very intense plotter, so I actually don’t have like any developmental edits ever??? IDK IT’S WEIRD AND I’M ANNOYING I KNOW. But I also viciously edit my books over and over until I could recite all 100k words in my sleep :””’) SO THAT’S ALWAYS FUN. But you’re right on — it’s SO SO HELPFUL to have a second (and third and fourth) opinion! I can NEVER see what’s wrong with my story until someone else reads it for me. (In this case that someone is my wonderful and long-suffering mom bless her soul.) BUT WOW YES. TRUTH RIGHT THERE.

    Also the redundancy thing (tbh I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS POST BUT I’ll ramble on forever if I don’t pay attention *nervous laughter*) I definitely describe eyeballs WAYYY TOO MUCH. Because what else is there to describe in contemporary??? FOOD AND EYEBALLS. I’LL TAKE IT. Also I find that the “Word Frequency” tool in Scrivener is SUPER HELPFUL WITH THIS. I can see exactly how many times I use the same words over and over again and oh my gosh it saves my life.

    EEEP THIS WAS PERFECT TIMING because I just finished the first line edit of my NaNo 2016 novel and now I’m going to start going through it a second (third? ahem) time. SO YES THIS WAS GREAT ADVICE AND INSPIRATION. <3 Definitely do more posts like this!!

    rock on,
    abbieeeeee

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  25. The last time I edited a story the main cast grew by two characters and the story got longer and longer. I have no self-control. None! One day, I might revisit it. One day…

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  26. I’m in the process of trying to edit my first novel, but I got as far as sorting out chapter breaks and fixing typos and that was about it! These are great tips though. I’m hoping to edit more over the summer but that will mean letting other people read it (as I think I need a fresh pair of eyes) which makes me far too nervous!

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  27. If you don’t give me more “HOW TO WRITE/EDIT/MAKEABOOK” posts I will cry in a corner. Seriously, they’re sososo helpful I’m actually screaming. Yes, actually.
    I can edit and edit and edit until the story is completely different/terrible/wonderful/whotheheckwrotethis??? My MAJOR problem is figuring out WHAT to write about. Like I debate with myself so much. I have such a hard time committing to a story idea. HALP.

    Reply

  28. Right now I’m rewriting/modernizing a story that used to be historical fiction that I wrote when I was around 13…I did no research whatsoever and I cringe every time I look at it 😀 😀 But I still like some of the characters so hopefully this will be alot better. After I finish the first draft of this I can start on a proper rewrite.

    I also fare terribly with villains which is probably why I’m writing a contemporary this time…I don’t want to kill anyone!! I don’t want anyone to be that horrible!!! Everyone has a good side!!!! Right?

    (I actually do desire to write that sort of villain but I’ll have to wait until I build my fantasy world up more than a stable.)

    Reply

  29. That title though, that is exactly what editing makes me want to do. Great post, I plan on trying to follow these steps!

    Reply

  30. Beautiful post, Cait. As usual! Spot on in so many ways, and fantastic advice.

    Edit #1 of my manuscript was probably the most fun one, because there was so much so obviously wrong with it. It was instant gratification with fixes. I could feeeeeeeel the book getting better!

    Then Edits #2-#1billion happened. Let’s not ask my husband how many times I cried over it, okay?

    My editing process is a bit hairy. I do use Scrivener (which is a fantastic platform, and I love it). After the first draft is done I print off the entire document, then I go through with a pen and make notes, circle typos, highlight areas that make zero heckin sense, and so on. Then I go back to Scrivener, start in page one and put in my edits.

    Following that I read the entire thing in Scrivener, add color coded notes, and write down “things to consider”.

    Once this is done I make a binder and fill it with character sheets, timelines, locations lists, meaty questions about my story, words I want to do a frequency search on, and then go through and prioritize all the notes I made in Scrivener. I realize I can atually do this IN Scrivener, but my binder is so tactile and awesome to look at.

    Another print, another note-making sesion, another read through, move edits to document.

    After that I stick to reading/editing in Scrivener until I feel decent about my manuscript (though I continue to add info and thought fodder to my binder as I go).

    At some point I let family and a few other people read what I have and give me feedback on an anonymous online form.

    That, as of now, is my editing process. But, to be honest, it really depends on planet alignment, so this may or may not change in the future.

    Critique partners? I would LOVE to participate in some kind of Critique Partner match up. I know at least one other person in my actual real life who would probably also participate. Let us know if you decide to throw one together! Or if you need help doing it.

    Happy editing!

    Reply

  31. I just finished a first draft and have been unsure of how to go about editing, so this post comes at a perfect time!!
    These are some really great tips/ideas. I actually LOVE editing so much more than writing, mostly because then I don’t really deal with writer’s block! But I need practice and help so this is so great!
    Awesome post!

    Reply

  32. Yes to everything in this post! Editing might not be as much fun as first drafting or outlining but it really does make the book. Also, Maggie Stiefvater has a critique partner match up, she tweeted a link recently so go take a look at her tweets for it 😄

    Reply

  33. Ah editing, the bane of my existence. First drafts offer so much freedom, which maybe is why I procrastinate finishing them, because I know what comes next. xD You seem to have it way more together, though. I have a novel that’s like 95% finished and I’ve been editing it for THREE YEARS. Deadlines are great, though. I don’t like failing, even though sometimes it’s healthy to fail a little bit, so deadlines usually help me. Maybe I ought to use that to my advantage . . .

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  34. “For me, guilt is also huge motivator. Like I want to be a writer. I want to make it a career. I don’t get to do that if I don’t show up and type the words.” Same. “The first sentence, of course, must be perfect.” TRUE. “Add in the 5 senses.” Uhh, this is a good one. I SHALL WRITE THAT ONE DOWN SO I DON’T FORGET IT AGAIN THE SECOND I CLOSE THIS TAB. I wrote it down, and on we go. “The second opinion is crucial. Do it.”…but do I have to?

    YES THIS WAS GOLDEN. Please do more stuff like this. Like: “HOW TO DO THE 3#Draft” and “HOW TO DO CHAPTERS” and “HOW TO SUCCEED AT BOOK WRITING” or “HOW TO MAKE AN AWESOME WEBSITE” (HELP!!!) and “HOW TO USE YOUR TIME BETTER” – just, you know, general advice about how to adult or live life. Because I need all the help I can get. WELP.

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  35. Editing my little teeny tiny 700 word posts is already excruciating. I can’t even imagine what ACTUAL writers go through. Especially if it involves other people (editors) poking in your little bundle of magic.

    But actually, your list works for editing a blog post as well 🙂 it’s more or less how I do it, except I don’t need a schedule cause it’s short, and the things that need fixing are fixed right away cause it’s like two pages long, haha 😀

    And that’s a really nice list about repetition 😀

    Reply

  36. Haha yeah I haven’t even named my villain yet or like any places in my current draft…whenever I need a name I just put in CITY or TOWN or HERLASTNAME or something 🙂

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  37. *fairly sure that isn’t how percentages works* *doesn’t argue anyway* *prefers hair in its natural not-set-on-fire-by-Cait state*

    I find re-writing to be the best way of improving my writing too! And for working through plot holes, I just write my inner dialogue down (“Alice goes to find Bob, but she can’t do that yet, because Bob is still talking to Chris, but Alice HAS to be gone because Danielle finds the house empty, why is this story so stupid I’m going to go eat cake”) and eventually I’ve brainstormed a way to fix it! (Or I’m lost in a plot cave. Alone. In the dark. Probably with bats.)

    Thanks for the handy post!

    Reply

  38. DUUUUUUUUUDE!!! This. This was perfection. Methinks you need to teach us your writerly ways more often????? Ah????? Ahhhhh?????? 😀

    Anywho. I can relate. I loved how you said that if you aren’t editing, you aren’t growing as a writer AS MUCH AS YOU COULD BE IF YOU WERE EDITING. I don’t do a whoooooole lot of editing… because I have this horrendous habit of editing as I go???? But I’m trying to be better, I swear!!! 🙂

    I also love how you just slap everything together in first draft and then leave ALOT of (potentially fun????) things for second draft. I found it fascinating, for example, that you don’t write villains until second draft???? ANY PARTICULAR REASON WHY???

    But I loved this post and found it enormously helpful so thank youuuuuuu!!! I will be implementing some of this!!

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  39. Okay, confession time: Editing scares the actual bejeezus out of me. I was “that kid” in school who never revised ANYTHING. I did not “look over my paper” after taking a test, and if a teacher had us do first drafts and second drafts of a paper? Yeah, I just printed the original out twice. And never had a problem! So editing.. is something I have quite literally never done. I have a tendency to second guess myself and then make things WORSE, which is what I am afraid of with editing. Oh, and also, I have never fully finished a draft, which is important to note. But I think that I haven’t finished it (well, one at least) not because I don’t know how I want to end it (I do) but because I am scared of what happens next. Also? Scared about the whole “letting another human read it” business.

    (Oh, and can I just say that I find all of your posts witty and fabulous, but your writing in this one is extra good? Like, I found myself thinking- “this is really freaking good, and I already hold Cait to very high standards” 😀 )

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  40. “Interesting theory, Sherlock.” says the unnamed entity whose name is known to all.
    P. S. Cake. Good.

    Reply

  41. Ahhh, I love posts like this! Of course, I would probably love it a lot more if I was even close to being at the point where I could edit. Maybe that’s the secret to not hating it so much? If you take so long on getting the dang first draft even completed, reaching the editing stage will seem like a blessing! No? Oh well.

    Reply

  44. So, because I’m a crazy person, I have spent my entire life (or for as long as I can remember – I doubt I was writing as an infant. Although, I don’t know. Maybe I’m super advanced and never knew?) writing and trashing EVERYTHING. I have finally decided to sit, complete a project, and ask for critiques. No trashing my work because I’m too embarrassed or sure it’s worthless! I appreciate your inspiration. It’s a late start for me now that I’m in my late 20s, but better late than never, right? Supposedly..

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  45. Thank you for this post! I am in the editing stage and have been putting it off like the good little procrastinator I am, but now I have motivation! You have such good ideas!

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  46. hahaha I love your totally accurate statistic- I think I’m in the lower end of hating editing, cos depending on what I’m working on, I sometimes actually like it (I know, that’s crazy in the writing world 😉 ) Have to say I’m not loving it right now, so I can totally relate to this post! Especially cos I’m in the “write all the ways this thing is shit phase” (and yes “thing”- it’s a “thing” at the moment- it doesn’t deserve another title- did I mention I’m not liking this one at the mo:? 😉 )
    PS I just felt the need to sort my main characters into houses the second you mentioned it 😉

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  47. Oh goodness, I NEEDED this post!!! I’m currently slogging through the second draft of my book, and I feel like it is literally going NOWHERE. But this info is SO helpful!!! I shall definitely keep all of it (or as much as I can remember????[#marshmallowbrain]) in mind tomorrow when I’m writing! I’m actually kind of excited for editing now… Which is odd, seeing as though I was just about ready to set my hair on fire earlier whilst cramming my face full of cookies because #stresseater…

    Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!! for this amazing post!!!

    Reply

    • Dooon’t set your hair on fire. YOU GOT THIS, KENZIE.😂 I know it’s hard to keep all the info on hand too, but like, don’t stress too much.😂 It’s okay to take several drafts of edits! Like the draft I finished while writing this post is about to go onto draft #3. Just start with little things and then work and build on it, right?!

      GOOD LUCK.

      Reply

      • I HAVE NOT SET MY HAIR ON FIRE, YET!!! WHOOO! And yes! Starting with the little things is best. There’s always time to keep burrowing deeper into the story…

        (Hopefully…?) 😂

        Thank you so much! I shall need all of the luck, haha!

        (Also, I completely did not remember getting a reply to this comment, so I am SO SORRY for the late response!!)

        Reply

  48. Hi Cait,
    This post came to me whilst I was mentally preparing myself to edit (you or your dragons must be mind readers).
    I also think the Critique Partners idea sounds great and you can count me in.

    Reply

  49. I tend to over edit on the go, which generally means that my first drafts are still unfinished because it takes FOR EVER. I need to chain myself to my notebooks/computer and just finish the darn things (or, y’know, at least ONE). Unfortunately that pesky thing called a job keeps getting in the way…. *sobs*

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  51. Omg I hate editing!! I actually have a manuscript that I need to finish editing right now. And by finish I mean start the next draft. It had so many problems, I couldn’t do them all in one draft 😭

    Thanks for the tips. Sometimes I just want to smash my head against a wall while rereading my work, so it’s good to have any tips at all. And you should definitely host a cp match-up!

    Reply

    • IT’LL GET BETTER, I PROMISE!! Try to break it down so you don’t think about EVERYTHING you have to fix. Just start with small things and build and work on them all till you’ve tackled everything!

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  52. Fantastic Post Cait! I’ll be jumping into the editing process myself really soon so this came at just the right time and was super helpful. Also I would love to see a post on finding critique partners – I think thats one of the toughest parts about being a writer. Finding someone who is at the same writing level, around the same stage, and who is willing to be cut-throat honest. It is SO HARD!

    While I have one awesome critique partner whose stayed with me for years, most people drift off after a chapter or two never to be heard from again (maybe my writing is just that bad?) – or they haven’t finished their story and never have any chapters to swap… again drifting away into oblivion. *Sigh* Thank goodness there is always cake!

    Reply

    • I tooootally think finding a good critique partner can be hard! (Or a couple of them.😂) So I shall definitely put that on the to-do list for future posts or endeavors if I decide to host a possible match-up. I generally lose mine after a while too??? (IT’S REALLY DISHEARTENING.😂) i’ve got one who’s stayed with me about 4 years now and that’s relieving.😂

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  53. So in the midst of all this I suggest a small group of Beta readers to be your fresh eyes. They all should enjoy the genre in which you are creating. After that, they should each have a specialty with regards to language (a grammar cop, a punctuation cop, etc.) You also need to be ready to hear their constructive criticism and suggestions. One of you betas may pick up on how many times you use (or perhaps over use) a word or mannerism and offer ideas on variety. Another may find an inconsistency in a chain of events.

    However, if a beta tries to completely change everything about your work you do not have to listen to that person.

    It is very difficult to put yourself in the hands of betas, but the ones that want to help will understand your love and effort and look to the fine details to help strengthen your work.

    Reply

    • It’s true about betas! I personally think it’s better to severely edit by yourself first and THEN get betas. Otherwise they’ll be wasting time pointing out stuff you already know needs fixing. But fresh eyes are still super important!

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  54. THANK YOU FOR THIS. My general response to editing is to crawl away and hide under a couch somewhere, but I’m trying to stand my ground and face it, and this post is really helpful. So cheers (with cheesecake obviously).

    Reply

    • Eeep, I’m so glad you liked the post, Lisa!! *flails* I used to edit as I go but I find it really sets me back? I believe in messy first drafts and serious edits now.😜

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  56. I am so glad you emphasized looking out for repetition… I mean, typos cause me an ouch but they are fleeting.
    Repetition? It starts with a tic in my eye when I notice a particular phrase popping up more than once… then when I can actually flip through and find that I am not just imagining the repetition I get a look on my face I can feel in my soul… and THEN every time the phrase comes up I am at risk of actually exclaiming out loud at how the author needs to smarten up and find another way to say this thing they are trying to say!

    I have tried to complain about repetition in a book to my fiancee, who is not so much a reader and he just looks at me like I am a crazy person… BUT OH MY GOD IT BOTHERS ME SO MUCH WHEN (for example) EVERY CHAPTER HAS A CHARACTER “SHRUGGING ONE SHOULDER”. LIKE, GET THAT TIC CHECKED OUT MY DEARS.

    *ahem*
    anyway.
    I actually love editing.

    Too bad I don’t apply this love of editing to these overly long comments I word vomit on your blog.

    ;D

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    • This is so funny about complaining to your fiance about the shoulder shrugging repetition in a book lol because I was just complaining to my husband this morning about how in the book I’m reading the author keeps saying the characters “blinked” as if it’s a major action, like “she blinked over to him”, “he blinked away”, and “he blinked behind him” and this was THREE TIMES within TWO pages. I was like, WHAT?! Are your eyes okay?? I mean it’s normal for people to blink but why are you pointing it out this many times??? This is the kind of repetition we must be vigilant of lol

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  57. Haha, my method is pretty much all of the above, but all of my comments are snarky because it is SO MUCH FUN. (I’m horrible at description too! XP)

    But this is clearly the concise version. Question, though: Can cookies substitute for cake if absolutely necessary?

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  58. Ahhh Cait I love this! Hearing tips is always so inspiring. Congrats on another draft and I hope your agent likes it! I would ADORE to do a critique partner match up. So far I have hidden myself from editing so effectively that I think my WIP is actually in two parts, one of which is on my little brother’s hard drive at the other end of the UK so I have an Excellent Excuse to avoid it! 😁

    Reply

    • Aww, you totally should get your WIP back together with itself some time. 😉 And maybe I could like host the CP match up and just see what happens!? I know it can be hard to find one that’s for sure. EEEP.

      Reply

  59. “make romance actually romantic” *glances at WIP* I could probably use that note.

    So I’m editing Oddball right now, more like compiling it into one Word doc while I reread it (and axing things as I go because it’s far too huge). This was very helpful. I always needed to remember things like character arc and reoccurring themes and messages. I don’t know why though. Does the novel actually have to be about something!? People ask too much.

    Also, the description thing. Meh. I either underdo it or overdo it. But I should def remember the sense of smell, that’s a good one. I also love what you have to say about the cliffhangers and hooks! I keep reminding myself that I needed to do that, but I don’t actually have chapters yet. Just scenes.

    So yeah, chapters first, then hooks and cliffhangers. XD Loved this post!

    Reply

    • Bahah, I know right?!😂 I’M TERRIBLE AT ROMANCE. My notes were so helpful. And good luck with Oddball’s edits!! *cheers you on* There’s so so much to remember and keep on top of with edits. It is very overwhelming.

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  60. UGH editing is the worst. I know it’s a totally necessary beast but it is way less fun than the actual writing of the novel. I’m currently in the writing stage of a novel, but when I was editing my last novel I discovered that I for some reason got hooked on the word “downright”. (like how you mention how many times did I describe his eyeballs DELETE THEM ALL lol) Everything was downright weird or downright creepy or downright whatever and I was like dear Lord, girl, what is your deal with the word downright? Delete every single one of them!

    It was, dare I say, *downright* infuriating.

    For me, the two things that help most are 1. printing the whole thing out and editing it by hand. I knowwwww it’s a ton of paper but trust me I recycle and it just works way better for me to do it by hand. I am old fashioned like that and for some reason things just process for me better if I can put fat red X’s through things or whatever it may be. and 2. like you mentioned, basically writing a journal entry about it. That works really well for me. I’ll start writing, “I don’t know what I am going to do with this scene because….” and once I’ve got all my reasoning down on paper, it makes a lot more sense and I can actually dissect (ew) the problem.

    Overall, this was a good post about editing! Of course it was long, there’s LOTS to be said about it haha

    Reply

    • @Samsara: Exactly! I think we barely even know our novels after 1 draft. We need mooooore. I have improved in my writing SO MUCH since I started doing really heavy and intense edits. And bahah! Yes! Our crutch words. Omg. They are enough to drive a writer insane. I used to have one that was “flicked”. Everyone was flicking their eyes here and their feet there and I don’t know if we were all just having seizures but it had to stop.

      I think editing by hand would be a lot of fun! I’ve never done it because I hate handwriting stuff.😂 But the feel of the red pen and all the pages = I would like.

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  61. I’m fifth drafting at the moment! Which is going well?? I think?? LOL. I had to do four drafts of the novel before it was ready for the betas, because I started it when I was 14, so yeah, that tells you all you need to know! But now I’m close to finishing the fifth and I, uh …

    I …

    this is the bit where …

    I promised …

    ~whispers~

    ~whispers even quieter~

    ~sound stops altogether~

    I said my parents could read it!

    #YIKES WHAT WAS I THINKING. Ahahahah I AM AFRAID. On another note, though, how awesome are CPs?? Or rather, how much do I suck? They make a comment like “this doesn’t make sense” and I’m like, heck, you’re so right, this does NOT make sense, and how did I not spot that over four drafts? What was I doing? I should be fired. Pfft.

    Anyway. I actually have no idea how I’m going to edit the second book in the trilogy? Because second drafting the first one was basically a massive rewrite, because neither the characters, plot, nor world made sense (“so what did make sense?” you ask. Great question. NOTHING), but hopefully this time it won’t be like that …… My main problem is that I’ll be spending the last two weeks of August on an uninhabited Scottish island w/o electricity, and I feel like, whilst I handwrite first drafts, laptop WOULD be good for second drafts. I’ve considered printing the first draft, but marking it up and then typing the changes? Scuse me whilst I VOMIT. So lol. Who knows how I’ll get round this hurdle. Exciting challenges I face in my life …………..

    Reply

    • Omg I HEAR YOU. *cries because parents reading work is the scariest thing ever* My mum is currently reading one of my books and just…yes. I would like to move to the Arctic now.😭😂😂 But also CPs are excellent. And when they point out SUCH obviously mistakes and it’s like “facepalm, why didn’t I think of that”. 😂 Invaluable, totally.

      Duuuuuuuuuude. AN UNINHABITED SCOTTISH ISLAND. PLEASE MAY I COME TOO.

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  63. Ahh I am so jealous of your writing and reading about it makes me incredibly motivated. I know I need to practice to get better but I can’t manage to get myself seated and writing. I tend to make excuses about school work or other forms of procrastination. Or I spend far too long world building. The novel I am working on at the moment I have three attempted and unfinished first drafts but on the other hand I have food webs for all the different ecosystems in my fantasy world… so I guess that’s something?

    Reply

    • That is something! And honestly sometimes I think we can get stuck on too much research vs actual writing/drafting. So just make sure you make yourself do both. 😉 I do get how fun it is to build the world though!

      Reply

  66. Well, who knew that reading about editing could be so funny? I cracked up laughing by myself all through the article (neighbour must think me a lunatic). Anyway, all this makes lots of sense, on top of being concise and straight to the point – thank you. Now, need to get it done.
    I stumbled by chance on you blog – thank you Google – and now am very curious about what you write. Will totally check you out.

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  67. Thanks Cait! I’ve sort of gotten to this kind of editing on my own, but it’s good to know I’m on the right track!! I’m still fumbling through editing my first book-length thing while I try to write another one (I also wrote a sequel-ish thing to the first, before properly editing it, which I realise was a distinctly BAD idea). I’m not nearly such a prolific writer as you though, obviously. That first book-length thing took me… oooh, two and a half YEARS to write. So there’s that. Yeah… eek. But I’m slowly improving, I think (or maybe I just hope)

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  68. I am currently editing my second novel and love this post, especially the winsome referrals to job openings in Iceland and stabbing eyeballs with bees. But the feeding self-esteem with brownies was an excellent suggestion, along with everything else, so thank you for making this helpful but funny and hopeful. And I hope all your books turn out the way you dream of them being.

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  69. Would you recommend printing out the first draft and physically editing it before editing it digitally?

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  70. Hello Cait

    My wife is Aussie. She is just the most perfect person — for me anyway.
    Pages (double spaced letter size):354
    Words:109037
    Characters:578474
    Characters excluding spaces:469811
    What follows is more than a note and i do not expect you to read it, but, as you know just writing it was good.

    So I have a huge novel that took 7 years (four hours a day one day a week) to complete, has been edited (kind of) along the way. It was my first — ever.
    I love the story really really love it. It is very complex and i have been told to split it into two books — but that would ruin the story in my opinion.
    I fear my writing drags it down. I am good (I think) at action scenes, suck at descriptions and my characters are only 2D.
    I am now retired and trying to make time to edit – so i let it sit for months on end and have once again said “Michael, you need to finish this one way or another”.
    Because my writing was so broken up and my method of writing was virtually stream of consciousness (I like to tell people that I started the story, introduced (accidentally) a female character and she just took over the telling of the story. So, my stream of consciousness, was, in fact, hers not mine. The story just unfolded each tuesday at 9am when Ralph came over to work on his Plays. I loved watching the story develope and I loved the research “she” required of me and AND very much loved when the research validated what she had already said.
    I told someone else that my character told my story (I had actually heard this said, develop a character and he/she will tell you her story) and he said that is a load of crap, You, your subconscious, creative mind, wrote that story — DUH! But can’t both things be true?
    What happened was I wrote a mess of short stories, or as you call them, scenes. But the chronologically of the narrative was a huge mess. So many sessions were spent trying to paste them together, make it somewhat linear and might make some sense to a reader. That is what i have right now — I think.
    Anyway
    I actually am writing to tell you THANKS very much for this post. I asked google to tell me where and how to edit a completed story and I found you.
    I will start by reading the entire story (it lives in my Kindle White Page – what a gift THAT ability is).
    I want to read it like a reader not a writer, but each time I start to read, I cannot help but find small things (still?:” after so many editing passes through? Yes, those mistakes still exist).

    Michael Patrick

    Reply
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