SHERI SINGERLING

Image by annekarakash via Pixabay

I’ve got editing on my mind for a couple of reasons. First, there’s all the editing (proofreading) I did for the upcoming release of Nytho. Then, there’s the editing I did of my next release (Neuen) before I sent it out to beta readers. And shortly, there will be editing of the first draft of my most recently completed manuscript (Blessed is the Rot). So yes, lots and lots of writing and rewriting and tightening up and being annoyed with myself for making the same mistakes over and over again. (I hate you filtering). Given where my mind’s been of late, I figured this post would be appropriate.

Let’s start with the broad strokes. Every writer is different. Every writer will approach editing in their own way. Still, there are general guidelines, and there are tried and true methods. I’ll list those and dive into how I personally approach editing. But before I do, it’s important to talk about the planner versus pantser divide.

Planner versus Pantser

Planners are just what their name implies. They plan out their novel before writing it. The level of planning can vary, but it will usually involve some mapping out of the plot and characters. Pantsers are the opposite; they write off the seat of their pants. They might plan some aspects of the novel, but for the most part, they excel when they don’t feel hampered by notes.

Can you guess which I belong to? Hint: Check out this blog post.

I bring up this serious divide in writing approaches because it trickles down to how authors edit. I suspect pantsers spend a lot more time checking for consistency errors than planners do, but in either case, the general editing process shares key hallmarks no matter which camp a writer plants their flag in.

Tried and True Advice

Before I dive into how I approach editing, I’ll skip to the methods that every writer could benefit from using. These aren’t my own inventions but rather ones that other writers or mentors have shared with me over the years.

• Read out loud! No really, do it. It makes a world of difference. Imagine that a passage looks fine on the page, but when you attempt to read it out loud, you find yourself tripping over the wording. Or suddenly it sounds off for some reason. Hearing your writing can go a long way to identifying issues with flow.
• Let your novel sit. This is for once you’ve finished that first draft. I know it’s hard to let it go. All you want to do is dive right back into it. You can’t bear to let your baby go, but trust me. It is exactly what both you and the novel need. Get some space. Try to forget about it. If you’re really antsy, then move on to another project. This downtime is absolutely essential if you want your editing to be worthwhile. You have to see the work with fresh eyes. For that to happen, take a break for a minimum of two weeks. A month is even better. Two months? Probably better still. There’s likely a point of diminishing returns, but I don’t know exactly when that would be since I’m always eager to get back to my novels.
• Get feedback from strangers. Okay, not like random people on the street. Maybe you might have luck with that, but what I mean is people you don’t have a personal connection with. Even honest friends are friends. They won’t be as brutally honest as you need them to be. Ask friends if they have non-mutual friends. Otherwise, you can always jump on good old social media to find willing folks. If you have spare money, you can hire beta readers although I’ve heard this can be a double-edged sword. Critical feedback can make for angry clients so paid beta readers might not be as harsh as you need them to be. I’ve gone with paid beta readers recommended by a fellow writer. That way I know they will be open and honest without fear of hurting my ego.
• Be careful of feedback from other writers. You would think fellow writers would be the cream of the crop. They know what good and bad writing is. They’re highly critical. They know the tropes of your genre. BUT they also have their own opinions. Writers tend to have a strong writing style, and when they provide feedback their own style might come into play. You want to avoid changing your writing to mimic theirs. I think more seasoned writers don’t have to worry about this point as much, but if you’re new to writing, wait until you find your way before relying too much on other writers. Exceptions to this are writers who teach. They tend to know how to provide advice without forcing their style on their mentees.
• Develop a thick skin. Now. If you want your writing to improve, you need to get rid of your ego. It’s tough because the publishing industry is brutal to anyone’s sense of self-worth. Rejection after rejection after rejection has a way of getting to even the most self-confident of people. But knowing your abilities and having an ego are two different things. You can always improve. Your writing is never perfect. Be open to feedback and don’t take it personally. This isn’t a skill that can be taught. You’ve just got to learn to take a beating, pick yourself up, and keep trudging on.
• Know that suggestions are suggestions. Take what works for you and toss the rest. If you find you’re tossing all feedback, then it might be a you problem and you ought to reevaluate. I find that I’m much more open to feedback after I’ve let it sit in my head for a while. I might initially disagree with something and then find that I actually agree with it hours to days later. Always do your editing with a cool head. Take your time. It’s not a race.
• Get feedback from multiple readers. What one hates, another might love. What confuses one might be perfectly clear to another. Look for general trends to identify real problem areas. This can also help you decide if the suggestions are toss-worthy or not. I tend to prefer an odd number of readers for any given piece in case there is a split down the middle on the opinion of any given issue.

How I Approach Editing

Now, on to my own personal opinions. These are tactics I use and that work for me personally. They won’t work for every writer. I’m just putting them here in case you find them useful.

My first step in editing happens immediately. Once I finish a writing session, I go back and read what I wrote. Maybe I spent an hour, or two, it doesn’t matter. I always go back over what I just wrote before powering down my laptop for the day. The next editing happens when I finish a chapter. In these passes, I’m looking for awkward wording/phrasing, filtering, over explaining, grammatical errors, and so on. These are my own personal problem areas, so I know they will crop up. I try to nip them in the bud as soon as I can.

The next step happens when I finish the first draft. I do the tried and true method of letting the manuscript sit for about a month. After that time has elapsed, I go through the entire novel, again focusing on my problem areas. In this pass, I also look for plot holes and inconsistencies. It’s easier for me to see those with a complete piece.

Once I have the novel as good as I can get it, I send it on to beta readers. In the past, those have been folks who looked at it for free. I send them 10 big picture questions to answer. Doing this allows me to compare feedback between beta readers, and it helps guide them as they read. Once I have their feedback, I combine it, identify the problem areas, make my revision plan, and tackle it.

If I am going the traditional publishing route, I move on to querying agents. If I decide to self-publish, I send the novel to paid beta readers who are more experienced. Once I’ve revised it, I move on to proofreading. If I can afford it, I hire an editor. If not, I use a proofreading tool like ProWritingAid to help me catch grammatical mistakes. Once I’m happy with the novel, I format it for ebook and paperback and then proofread both versions. I correct any errors then the book is ready for publication.

That’s the long and short of it. I think many writers spend more time editing than writing that first draft, but in my experience, I get through the editing stages quicker than the first draft. I suspect that’s because I’m a planner and really have to spend a lot of time and effort up-front. I also think it helps me avoid issues with pacing, characterization, and structure, which take much more time to fix during the editing process.

What about you? Are you a planner or pantser? How do you approach editing? Let me know in a comment.