Editing

[Liz Hillsman]

Hey, editing is easy, right? I mean, I'm a trained journalist. I've edited my little heart out many times. But now, my second completed manuscript awaits the computerized red pen and I've got cold feet. I seem to have forgotten every little trick I learned in J-school. Yes, fiction is quite the different beast, but somethings do run constant.

How do you start to edit? Do you use the search, find, replace feature? Do you chart out each chapter? What about continuity edits? How do you deal with those pesky plot threads that need trimming or expanding?

I feel like I'm standing at the foot of a mountain in sandals and a sundress. Yep, totally unprepared.

[Jeffrey J. Mariotte]

For me, there's no choice but to start at the beginning again, reading each sentence and paragraph with a critical eye. The advantage this time through is that, having made it to the end of the novel once, I now know what it's about and what happens in it with a clarity I didn't have before (even when working with a solid outline), so I know what needs to be inserted, what needs to be made more clear (or hidden better), what doesn't need to be there at all, etc. Plot threads can be dealt with as I'm making my way through, although there are times that I will skip around in the ms to massage one--then go back to where I left off in my page-1- to-ending edit. I do use find sometimes if I'm worried that I've used a word or phrase too many times, and want to see just how often it really occurs. Also if I suddenly think of something I want to fix but can't remember where it is. Search and replace is handy those times that I realize I've changed someone's name midway through the book...

It's the rewriting/editing process that really makes a book shine, but it's hard work and there are no shortcuts around it that I've ever found.

[Liz Hillsman]

Thanks for sharing your process, Jeffrey. Appreciate another way to approach this phase.

[Heather Froeschl]

Editing your own work is by no means easy. It is a natural trick of the mind to overlook mistakes; you see what you MEANT to type, not what you may have actually written. You know the subplots and have them in mind, but maybe it isn't clear enough for a reader to pick up on. You know what is going to happen but the reader needs those subtle clues.

If you have a plan/outline that you've been working from (not every author does) go over that plan and find where each portion can be checked off within your manuscript. When you've "completed" a manuscript, let it rest for awhile. Pick up something completely different and allow your mind to delve into into reading something that isn't your own. Give your brain a rest and then you will see with fresh eyes when you begin again. Every author has a different method of stepping back, but you need some kind of refreshing habit to break away with.

When you start again, closely examine each sentence. Ignore the lure of skipping over sentences you've read a thousand times...there may be a typo that you've skipped over a thousand times. There may be a word missing that your brain inserts every time you've read that passage. Forget that you know these characters and see them anew. Imagine you are at your 20th high school reunion and meeting again those people you saw day in and out in math class. You don't know them anymore! Take this time to forget what you know about your characters and read their nametags as if for the first time in 20 years. Is there enough information for your virgin readers to get to know these people? See the plot in this same way, the sub plots too. If you see something that needs attention, trimming, expanding, make a note but continue reading through as a reader would, and go back to it later (unless you have a burning thought track that you MUST get down.). If you find a word you've misspelled, jot it down, then later go in and search to be sure you've spelled it correctly in every other instance. The point is, editing needs a complete, concious, careful reading, not just a glance through, skip over, skim.

It IS hard for a writer to edit their own work. We all struggle with this. Having a critique partner is a great idea if you can manage it. Finding competent proof readers is good too. But be careful whom you ask. Hiring an independent editor is a great option if you can do so. (If I do say so myself!) They are typically extremely aware of plot, subplot, consistency, characterization, spelling, grammar, etc. And they have a fresh perspective.

Standing at the foot of the mountain in sandals is fine as long as you are prepared to step as carefully as you will need to. And having that fresh perspective, looking at the winding mountain path with sharp eyes, is exactly what you need.

[Liz Hillsman]

Heather, what wonderful advice. Thank you for taking the time to respond and offer suggestions on how I might proceed. After I completed my first draft, I took a month off to let the story rest before I began the editing process. With summer arriving, the month turned into a month and a half! Now I'm ready to begin.

[Heather Froeschl]

Liz,
No problem at all; this is what I do. I enjoy every minute of it. Most writers say they hate editing, but I love it. Best of luck and just take it one sandaled step at a time!

[Heather Froeschl]

Mari,
And every word! ;-)

[Patti McQuillen]

When I have to edit something I read it out loud. I also started using a form created by a member of my writing group. One of the most important questions she asks is about the purpose of the writing. She means more than the book itself; she means why did you write a particular sentence or piece of dialogue. Ask yourself are the words clear, and would they be clear to someone who does not write. Remember, the writing you do is a part of you and since writers think their words are great (at least in the beginning), we tend to miss things. Try to create a vision of what you read and if anything jumps out at you - mark it with a specific note so you do not look at it later and wonder why you marked it.

[Kim Smith]

Liz,

Don't forget the tried and true "read it out loud" method too. That always helps clarify if you are making it "sound" the way you want it to.

[Julie Ann Shapiro]

I think you're reviewing to a straight edit as a opposed to a revision. When I'm just editing I look for sentence repetition, whether the transitions are smooth, passive voice, typos, grammar glitches. I have a whole list of words I try to stay away from and also edit for consistency.

[Linda Mooney]

First thing you need to do (And this is speculative, mind you. Everyone is different.) is put the MS aside and let your mind "release it". Give it a week. That way when you go back and begin "from the beginning", you see it with a fresher eye.

Secondly, get a good friend to beta read it for you. Someone who'll spot the missing words, the tangled phrase you thought made perfect sense, and the odd little screwups you honestly didn't see there.

Third, while you're writing, keep a journal, notepad, or way of keeping notes. When you find a plot thread, make a note to see if it was resolved. Keep a list of ALL characters in your book with correct spelling. If you mention a specific time period or length of time that's crucial to the story, make a note of it. All of these will be reference points to help you with continuity. While you're editing, keep that notebook handy.

These are just suggestions. Everyone does their own thing and has their own style, but these have helped me tremendously. :)

Good luck!

[Liz Hillsman]

Thank you to everyone for sharing what works for them during the editing and revision process. I've started and your suggestions have confirmed I'm on the right track. BIg hats off to Kaycee for inviting me to join this wonderful group. Hugs to you!! Liz