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So, the first draft of your novel is finished. Now the editing starts. I personally do one edit at a time. Perhaps this
really proves that writing is mainly rewriting.
The three (+) stages of editing
• The structural edit
• Writers’ techniques / skills edit / technical edit
• The words
• The proof read
• Creative editing
The structural edit
•
Is the structure sound?
•
Is the resolution satisfying?
•
Does the overall time-scale work? (You may have already
planned a time structure into your novel but it is still worth checking that it
is right.)
•
Is this actually a young adult novel?
•
Are characters consistent and rounded? Do they
grow?
•
Is there cause and effect?
•
Is there tension and pace?
Writers’ techniques
•
Is the dialogue working correctly?
•
Is there a narrative balance?
•
Is the balance of showing and telling right?
•
Are points of view consistent?
•
Are the style and the voice consistent?
The words
•
Kill off your darlings
– Are
they too good for the rest of you text?
– Can
you match them?
– If
all of the text is like this will it become too rich.
•
Get rid of
clichés
– Note
clichés work – but you can say it even better
•
Do a thorough copy edit
– Check
every single word. Do you mean what you say and say what you mean?
•
Read out loud.
– You
spot mistakes more easily
– You
can test overall flow
Proof read
•
Normally this happens when the book is about to
go off to the printer.
•
Three people proof read: the author, the editor and a professional
proof-reader.
•
It saves your publisher a lot of time and money
if you do this yourself before you send in your scrip. Be warned though: they’ll still spot something.
•
Professional proof readers use a special mark-up
language. It’s useful to learn this.
•
Many also now use track Changes in Microsoft
Word. You should get used to this.
Creative editing
•
Look at one aspect at a time.
•
Maybe change the font for each edit. (Don’t
forget to change it back later.)
•
Start at a different point for each edit. (Some
maths involved here.)
•
Be aware of your own particular faults and look
for those also.
Getting help from critique groups
•
You must be selective.
•
Find one that specialises in what you write.
•
Will the group’s style suit you? Are they too
laid back or too strict?
•
Remember, you can learn as much by looking at
other people’s work as by looking at your own.
•
Works often sent out in advance so that you read
it and prepare your comments before the meeting.
•
Be aware of developing a “house style”. Your group
may have particular preferences.
•
Consider also an online group.
Beta readers
- This name comes from IT.
- They meet the completed text only – gets away from house styles / over familiarity of group.
- They might be other writers, target readers, or experts on your theme or setting.
- Six is perhaps a good number.
- Allow them to comment on any aspect of your work regardless of why you have selected them.
- You could print a proof copy of your book to make it easier to read or you could turn it into a mobi-file so that your beat readers can read it on their Kindle.
Paid editing
- You pay someone to edit your work. This can be very expensive.
- New editing companies and freelancers arrive all the time. On the whole you get what you pay for. Some are very good. Some are less good. Always get references / endorsements.
- They may be worth it if you keep getting rejections but critique groups and beta readers like your work.
- They are probably essential if you want to self-publish.
- Two further thoughts:
- Is this a career path for you? Could you also become an editor?
- Could you form a cooperative? Writers edit each other’s’ work.
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