First draft done. Rewrite, erase, new word, erase, erase, scrap scene, add scene, etc.
I see a lot of writers in their editing phases recently. I’m doing that myself . . . well, I would be if I wasn’t putzing around in Facebook and WordPress. I’ve already chalked up today to a loss due to tax work, snow shoveling, and other joyous distractions. Anyway, my goal has been one chapter a day in the hopes of finishing the editing before my son’s spring break at the end of the month. It’s doable, but I think I’m going to be cutting it close.
Technically, this is my second editing session since I developed a habit of spending time going over what I wrote the day before to do a quick fact check. This second run is for a deeper look and it’s by hand instead of by computer. The third run tends to be my wife reading it and asking as many questions as she can. 9 out of 10 times, I understand the question. That 1 time usually forces me to sit her down and go over Windemere History 101 again. Though at this point it’s a 400-level course. Still, it gets me thinking and the editing gets done. I go over it a fourth time if I feel that I should, but I’ve realized that going beyond that tends to result in me changing things for the sake of changing something on the page.
Tip to Young Authors: If you can’t find a real edit to make on a page, pat yourself on the back and do a victory lap around your desk. Don’t mess with something you did right because you have a pencil in your hand and nothing marked on the page.
So, how is everybody’s editing going and what system do you use?
Legends of Windemere 
Fabulous advice. I, too, play the pencil game. It has taken great restraint to put it down at times when dealing with editing. And as an author, I know my work too well. I know what I’m trying to say, what the back story is, the reasons for the choices that the characters are making so I hand my work over to my best friend to read over. She asks questions, makes comments, assists with getting the idea across clearly, etc. She is a force not to be messed with, she is brutally honest with her assessments of my work but loves me enough to end on a high note. Second opinions are very helpful. 🙂
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That they are. I used to have a few other friends who would read and review, but putting deadlines on them never sat well with me.
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It’s definitely a tough cycle to break out of. Something I find really useful is to start at the end of the book at work through the chapters in reverse order. It means you see B, and then later (i.e. earlier in the book) find out A. It allows you to examine things from a different perspective and see if the story really flows, but at the same time, going backwards allows you to distance yourself from the story, so you can focus on each sentence and make sure it’s perfect.
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Interesting. I never thought of doing that. I’m always focusing on making sure the facts and story have consistency from beginning to end, but that would help with pinpointing foreshadowing and plot gaps. I’ll have to give that a shot on the current book. Thanks.
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I love what you said at the end about not just editing because you have a pencil in your hand. I think sometimes it’s tempting to do that because you’ve gotten into the habit and because you are supposed to be “editing.” I think people forget that part of editing is finishing!
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Exactly. Great phrase ‘people forget that part of editing is finishing’. That’s priceless knowledge that a lot of young authors should realize.
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Sounds about right. Write, re-write, scrap half the book, putz around on social media, re-write, show to mother, get rejected by mother, scrap half the book, re-write … we writer/editors are a sorry lot, aren’t we? 😀
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At least we’re dedicated . . . or is it committed with a padded room? I think I’m lucky that I’ve never had to scrap half of a book. My meticulous, neurotic planning seems to come in handy for avoiding that.
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My system is read through, takes notes on what I want to fix, and then I mark where I have any spelling mistakes, puctuation etc…
Then once I’ve fixed everything I read through it again and once I feel that it’s good enough I have my friends and family judge it. (Usually they find a few issuses with the plot.) So then it’s another edit then read through, and finally I’ll send it out to agencies.
Good luck to you Charles hope the rest of your editing goes well. 🙂
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Thanks. I’m halfway done and hoping to get it done before the last week of March when my son has spring break.
Talking notes is a smart idea. I tend to mark up my first page with reminders about past events, future events, details, etc. I sometimes forget character’s eye color, hair color, and (once) preferred weapon. Notes definitely save my butt.
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Yeah they’re always helpful.
I tend to do the same thing I’ll forget a new character’s last name then I wind up having to look through the chapter to find it, so I know your frustration.
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