Monday 9 July 2012

#writemotivation; Editing: How Do YOU Do It?

I edited this post about my editing goal for #writemotivation, to include questions about how other people edit. Shall I edit that sentence? Let’s rework it entirely:

My #writemotivation number one goal is to finish the current line edit of my novel. I did have 18 chapters to go, I now have 13 chapters to go. So kind of on target! Yay!

As I edit, I wondered how my method of editing matches up with all of you out there *peers out into the interwebs*. 



At the moment my editing process goes like this:

1) Write draft of novel. This includes some editing, as I usually read the chapter before and do edits before I carry on writing the next chapter.
2) Rewrite entire novel. This includes tutting at Past Viklit for writing in third person, when clearly first was better, or putting in that entire plot twist which made no sense, and that character who’s pointless and...so on.
3) Structural and character edits: Several of these. Bajillion of these. This includes working out kinks in the plot, sorting out the characterisation of minor characters, tightening the dialogue, etc. Also tutting at Original Past Viklit for not noticing and Rewrite Past Viklit for not fixing it in the rewrite.
4) Line edits, tidying up the prose: A couple of these, realistically. This includes some fixes of details of scenes & adding bits as I can’t stop fiddling. It’s a disease.

5) Final read through and fixing of typos I have missed.
This should equal draft + 3-4 edits but it actually equals draft + a bajillion million edits.

How do you do it? Am I missing a crucial step or editing in a weird order? I am genuinely interested to know how you go about it. How many drafts does this equal for you?

Does anybody else love it and hate it at the same time?

Oooh AND at what point do you get critiques/betas/etc though I will post just about that another time.

Now, am going to post this with just ONE EDIT.

35 comments:

  1. I think everyone revises different, so I'm of the opinion there's no real right or wrong way to go about it. There's just YOUR way.

    For me, I do extensive world-building before I write. I think about the story I want to tell, puzzle out the entire plot and sub-plots, as well as what characters will be involved. Then I draft an outline of the entire novel (this seems to prevent any plot holes from occurring 90% of the time).

    I tend to edit a bit as I write and I'm very sensitive to "telling". So I actually concentrate pretty heavy on making sure I'm "telling" while I'm doing the initial first draft, as well as several other no-no's to avoid.

    By the time I hit revision stage, my first draft is usually already fairly respectable. I also have critique partners reading my first draft stuff, so I'm already aware of things to address as I revise. I also write up a five-sentence summary of every chapter as I finish it during the first draft stage (this helps me remember what's going on in each specific chapter as well as a future synopsis).

    So, for me, revision is just going through every chapter and adding in or editing scenes, improving dialogue as I go, and fixing the prose. Then I ship it off to beta readers.

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    1. Very interesting - so you do one major edit fixing and then send to betas?

      I too do a summary of every chapter post the first rewrite for me, which I do find really helps with the next edit. Of course the plan for me is to sub down the number edits I need to the key different 'types' that I outline above, but at the mo it doesn't quite work that like.

      Also outlining does help with later plot issues doesn't it. Thank you for commenting, very interesting!

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  2. i try to finish a first draft before starting anything. But when I get bored, to go through it earlier than that. Afterwards I go through it chapter by chapter, then send it off to be beta read or critiqued. After that I once again go chapter by chapter to look for anything I have missed,taking the suggested changes into consideration.

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    1. Thank you for commenting. Very interesting that you have a couple of edits through too. Probably slightly tighter than mine at the moment which drift on in a sea of edits...

      And betas: invaluable feedback!

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  3. I've only rewritten the entire first draft once, and that was from a manuscript that was thirty years old. I don't start editing until I've finished my first draft - I just plow through to the end. Then I go back and add scenes/description.clarification. And I do some line edits during that time, even though I shouldn't. Poor grammar, when I can think of a better way to word it, just bugs me.

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    1. I am hoping to cut the rewrite part out, but that happened with this novel so thought it should go in!

      Thank you for sharing your process, and hee yes poor grammar can be annoying sometimes it just calls to be fixed!

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  4. Your process is pretty similar to mine, except my rewrite isn't quite so extensive. Granted though, I'm mainly writing shorts right now, and I'll also make changes if I get editorial direction after a submission (personal rejections, etc).

    Thanks for the glimpse into your process!

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    1. Glad to hear we are similar :) I am hoping to cut the rewrite part out!! Ah very good point that you include editorial direction.

      Thank you for commenting.

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  5. Well, I can't say I'm at that part of the process yet. But I can tell you I tend to edit as I write. If that word, or sentence isn't just right, or I could have said it better so let's go back, or even the epiphany of brilliance of "it should have been written like this the whole time". Short stories are easier for this type of thinking. This novel, though, well, it's making it a lot harder. So have attempted to quell that inner editor, sometimes not so successfully (like as of late).

    Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
    Http://writebackwards.we3dements.com

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    1. Short stories definitely are easier for edit as you go. Sometimes it is hard to get e story out and not be tempted to edit edit. Sometimes it is good to go back and edit a bit as it helps get the rest out, I think.

      Thank you for commenting!

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  6. I like to scan for the following:

    that - in case I need to change it to "which" or "who" where warranted

    you (this will bring you all variations, you, you're, your) - to make sure I've used the correct form

    start - to make sure I didn't mean it started to rain instead of it rained

    begin/began - same reason

    the - for a quick look at there, their and they're

    ly (with a space at the end) - in hopes to eliminate as many 'ly' adverbs as possible.

    :)

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    1. Great list, especially 'start' adding that to my list :)

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  7. I usually have 2-3 drafts, and it all depends on how well the first draft turns out. I force myself to write all my first drafts NaNo style, no editing, no going back. My inner perfectionist hates this process, but it is well worth it in the end. Once the first draft is finished I send it out to my CP's and betas. I take two-three weeks away from the novel while they do their thing. When I get all their notes back I go over them, as I am line editing. This helps me tighten up everything and have a nicely polished second draft. I usually only do a third draft if a half to full rewrite is needed.

    I think it helps that I do a full blown in depth outline of the whole story, every chapter is outlined, and character bio's and summaries are done before I even start the first draft. This helps me stay on course and reduces plot hole issues.

    Thanks for sharing your process!=)

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    1. This sounds like a very good process, especially staying on course theology your first draft. I hope to reduce the rewrite part of mine!

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  8. You have a good process, I do switch my character structure edits with the rewrite - I have a chart where I make notes about every element not working, page number, what it needs etc, then I do my rewrite with those notes. It seems to save me a little time.
    But I've met authors that claim to do no revisions, one draft that's it. That would be nice, but never going to happen for me!

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    1. Ah thank you that's nice to hear. Interesting you switch the rewrite edit round. A chart with page no sounds a fab idea!

      Ha ha me neither. I do thik the edit is important for me too to make it better!

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  9. For me, I try to write the first draft without any editing. Occasionally I'll go back over a chapter and correct small errors, but nothing more. Then I do one full read through, highlighting problems on the way, then work on those issues. Another read-through, and then I send it out to CPs for their opinions. More edits usually follow. :D

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    1. Sounds like a good process! Thank you for sharing it. Hee yes edits follow CPs but that's why we ask!

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  10. After my first draft, I usually re-write. With new draft, I read over a billion times until I'm satisfied with changes. Sometimes I re-write again. Re-writes encorporate many, many changes.

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    1. My rewrites incorporates many changes too! Thank you for coming to comment.

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  11. nano is going to be tough for me because i write a big chunk, then go back and read it wuth minor eiting before moving on...i need to just get the whole first draft done!
    when thats done, i do edits in stages, read it through looking for certain things each edit...and of course get others to help. and to work on the query, i send a few out with each round of edits =)

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    1. Yes Nano is about ploughing on isn't it, and I always edit the previous chapter then write the next, whereas I think with Nano it's more about getting on. I want to outline my new idea before Nano so I can try and do it ;)

      Good idea to send your query out with each round of edits!

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  13. my writing mentor is fond of saying "i'd no sooner show anyone my first draft than i'd show them my dirty laundry." she's had 19 books published so i tend to listen to her. i'm trying to get closer to her method of writing a complete first draft without any editing and then revising at least two times all the way through before i let anyone see it, but i must confess i'm not there yet. i tend to revise the previous chapter before i move on to writing the next chapter. and then i may revise the previous two chapters before moving on to the next one. i will tell you that i do revise at least twice before my critique group sees a new chapter. otherwise i feel like i'm wasting their time with fixing the small mistakes. i need help with the big ones.

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    1. Thank you for commenting - I have accidentally published your comment twice and for that I apologise (this 'preview' thing I am getting used to) and will delete the other comment.

      Very interesting saying of your mentor's! It's difficult isn't it - I agree I would rather have CPs help with bigger issues but sometimes I need their POV to see clearly, I guess, as I do earlier drafts.

      Thank you so for commenting.

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  14. I work in short stories, generally, rather than novels. How much I edit really depends on how the first draft turns out. I've had some first drafts where all I felt I needed to do was go through and do line edits to tweak wording here and there, fix typos, etc.

    I've had others where I've gone through three drafts and still not felt like the story arc was "right" and so they are still sitting, waiting to be revisited.

    Novels, I imagine, are a totally different beast. I've yet to try to edit one.

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    1. Thank you for commenting, it is interesting to hear that different stories demand different edits and that is a true observation. Some stories flow easier don't they?

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  15. I have a similar editing process to yours. I include some steps in there in which I get feedback from others (usually after #3) and then revise from there before going to #4. I feel like every book is different though :)

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    1. Thank you for commenting, it is good to know we are similar ;) Yes I too get feedback, certainly before the final 4 and probably twice through the whole process at different points. You are right I am sure every book demands different edits!

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  16. I can't tell you how I edit myself yet because I haven't started edits yet (I so wish I was there!). Buuut I currently have to do copyedits for my internship. Copyedits are supposed to be the last step. Looking for typos, grammar mistakes, etc. Yet I have found a bit more stuff. Tips I would give from what I have seen? Get a couple of people to crit, different people see different things. Also, if you are writing about a culture/countries or something else you don't know well get someone that does look over you MS!

    Good luck on the edits & yay for being on track :D

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    1. These are all great tips! Especially getting someone who knows that area well to look it over ;)

      Thank you on the good luck!

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  17. What an intriguing topic!

    I hate edits. Seriously. My life would be perfect if it could just be first draft and then move on.

    I usually tend to write a first draft, then do a quick edit for spell-checks and repetitive sentences. Then I sent it off to critique partners and wait for their response. When I get it back, I implement necessary changes, recheck spelling errors, and then send it off to betareaders.

    I usually tend to have the story pretty well laid-out in my head before I start writing, except the current story I'm working on, Ghostslayer. Originally it had a love triangle but I'm tempted to cut one of the major players out and focus on one couple only. But we'll see how that goes.

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    1. Very interesting to hear your process, good to have it laid out well. I think sometimes an aspect does strike us later on - it might be that now the love triangle isn't quite right for whatever reason - sometimes that is only seen in reading it all over I think.

      Thank you for commenting! :)

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  18. I love your process, but I do know it wouldn't work for me.

    I'm an outliner. I outline, character develop, and then I go into a detailed plot development. Once that's done, I do a point by point plot. Every point becomes a chapter - with 2-5 sentences. Each of those sentences is a plot point I have to hit. I never know how I'll hit them, just that I will. My characters sort of decide how during the flow of writing.

    So with that first draft hammered out - I do my 2nd draft which involves upping sensory details, worldbuilding, characterization, and cutting out info dumps.

    My 3rd draft refines it further - taking into account any and all feedback I've had. I flesh out any plot points that I kept too much of in my head and further refine the sensory/worldbuilding and characterizations.

    My 4th draft is for tidying and cutting everything that's superfluous - which gives me my final draft :D TADAAAAAA

    That's my editing process hehe.

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    1. Very interesting, thank you for posting. Interesting process of planning and fleshing out. It's what works for each of us isn't it, and it might be I could try something else in the future and discover that works! Thank you for commenting.

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Please comment, I'd love to know what you think! :)