I feel like I’ve talked extensively on editing, and the number of links in this post will probably prove as much. However, as I FINALLY wrap up my book, I’m realizing just how many ways you can edit a story. It’s more than grammar and spelling. There’s content to consider, word counts for publishing, tone, pacing…
Yeah, I’m getting a headache trying to sort these out too. Editing is the one aspect of writing I despise. Which is why I spend so much time talking about it, to convince myself to sit down and just do it. There are a few methods I’ve come across that I don’t totally hate, so I’d like to pass these on to all the writers like me who’d rather write for an eternity and never edit a sentence. But first, we got some ground to cover in regards to the main components of editing.
The “English Paper” Edit
Ya’ll know what this is. Grammar and spelling rules still apply to books. Obviously you can have a little fun with it (I occasionally do). However, if you go too far off the beaten path, your writing will distract readers from the actual content and make it impossible for them to focus on your overall story.
Some people are worse at grammar than others. I also know bilingual individuals who struggle with English grammar. If you’re working in Microsoft Word or some other document program (Pages, Google Docs, etc.), they have a basic grammar/spell checker that keeps you aware of small mishaps. While I haven’t used it, my brother will attest to the power of programs like Grammarly. Apparently it’s free, so if your grammar is at a kindergarten level, go for it.
I personally prefer books and help sites for those random instances when I’m not sure about something. Purdue Owl is a good resource for learning what to use and why. For my graduation, a family friend gave me the current Associated Press Stylebook which is rather cool. It’s basically a collect all for writing and editing and shows the different standards.
If you know of other good resources for learning grammar, feel free to comment below. Believe me, I’m not writing about grammar rules.
The Line-by-Line Edit
Where the “English paper” edit is objective, the Line-by-Line edit is subjective. It’s less about checking every single line to ensure it sounds right and more about consistency of story. Another way to phrase it would be the content edit, which I talk about extensively.
While reading the story, you need to consider if scenes should be kept or cut. On the opposite end, as I learned, you may need to replace old scenes with better ones. Sometimes letting the story marinate reveals new directions, and other times you find the pace works better without certain words. It’s a balancing act of knowing your story and helping it along the desired path in a logical way.
Much of what I’ve discussed like cutting weasel words and showing not telling falls under the Line-by-Line because there’s no definitive response to any given scene. You may need to tell a little more because your narration is a “character,” or that one word you’ve used a thousand times has to be there.
You can’t throw your book into an AI generator and it tell you all the plotholes and character mishaps. Would be cool, but not possible. It takes time and attention, which is where the next three methods will come in handy.
Method 1: Break it Up
Third-ish draft of my book came out to 115k words. That’s a nightmare to edit in one go. To make the heavy load manageable, I divided the book into sections. My chapter count almost made seven equal sections, but I could’ve also divided by words, speakers, or scenes. Simply depends on the story.
Once here, I did two primary edits: cutting repeated words and Line-by-Line edit. My grammar isn’t atrocious, so I catch most mistakes while reading. Because of the various revisions I’ve made, my concern has been continuity and consistency. Once I’ve got a solid Point A to B, I’m gonna feel pretty good.
Your edits might look different, but I highly suggest spending a few hours on each section rather than trying to cram everything in one go. Mentally, you’ll be more present for each section and give a consistent effort. Important thing is to do the same edits for each. Once you’re done, combine it all.
Method 2: Print and Read
I get it; computers are awesome. But blue light, eye strain, and so many other aspects of glaring at your digital document for hours on end make it easy to miss the simplest mistakes. I hop from paper to digital when writing, but I’ve learned to always print my work so I can better see the words without getting a headache.
On top of this, read aloud. Wake up early when no one is able to hear you rambling to yourself. Whatever you gotta do, read the book. Hear the words. Most grammar mistakes and extra words get caught this way because our ears know what sounds right. Convoluted dialogue or glaring plotholes are also easy to spot when you put a voice behind the ideas.
Don’t care how you do it, be it printing on scrap paper or crouching in your closet. Print the book and read aloud. You’ll be surprised how much you discover.
Method 3: “What If” Journal
At the top, I mentioned the possibility of replacing scenes. Before my book was 115k words (industry standard), my book was 55k. What took me from novella to true sci-fi was what I’ll refer to as my “What If” journal.
In this journal, I wrote down everything I knew about my story. Characters, overarching outline, maps, and so on. I included a section called “What If.” Whenever ideas came to me while thinking about the story, characters, or anything else related to the book, I scribbled it here. Some of these ideas won’t see the light of day, but they inevitably lead to new chapters and plot points that got me to where I am. These also led to major rewrites that I didn’t realize I needed.
Whether you plan your novel start to finish or write without an outline, I highly suggest having a binder or journal for your book where you can scribble firm facts and random possibilities. It’ll be messy, believe me, but it’s totally worth it when fresh ideas come from seemingly nowhere.
Final Thoughts: Editing Makes for Better Writing
Obviously you can pay an editor to do the grueling work of editing your book, but editing on your own is very important (and saves you a lot of cash). By practicing these different tricks, you teach your brain what to look for in your story. I can’t tell you how many times while writing I swapped words because I recognized which ones I used often.
It takes time. Your first drafts won’t instantly become bestseller material if you edit once or use your editing brain while writing. I actually suggest having an editor look over your second or third draft to make sure you didn’t miss anything. But the overall result in doing your own edits is understanding grammar and story structure in a way that you can write a better first draft.