So you've started your story, or maybe even finished the first draft. Your vision is now a reality and you're ready to share it with the world. As far as you're concerned, it's perfect. It's riveting, thought-provoking, and emotional. In your humble opinion, it's the greatest story ever told. Except on page 7 where you wrote 'your' instead of 'you're'. No biggie, that's a small mistake to fix. Oh, you also need to change your protagonist's mother's name to Edith from Debra to make it consistent. Oh God, did you forget that you wrote your villain to have a younger brother who happens to be a dentist? You don't even mention him after he's caught inhaling his own laughing gas!
Editing is both an art and a science, a necessary step in shaping your story into its most compelling form. It's not merely about correcting grammar or spelling errors-it's about refining the heart of your narrative, polishing your prose, and ensuring your ideas resonate with your readers. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting, understanding the process of editing can help you unlock the full potential of your writing.
There are many ways to go about editing something, and as always what might work for one won't work for another. The steps below shouldn't be taken as the only way to do it, but they are the way that I find to be the most productive. Maybe they'll work for you as well!
One thing to keep in mind is that most people will advise you to finish your story before starting on editing. While I agree to an extent, I do feel that there's no harm in taking "editing breaks", so to speak. Personally, I usually edit one chapter back from what I've just finished, so if I finish chapter 4, I'll go back and edit chapter 3 before continuing. I find that way it helps keep my story fresh in mind and lets me resolve plot holes or other inconsistencies before they get any worse. It also helps break up the rhythm and keeps my creative juices flowing, giving me ideas for down the road. Again though, writing advice is like a set of tools. Use what's appropriate and what helps you, and discard the rest.
The Initial Read-Through
When you've finished your chapter, the first thing to do is a simple read-through. This is where you familiarize yourself with your story in its raw form. At this stage, focus on identifying areas where:
The flow feels interrupted - Are there sections where the pacing drags or moves too quickly?
The writing feels awkward - Do certain phrases or sentences read unnaturally or seem overly complicated?
The plot doesn't make sense - Are there inconsistencies, unresolved questions, or plot holes that disrupt the story's logic?
It's not about fixing everything at once-it's about making notes, jotting down impressions, and getting a feel for what's working and what isn't. You'll often find places where transitions could be smoother, characters' motivations might need more clarity, or descriptive passages could be more vivid. Identify these areas as opportunities for improvement and see if you can fix them.
A good rule of thumb that I follow is that if you're able to read through your chapter without having your flow interrupted - the same flow you'd experience when reading a book by your favourite author - then you're probably ready to move on to the next section.
The Second Pass and Beyond
At this point you probably have a number of chapters written, as well as a few that you've edited and are happy with. The next step is to go through the draft again, revisiting the same things you looked for on the first go-around, but now from a larger lens. The more you've written the more opportunity for plot holes, inconsistencies, and general issues to arise. Again, focus on the following:
Address plot holes: Your story may have taken a turn you hadn't originally envisioned when you wrote those first couple of chapters, especially if you're someone who doesn't particularly enjoy pre-plotting. Identify these issues and try and resolve them so that there's consistency throughout your tale.
Refine the flow: Smooth out transitions between scenes and ensure that chapters connect seamlessly. The approach here isn't much different whether it's your first pass-through or your tenth, but sometimes time and distance helps you see things you missed the first time.
Elaborate on underdeveloped sections: Sometimes you'll have sections that are too light and interrupt the flow of your story as a result, but you don't know how to develop them properly in that moment. However, as you continue writing, ideas may come to you about how to fill them out. Use later parts of your story to build up the earlier portions.
Simplify awkward writing: Replace clunky phrases with concise, elegant alternatives. Again, distance and time may help you catch things you missed the first go-round. Take this opportunity to further refine those areas that stand out to you.
And that's basically it! You'll just be alternating between these two stages over and over until your story is complete. Bouncing back and forth between editing a single chapter and reading through everything you've written up to that point will help solidify and improve your writing, while making sure consistency, flow, and plots remain tight, logical, and entertaining. The key here though is patience. Editing is not something you can rush. A single pass won't be enough to catch every issue, so expect to revisit your manuscript multiple times.
Editing Is More Than Spelling and Grammar
While spelling and grammar are essential, they're just the tip of the iceberg. Editing dives deep into the story itself. It's about refining your ideas and enhancing your reader's experience. In addition to the above, you'll want to also think about the following:
Ensuring universe consistency: Is your character's eye color green in chapter one but blue in chapter ten? Even small details like that matter to a reader.
Developing themes: Are your themes clear and woven consistently throughout the story?
Balancing description and action: Too much description can bog down a story, while too much action can leave readers feeling unanchored. Strike the right balance.
Cutting unnecessary content: Kill your darlings. If a scene, sentence, or subplot doesn't serve the story, it's time to let it go.
Adapting Your Approach to Keep Writing
The most important thing is to adopt an editing approach that doesn't stifle your writing. If you find yourself stuck at a particular point in your story, going back and editing earlier sections can help rekindle your creativity. Sometimes, reworking a chapter you've already written can provide the inspiration you need to move forward.
Conversely, if you feel like you're obsessing over perfecting a single paragraph and aren't making progress, step back. Remind yourself that you can always revisit and refine later. For now, focus on pushing the story forward.
The Power of Taking a Break
Editing is an intense process, and sometimes, the best way to make progress is to step away. Taking a break allows your mind to recharge, giving you a fresh perspective when you return. Ideas often sprout during these moments of rest-perhaps you'll suddenly realize how to resolve a plot issue or find a way to enhance a character's arc.
Give yourself permission to pause, reflect, and return to your work with renewed energy. Sometimes the best ideas are discovered while letting your mind wander freely, without pressure or effort.
Final Thoughts
Editing is an iterative journey that transforms your story from good to great. Whether you prefer to edit at the end of your first draft or as you write, the ultimate goal is to produce a piece that resonates with readers. Embrace the process, knowing it takes time, effort, and persistence to create something truly remarkable, but never let the fun go out of it while doing so. Some of the most exciting moments can be found when you finally resolve a plot hole or discover a depth to a moment in your story that you'd previously discarded as inconsequential. Treat it as playtime and you'll be surprised how much progress you can make.
Let us know your favourite editing techniques, and if you found this article helpful, please share it with others who might benefit. Don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram for more writing tips and inspiration. And if you're working on a piece you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you-send it our way!
Happy editing!
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