Writing Tips: Editing

Hey everyone. We're back for some more writing tip fun.

TOPIC: Editing

You may think it's weird to jump from research and outlines to editing but, that middle step is really up to you. Use the strategies we learned in setting goals to get a working first draft.

Once you've got a draft of your work finished, put it aside and don't touch it for a few weeks. Don't look at it, don't even think about it. Putting it away for a couple of weeks gives you the distance you'll need for this step of the process.

After your two weeks is up, grab that draft and go through. Self-editing is pain but it must be done. During this revision, you'll want to get spelling/grammar problems fixxed. See if there are scenes that need to be added or redacted to make the story flow better. Don't rush on this part. Take your time. You don't have to do it all at once. Setting goals for editing is a good way to pace yourself and keep on track.

Edited that baby so it shines, or at least twinkles a little? Good. Find some people who read the genre of your manuscript and have them read and critique it. These wonderful people are often called beta readers. It's up to you how many you have look over your manuscript and what you want them to look for. IMPORTANT!: You may have family and friends who offer to read your work but finding impartial readers will do you a greater service.

Just because your betas aren't people you necessarily know well, doesn't mean you shouldn't get to know them first. Talk a little bit before you entrust your work to them. You will also want to give them a time frame for when you want the work back. This allows them to fit in reading/critiquing into their own schedules.

What do you do while you wait for your work to return from your wonderful crit-folk? Relax for a litlte while. You've made it this far! You can start on a new project if you want to. But be prepared for another round of revisions once you get the manuscript back.

You may be wondering what you do if you get conflicting comments on parts of the book. Always remember that these are not edits you must make (that comes later with your agent). They are suggestions that you should strongly consider. If comments that one of your betas made doesn't sit right with your vision of the story, then you don't have to use it. Once you are comfortable with your manuscript (that it's the best you can possibly make it), you're ready for the final step; agent searching.

Stop by next week for the conclusion of our writing tips.