Editing your first draft is a crucial step in turning your novel into something polished and ready to be shared with readers. While writing a draft is about getting the ideas on paper, editing is where the real crafting happens. Here's a guide to approaching the editing process, broken down into stages, tips, and techniques to help you refine your manuscript.
I've written the first draft of my novel, what's the best way to edit it?
1. Take a break
Before diving into edits, take some time away from your manuscript. A break of a few days or weeks allows you to return to your work with fresh eyes and a new perspective. When you've been immersed in your novel for a long period, it's easy to overlook mistakes or become too attached to certain scenes that may not serve the story.
Why take a break?
Distance brings clarity: When you return, you'll see the flaws, gaps, or inconsistencies you missed while writing.
Reignite creativity: Stepping away can also spark new ideas and ways to tackle tricky sections.
2. Big picture editing (developmental editing)
The first round of edits should focus on the big picture. This is also known as developmental or structural editing and involves looking at the story as a whole.
Key elements to focus on:
Plot and structure: Does the story flow well? Are there any plot holes or unresolved threads? Do all the major story beats occur in the right order?
Character development: Are the characters well-rounded? Do they have clear motivations, strengths, and weaknesses? Do their relationships make sense?
Pacing: Are there sections where the story drags, or moves too quickly? You want to make sure your readers remain engaged throughout.
Theme: Does the novel’s theme come across clearly? Is the central message consistent and meaningful?
Questions to ask yourself:
Is the beginning engaging? Does it hook the reader immediately?
Does each scene move the plot forward, or are some sections redundant?
Are the stakes high enough to keep the reader invested in the outcome?
Do the characters evolve in a realistic way throughout the story?
How to approach big-picture editing:
Create an outline: Sometimes, after writing a novel, it helps to create an outline of the plot to see how well it holds together. This also helps identify any structural issues or sections that need reordering.
Character arcs: Review your character arcs to ensure they make sense and show growth. Do characters end up in a different emotional or psychological place from where they started? If not, why?
Chapter summaries: Write a brief summary of each chapter and assess whether each one is necessary. Does each chapter have a purpose?
3. Scene-Level edits
Once you're satisfied with the overall structure, move on to scene-level edits. This is where you focus on tightening individual scenes and ensuring they work both on their own and within the context of the larger story.
What to look for:
Scene purpose: Every scene should have a purpose—whether it's to develop a character, advance the plot, or reveal important information.
Dialogue: Is the dialogue natural? Does it reveal character or advance the plot, rather than just filling space?
Description: Are you using too much description, or not enough? Make sure the descriptions are vivid but not overdone.
Show, don’t tell: Are you showing the reader what's happening rather than just telling them? Look for places where you might be telling emotions or events and see if you can rewrite them to show action and reaction instead.
How to approach scene-level edits:
Scene checklists: For each scene, ask yourself:
What does this scene achieve?
Does the conflict escalate?
Is there a change from the start to the end of the scene (a new decision, realisation, or action)?
Dialogue revisions: Read dialogue out loud to make sure it sounds natural. Cut any lines that feel unnecessary or don’t add to the scene.
4. Language-Level edits (line editing)
With the big-picture and scene-level edits done, now you can turn to line editing. This stage is about polishing your language and making sure every sentence sings. It involves:
Word choice: Are your words specific and evocative? Could any of your phrases be clearer or more impactful?
Tone and voice: Is the tone consistent throughout? Does the voice of your protagonist (or narrator) come through clearly?
Clarity and conciseness: Trim unnecessary words, phrases, and repetitions. Ensure that each sentence is clear and concise.
Variety: Are you varying sentence lengths and structures to keep the prose dynamic?
How to approach line editing:
Read aloud: This is one of the most effective ways to catch awkward phrasing, repetition, or clunky sentences. Reading aloud forces you to hear the rhythm of your prose and identify areas that might need smoothing.
Eliminate filler words: Words like “just,” “very,” “really,” and “that” are often unnecessary and can weaken your writing. Look for places to cut them.
Strengthen verbs: Use strong, active verbs instead of relying on adverbs. Instead of “walked quickly,” consider “hurried” or “rushed.”
5. Get feedback
After you’ve done a thorough self-edit, it’s a good idea to get feedback from others. Find beta readers or a writing group to give you honest critiques. It’s helpful to get multiple perspectives on your novel because everyone will pick up on different things.
What to ask for feedback on:
Do the characters feel real and relatable?
Is the plot engaging, or are there sections that drag?
Are there any confusing sections or parts that didn’t make sense?
Beta readers can help point out problems you might not notice on your own because you’re too close to the work.
6. Revising based on feedback
Once you've gathered feedback, it's time to revise. Some feedback will resonate, and some won’t. Ultimately, it’s your novel, so make changes that align with your vision while considering constructive criticism.
Tips for revising based on feedback:
Look for patterns: If multiple readers point out the same issue, that’s a sign it might need revising.
Be open, but selective: Not all feedback will serve your story, but be open to changes that might improve it.
Don’t rush the process: Revising after feedback can be as intensive as your first round of edits. Take your time.
7. Copyediting (proofreading)
Once you're happy with the content and flow of your manuscript, it’s time for copyediting. This stage is about catching small errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting. This is the ideal time to enlist the help of a professional proofreader.
What a proofreader will look for:
Typos: Misspellings, missing words, and punctuation mistakes.
Consistency: They will check for consistency in names, dates, locations, and other details. They'll ensure that character names and attributes are consistent throughout the novel.
Grammar and syntax: A proofreadeer will ensure that your sentences follow grammatical rules, but will also be mindful of voice and style. Sometimes, breaking rules adds to the voice of your work, but it should be done deliberately.
Formatting: Your proofreader will also ensure consistent formatting, such as chapter headings, paragraph indentation, and font size.
Employing a professional proofeader is your last line of defence before your manuscript goes public. They ensure that what you present to your audience is error-free and ready for the public eye. Hiring a professional proofreader is an investment in the quality and professionalism of your work. They provide expertise, attention to detail, and a fresh perspective, all of which ensure your writing is polished, clear, and free of errors, helping you present your best work to the world.
8. Final polish
Once you've made your revisions, give your manuscript one final polish before considering submission or publishing. This last round of edits should be a final pass to make sure everything is as clean and professional as possible.
Final polish tips:
Look for stray errors: Even after multiple rounds of editing, small errors can slip through. Proofread carefully one last time.
Check your formatting: Make sure the manuscript follows the formatting guidelines for submissions or publication (this is really important—each agent and publisher will have their own sets of submission guidelines; make sure you read them carefully).
Tighten prose: Use this final pass to tighten any last sentences or phrases that could be more impactful.
Editing your novel is a long process, but it’s where your story truly comes to life. With patience and attention to detail, your first draft can become a polished, powerful work ready for readers.
If you'd like more help bringing your writing to life and getting it in perfect shape before publication, whether it be a basic proofread or full edit, get in touch to find out how we can work together.
Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash
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