A Writers Guide to: Editing!

Take a Break Before You Edit

Taking a break after finishing your draft is crucial for gaining perspective. Stepping away for a few days or weeks allows you to return with fresh eyes, making it easier to spot inconsistencies, awkward phrasing, and areas needing improvement. This distance helps you view your work as a reader, enhancing your ability to identify what truly works and what doesn’t.

Focus on Structure First

Focusing on structure during the editing process ensures that your manuscript has a solid foundation. Before addressing grammar and style, assess the overall flow, pacing, and coherence of your plot and character arcs. This step helps you identify significant issues that could confuse readers, allowing you to strengthen the narrative before refining individual scenes.

Edit in Stages

Editing in stages makes the process more manageable and effective. Start with a broad overview, focusing on major elements like plot and character development, then move to line edits for sentence flow and dialogue. Finally, tackle grammar and punctuation. This structured approach prevents overwhelm and ensures that you pay attention to each aspect of your writing.

Cut Unnecessary Words and Phrases

Cutting unnecessary words and phrases sharpens your writing and enhances clarity. Be vigilant in removing redundant phrases or filler language that doesn’t add value to your narrative. Aiming for brevity allows each word to carry weight, improving the pacing and overall impact of your story while keeping readers engaged.