Introduction
Firstly, I’m assuming you are considering editing your book yourself. But even if you are sending your work to an editor, following the process in this blog post will save them time and your money. There is no substitute for a professional editor, but if you are strapped for cash, then this article will help.
Writing any fiction manuscript is a remarkable accomplishment, but the real magic lies in the editing process. Editing is where your story truly comes alive, where you refine the rough edges and transform your work into a polished masterpiece.
It is a challenging process, and it can be easy to get discouraged when you’re faced with the task of editing your own work, but it’s important to persevere. Editing is essential to the writing process, and it’s the only way to ensure that your book is the best it can be.
It’s important to set realistic goals for yourself. Don’t try to edit your entire book in one sitting. Instead, break it down into smaller chunks and focus on one step at a time. Always finish with the spelling and grammar checking. If you are anything like me, you’re bound to introduce errors as you edit.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you are struggling with editing, there are plenty of resources available to you. You can join a writing group or ask a friend or family member to read your work and give you feedback.
Editing your book is a lot of work, but it’s worth it. By persevering through the editing process, you can create a book that you’re proud of and that readers will enjoy.
We will now explore the essential steps involved in editing your manuscript. We’ll also delve into the importance of reading your manuscript aloud to ensure its flow and rhythm. Personally, I have found this step one of the most helpful.
Editing – Before You Begin
Your Characters
Before you edit, you need to be honest with yourself. Are your characters, specifically your protagonist and your antagonist, compelling enough? Do you care about them? Because if you don’t, no one else will.
Do you understand their core desires, fears, and conflicts? Your characters should have unique traits and motivations that drive their actions and decisions throughout the story. Use both internal and external conflicts to challenge and shape the characters’ development.
Do they have an emotional journey? Do you capture their vulnerabilities, growth, and transformation? Pay attention to their relationships with other characters, and ensure they are authentic and impactful. Is your antagonist purely evil, and your protagonist purely good? Make them believable. Mix good and bad traits in them both.
If you are in any doubt that your characters are compelling enough, give them a crisis, then pile on more. Put your protagonist under pressure and watch how they respond and grow. Give them a threat to their lifestyle, job, family, or their very existence. Don’t give them a good time in your story. Make them suffer first! After that, you can make it better.
Characters drive the plot. Therefore, it is vital that we have confidence in our characters before we check the plot.
Look For Plot Holes
Plot holes can manifest in various forms, each with its own impact on the story’s coherence. It is important to identify and fix plot holes early in the editing process, as any changes in your text can introduce errors. Here are some common types of plot holes:
- Logical Inconsistencies: These plot holes involve gaps in the cause-and-effect relationships within the story. For example, a character’s sudden ability to perform a complex task without explanation or a sudden change in the rules of the story’s world without sufficient justification
- Continuity Errors: Continuity errors occur when there are inconsistencies in the details or events across different parts of the story. This could include discrepancies in timelines, locations, character appearances, or other factual elements that contradict what has been previously established.
- Contradictory Character Actions or Motivations: When characters behave in ways that are inconsistent with their established traits or motivations, it can create plot holes. For instance, if a character suddenly makes a decision that contradicts their goals or values without any plausible explanation, it can undermine their credibility and the overall story.
- Unresolved or Forgotten Storylines: This type of plot hole arises when subplots or storylines are introduced but left unresolved or forgotten without proper closure. Loose ends or unresolved conflicts can leave readers with a sense of dissatisfaction and confusion.
- Deus ex Machina: A deus ex machina plot hole occurs when an improbable or convenient event or character suddenly appears to resolve a conflict or move the story forward without sufficient foreshadowing or explanation. This can feel contrived and undermine the narrative’s credibility.
- Plot Contrivances: Plot contrivances involve overly convenient or coincidental events or circumstances that serve the plot’s needs but lack a believable or organic explanation. These contrivances can strain the reader’s suspension of disbelief and make the story feel forced or unrealistic.
Tighten Dialogue
Dialogue is the lifeblood of any fiction manuscript. It’s vital to ensure that your characters’ conversations are authentic, engaging, and move the story forward.
When editing dialogue, focus on maintaining consistency. Each character should have a distinct voice. Pay attention to the way different characters speak, reflecting their personalities, backgrounds, and individual quirks. Ensure consistency in their speech patterns, vocabulary, and dialects throughout the manuscript.
Eliminate unnecessary chit-chat or repetitive statements that do not contribute to character development or plot advancement. Keep your dialogue concise and purposeful.
Avoid excessive exposition within dialogue. Instead, allow your characters’ words to reveal their emotions, motivations, and conflicts. Subtle subtext and well-crafted exchanges can add depth and intrigue to your story.
Show, don’t tell
Ask yourself if you are telling the reader how your character feels or are you showing them.
“Show, don’t tell” is a writing cliché, but it is an important storytelling principle. Rather than stating or summarising, showing involves using specific and sensory descriptions to immerse readers in the story.
For example:
Telling: Mary was furious.
Showing: Mary clenched her fists, her face turning red.
The second example shows us how Mary is reacting. It’s more visceral.
However, there are certain instances when it may be necessary to “tell” instead of “show” to provide crucial information efficiently or to maintain a smooth narrative flow. For example, when summarising a passage of time or providing background information, it may be appropriate to briefly “tell” rather than describing every single detail. Telling can also convey a character’s internal thoughts or emotions that are difficult to show explicitly through actions alone. It can be an effective tool for conveying information concisely, especially when there is a need to maintain pacing or move the plot forward.
Reading aloud for flow and rhythm
Reading your manuscript aloud is a powerful editing technique that allows you to experience the flow and rhythm of your story firsthand. When reading aloud, pay attention to sentence structure and pacing. Notice the cadence of your sentences. Ensure a balance between long and short sentences to maintain a natural flow. Vary your sentence structures to avoid monotony. Experiment with punctuation and paragraph breaks to enhance the desired rhythm.
Reading dialogue aloud helps you identify unnatural or stilted conversations. If it sounds awkward when spoken, it will likely feel the same to your readers. Make the necessary revisions to achieve a natural and believable dialogue flow.
Also, when reading aloud, you’ll catch repetitive words or phrases as well as clunky sentence constructions that might have been overlooked during silent reading. Revise and rework these sections to ensure clarity and elegance.
Reduce Your Adverbs
While adverbs can be useful at times, excessive usage can weaken your prose. During the editing process, be mindful of adverbs and consider replacing them with stronger verbs or enhancing the surrounding context to convey the desired meaning. This will help you create more vivid descriptions and stronger narrative momentum. Instead of writing, “She ran quickly,” you might consider, “She sprinted.”
Spell-checking and grammar
The last step in editing your manuscript is to conduct a thorough spell check and grammar correction. This mundane task is crucial, as it ensures your work is free from distracting errors that can hinder your readers’ engagement. Utilise grammar and spell-check tools, such as ProWritingAid, QuillBot, or Grammarly, to catch common mistakes. These tools can also suggest improvements in sentence structure. However, don’t solely rely on these tools; review your manuscript manually to catch any overlooked errors or contextual discrepancies. Also, it is important not to let these writing tools crush the life and passion out of your writing.
Editing Your Story – Conclusion
Embrace the editing process with enthusiasm, for it is through this meticulous revision that your story truly comes to life, captivating readers and leaving a lasting impression.
If you need help with your writing or want a piece of finished work edited, then contact Valerie Evans Coaching. See this website for details: valerie-evans.com.
Images: 2photopots.com Tamaru’s Brown Hannah Grace