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Takeaways from Writing My First Novel - Revision and Editing
by Delicia A. Vaz
I’ve finished writing. What’s the point of revising and editing? My story is good. You need to check for loopholes, incomplete plotlines, and grammatical errors.
I like my draft as it is and don’t want to change it. It is good to have faith in your manuscript. However, you are most susceptible to overlooking mistakes in it.
Can’t I send my first draft to a proofreader? You can, but I recommend you don’t do it until after a thorough revision.
This is the fifth installment of my seven-part series—Takeaways from Writing My First Novel. You are excited to get your story out there, but you need to hang back for a moment. Revision and Editing is a stage where you begin to critique and modify your manuscript. You have over 200 pages elaborating on your small plotline. Errors are bound to have happened.
The good news is that these can be fixed with proper attention to detail. It is good practice to make a couple rounds of revisions by yourself. Make sure your story is what you want it to be. Since you are the expert on it, you should be able to identify loopholes and incomplete plot threads. First, address these. Then, you can send the manuscript to a professional editor for further review.
Revision and Editing requires patience, an eye for detail, and critical thinking. There are no quick fixes. It is tempting to rush the process, but the quality of your manuscript will suffer. Here are my top five takeaways from this stage of the writing process:
1. Tackle Different Aspects of Revision
Take a peek at your manuscript’s word count. You should be in the ballpark of your genre. If you have not reached it or have overshot it, there are ways you can address it. Begin by giving your completed manuscript a meticulous read. Take note of sections that need improvement, don’t add much to the story, or are confusing. Follow the 4Rs—Remove/Add, Rework, Rearrange, and Rewrite.
i. Remove/Add content – You don’t want to bombard readers with information. You do want to give them a sufficient amount of it to understand the tale. This step helps fix any major word count issues, reduces inconsistencies with characters’ physical descriptions and mannerisms, etc.
ii. Rework plot threads – See how your plot threads connect with your story. If a plot thread doesn’t fit or hasn’t been given a befitting closure, then evaluate its need. Either nix it or rework it to improve the flow.
iii. Rearrange sections – Verify that the order of events aligns with your planned layout. You might notice the need to move parts around to make your story better.
iv. Rewrite scenes – Add details and remove contradictions for complicated scenes.
2. Get Picky with Editing
Challenge yourself to complete at least one round of editing. Besides nitpicking content, focus on the tense, readability, facts, and spelling. This part goes hand in glove with the above takeaway. Examine your manuscript at a microscopic level. You can hire a professional line editor to do the same.
Note: Formatting errors can be identified by using the Show/Hide function in the Paragraph gallery of MS Word. For Apple Pages, View > Show Invisibles does the same thing.
3. A Style Sheet Is a Lifesaver
Use your development pages to create a style sheet. Record miniscule details like character traits, locations, building layouts, spelling preference, tense usage, voice, etc. Your Word Processor’s spell check function doesn’t do this.
Example: Conversational English can bleed into your writing style. This has happened to me. My daily conversation style is a mix of British English and American English due to the different countries I’ve lived in. It doesn’t create a major problem because I am aware of it. I pay close attention to detecting those differences and avoid mixing the two while I’m writing.
A style sheet ensures that any line/copy editor or proofreader who works on your book is on the same page as you. It facilitates consistency.
Note: Find professional line/copy editors and proofreaders who cater to your genre. Medical mysteries do not need a copyeditor who specializes in historical romance.
4. Alpha and Beta Readers Provide Fresh Perspectives
An alpha reader is the first person who reads the raw version of your manuscript. I chose to not trouble this person and revised my manuscript once before sending it to them. An alpha reader provides feedback with their overall impression and points out plot holes you might have not considered, pacing issues, character inconsistencies, etc. Generally, they overlook grammatical errors. If you struggle to finish your draft, then wait until it’s completed to ask your alpha reader for their review.
Note: Some alpha readers prefer to review each chapter as you finish writing them.
A beta reader is the person who acts the part of a casual reader. Typically, they are a part of your target base/group. The manuscript you give them is as close to the finished version as possible. They can tell you what they like and dislike about your story.
Alpha and beta readers can be family members, friends, or former teachers. They are an invaluable resource. Start building your team.
5. Criticism Is Good
Good alpha/beta readers, editors, and proofreaders will give you honest feedback. It helps you improve your writing and your story for the masses. Cultivate the behavior to not take their opinions personally. These are people who are invested in your work and success.
When you receive their reviews, search for themes. Common themes signal a matter that your team has issues with or likes some content. If it’s a major issue that skipped your notice, use it as a learning opportunity and make the necessary revisions. Remember that nobody’s work, even that of acclaimed writers, is perfect the first time around. Criticism challenges you to become a better writer.
Concluding Thoughts:
I hope these takeaways help you improve your story. Revision and Editing is an iterative process. Your patience is tested because all you want is to get your book published. Hold your figurative horses and polish your manuscript. This stage requires you to maintain a cool head and have a clear idea of what you want to present to your readers.
After completing your final revisions and edits, you have a finished manuscript. You can begin working on creating your pitch. In the next article of this series, I’ll be addressing the takeaways from pitching.
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This article originally appeared on my LinkedIn Dashboard on October 26, 2021 here.
