Editing--the hardest thing to do for a writer. It seems that no matter how many times you read your book, backwards, forwards, silently or aloud, you always miss a typo or spelling error. I try to read mine aloud because it's a little easier to catch the missed words that way. You know--that to or it that you thought, but didn't type?I usually set my book aside for at least a week, possibly even two weeks before starting edits. I find it easier to notice the problem areas with a fresh look. It's easy to get so close to your story that you can't see the trouble spots.
When I'm working on the story, I stop each Monday and take the time to read it from the beginning. That's when I look for continuity problems and time line breaks. That Monday reading has prevented a lot of rewriting because I don't get too far without catching the problem.
All of us have our little tricks when it comes to editing. Some lucky writers have beta readers who read their work. Some have eagle-eyed critique partners who point out problems. Some of us just put our nose to the grindstone and keep typing. Ultimately, we all do whatever we have to do to finish the story.
That's why we're writers.
Anny
I think this is a great way to catch things. I tend to edit as I go and usually I'll do one quick read-through at the end and that's it. Of course, you and others read too and that helps immensely. One thing I do that may seem weird. I worry about dialogue sounding natural and I'll read these parts aloud to see how they sound. Get lots of funny looks from the family but that's the way I do it.
ReplyDeleteI have no real procedure for editing - I can see our editor nodding her head in confirmation of what she already knows. Again I fly by the seat of by pants. If by a miracle I do not make either of my editors reach for tequila then I know I havd done ok...
ReplyDeleteIt's a lot harder to edit your own stuff than someone else's. I am an editor professionally, as well as an author, so I can say this from experience.
ReplyDeleteWhen you have read your own work eight gazillion times, your brain will automatically fill in the words you meant to type but didn't, the real meaning behind something that might be unclearly written, or backstory you haven't told. When people come to me for advice on editing their own stuff, I always tell them to put it away for several weeks--at least a month--to get even a little bit of the required distance to edit effectively.
I sometimes will do editing for people and can usually tell when I've hit a spot where the author knows what's going on, but didn't write it clearly enough for the reader to get it. Just because the author has much more intimate knowledge of the characters and story.
Editing is a four letter word. I depend on my editor to weed through my gibberish.
ReplyDeleteActually, "editing" is a 7-letter word. (Says the editor)
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to the day when I can just send my ms to an editor!
ReplyDeleteI can edit for others far more easily than I can for myself. After all, I know what I meant to say! Thank heavens for good crit partners and editors!
ReplyDeleteOther than critique partners, I have no real procedure for editing. I like your idea for reading the story aloud. However, in my house, no one would leave me alone long enough to do it. I'd have to sit in the car but then I've gotten interrupted, too. Oi!
ReplyDeleteI don't normally have a schedule for rereads, but I do pause every now and then and reread what I've written so far. I find that the majority of my errors in books come at the end because I've reread the first part so often. Sometimes stepping back to see the whole picture helps when I'm feeling stuck.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to force myself into the edit as I go mode because when I do it's so much better/easier than the go back and fix it mode. Sometimes the characters just won't let me and then they desert me when the rough draft is finished.
ReplyDelete