I’ve just finished two major manuscripts. One is a speculative fiction novel and the other a romantic suspense tale under my pen name, Maggie Clare. Completing a manuscript draft is a major accomplishment, no doubt, but it’s also not the end of the writing journey for any project if the author wants to publish. The next stop is editing, and I’m in the thick editing right now with both books.
I’ll admit, I had no idea about the scope or intensity of the editing process when I finished my first manuscript. I knew I’d need to pay attention to spell-check and let a few people read it to catch any mistakes, but I didn’t understand that the book I’d saved as Final Draft, would eventually be sent off to the publisher titled Final Draft #12 – no, really, this is the one. For those of you wondering what all the fuss is about editing, here’s an insider’s view on the process.
Essentially, there are three types of editing and most manuscripts need some version of all three.
Developmental editing: Think of developmental edits as big picture edits. A developmental edit identifies plot holes, character issues, places where the writing drags, or where something doesn’t make sense. I often work through several rounds of developmental edits before I feel like the story is just right.
Copy editing: A copy edit will assure consistency throughout the manuscript. For example, if a character has brown eyes in the first chapter but blue in the fifth, or if I set a scene up in the middle of the night but mention the broiling heat of the sun, a copyeditor will catch this. A copyeditor will also identify overused words or phrases, correct grammar mistakes, and essentially polish the manuscript.
Proofreading: A proofreader will give the manuscript a final look before publishing to find typos and small mistakes.
That's a brief outline of the types of editing a manuscript needs, but it doesn't capture the emotional challenge inherent in the process. Writers are artists. Our work is personal. The editing process opens up our beloved creation to criticism, and that criticism often feels personal even when it isn't. So, how do we navigate the emotional storm of editing? For me, three things have helped.
Trust: I only have a few beta readers who read early versions of my manuscript, but these few are invaluable to me. I trust their judgement. I know they appreciate my writing style, but they're also willing to call me out when my bad habits show up or something isn't working. I also trust my editor. She connects with my work, really appreciates it, while also giving it a thorough, spot-on critique.
Distance: When I finish a manuscript, I am so invested it the story, and so exhausted from getting it out on the page, that I have no perspective. I have to put it away and work on something else while my editor has it. This gives me the space I need to objectively work through the editing process later.
Practice: The first time I realized that a developmental edit might mean I had to change entire plot-lines, re-work a character arc, or cut 15K words, I was overwhelmed. But having been through the process a few times now, I know I will find a way. And I know my book will be much, much better for it.
I’ll admit, sometimes editing feels like trudging through the mud, but I want to give my readers the best version of my story, and that means working through the process. I’ll let you know when I crawl out on the other side!
“So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.” - Dr. Seuss
“Writing without revising is the literary equivalent of waltzing gaily out of the house in your underwear.” - Patricia Fuller
“The first draft is black and white. Editing gives the story color.” - Emma Hill