Before You Start Editing (Self-Edit Like a Pro: Part 1)

4 Secret Tools For An Awesome First Edit (Self-Edit Like a Pro: Part 2)
6 Main Categories For Editing Fiction (Self-Edit Like a Pro: Part 3)
Editing Non-Fiction - The Big 5 (Self-Edit Like A Pro: Part 4)

Your first draft is done. You typed those beautiful words: The End.

But it's not the end. Not by a long shot. Now the editing journey begins, and it's just as challenging as the first draft journey.

However, things aren't so bleak. This blog series will guide you through the crucial steps needed to self-edit your book like a pro. I'll be on hand for any questions you may have, and once you're done, I have a special discount for my Editorial Review service!

So, are you ready?

Let's go.

1. Take a break

After finally completing a first draft, the thought of going over it again can feel a tad overwhelming, especially if you powered through your writing during something like NaNoWriMo.

So, the first thing you should do once you’ve finished is: Leave. It. Alone.

Seriously, put it away. Remember outside? Go check it out. Been eating junk food for 30 days? Try a home-cooked meal. Remember those things called friends? Call them up!

Taking a break is essential to recharge your creative batteries, breathe in something other than your book and actually refresh yourself before you jump into the crazy editing journey.

2. Read

Ah, reading. The pastime that gently nudged us towards our writing path in the first place. Most of us neglect our TBR (To Be Read) pile whilst writing a manic first draft, so turning back to that pile is a great way to unwind and actually remind yourself what the end goal looks like – it’s not all cringe-worthy documents buried on a laptop!

If you feel really eager, grab some books about writing and editing and prepare yourself with some of the tools you’ll need once you get round to moulding that incoherent first draft into something magnificent!

3. Work on other projects

Let’s be honest. As writers, we can go for months with zero ideas and a painful writer’s block. But the second we actually do start working on something, we can find ourselves swamped with new and seemingly more interesting ideas.

Once you’ve finished your first draft, have a little play around with any new ideas you may have had. See if they’re worth anything and get them out of your system.

4. Correct basic mistakes and print it out

Ok, now some time has passed and we’re ready to have a peek at that document. If you’re anything like me, you had some freewriting sessions where you just splurged whatever was in your head onto the keyboard. “No editing!” you told yourself as you ignored the spelling mistakes, the numbers in the middle of words and the red squiggly lines scattered over your document.

Now you get to fix those. No major edits – just the mistakes that would glaringly distract you when you read through your draft for the first time.

Now print that baby out and have a look at it! Congratulations – you officially have a printed manuscript of your novel! This step gives you a much-needed boost and helps you realise you’re so much closer to your dream of being published. This boost is essential before you read your draft and see how much editing actually needs doing!

5. Switch mentality

Remember all those fuzzy, creative pep-talks you gave yourself? It’s time to scrap them. You’re not the free-spirit writer with a creative soul anymore – you’re the business-minded editor with a pen, and you’re not afraid to use it. Now is the time to be critical and analyse that baby with a microscope.

Switching mentality is so important, and it’s not always easy. We are WAY too attached to our own stories. It’s a basic conflict of interest scenario, which is why many writers choose to outsource the final editing stage to a professional. I edit manuscripts for a living, but I always send my work to fellow editors when I’m done. I’m just too close to it!

Switching mentality is possible, at least during this stage. Get ready to assess whether your plot makes sense, your protagonist is likeable enough, and your settings are engaging.

You can do this.