
- #Novel manuscript editing how to#
- #Novel manuscript editing trial#
- #Novel manuscript editing professional#
Reread your novel with an eye for large problemsįor now, ignore stylistic issues and typos. Giving yourself a break will restore the energy you need to do this. Overall, it takes a lot to edit an entire manuscript, or any of your own work. You get the idea, although I recommend something physical in some way, since moving your body after long stretches of hunching over a computer can rejuvenate not only your body, but your mental state. Catching up with friends and family you avoided while writing.It also allows you to avoid overlooking problems with the big picture because you're so concentrated on perfecting the little details.Īnd if you're really itchy to edit your own writing immediately, consider some other ways to exercise your mind and distract yourself (for a little while). This break is vital so you can come back with fresh editor's eyes. For shorter works, I recommend a couple weeks. I recommend leaving it sit for two months. No matter how much you want to, don't reread your book right away.

You absolutely know there are parts you wanted to revisit while you were rushing through a first draft. Your first instinct is going to be to give your story a read through immediately. This works for novels, books, short stories, and everything in between. To do this, I've constructed a step-by-step guide to tackle the editing process.
#Novel manuscript editing trial#
I want you to skip the years of trial and error I went through to find a good way to self-edit a book.
#Novel manuscript editing professional#
You'll still likely want a professional edit done, but this process helps you get your book in the best shape possible before you send it on.
#Novel manuscript editing how to#
And it can definitely be overwhelming.Įventually, in my many years of rebelling against the editing process, I realized I didn't want to edit because I had no earthly idea how to begin!įiguring out an editing process gave me some fresh eyes on how to approach my own work, and become a better writer while simultaneously becoming a self-editor. I know it's an essential part of the writing (and publishing!) process and respect if for that purpose. not necessarily enjoy it, but tolerate it. (Eventually, those folks have learned that's not really a great idea.) I used to hate editing as well, but over the years, I've come to. I've known some novices who refuse to edit their work at all.

But first, there's one thing we have to get out of the way: Editing is essential and you have to do it. In this article, I'll teach you the process I've learned after years of struggling to edit. Are you the kind of writer that loves writing a first draft but has no idea what to do once you're done with it? Do you worry that you don't know how to edit a novel, so you freeze up, get overwhelmed, and either publish right away or stuff it in a sock drawer forever?Įditing is hard, but luckily there are strategies you can take when editing your first draft (and others), or even if it's your first time.
