Bernadette Benda

Editing a novel. How shall I describe it?

Editing is like polishing silver, except with a blindfold, and the blindfold is on fire, and you are banging your head against a wall trying to put the flames out while still polishing the silver.

 

But it’s all worth it. I promise. (I really, really, really promise the editing is worth it).

But how – how do you not lose your mind while editing?? I got a few tips…they may be helpful…

*grins and shrugs*

Write clear and concise notes.

This probably depends on your editing process…but if you’re like me, you take a lot of notes. A LOT.

As I have mentioned before on this blog, I am notorious for leaving undecipherable notes that make no sense to me or anyone else that Elrond himself would not be able to decipher. Or, I write notes for the same scene twice and they both say different things.

Like that battle I had planned out in great detail?

Well, I have TWO versions. That wasted half an hour.

Go over your notes.

This is especially important if you have a large cast of characters or a lot of world building or just a gigantic plot that weighs about three hundred tons.

It’s easy (at least for me) to forget small things. Details about places, side characters, subplots, etc.

So I write things down. But there’s a problem with that. I write them down, and never ever, ever, ever, ever look at them again.

This has caused many problems and I do not advise ignoring your notes if you want your life to remain organized and your novel not to come out as a jumbling heap of words. 

Take a break

If you write EVERY FLIPPING DAY (like me-self), you’re going to burn out. When you hate your story and your eyes start bleeding are good signs to stop.

Sit back. Relax. Go to the beach.

Do what you need to do (thank you that was very specific).

Unlike first drafting, with editing you have to actually…think things through???? It’s a lot easier to pound out 1,000 words when you don’t give a hoot what they are.

But when you have to sit back and think…”how should this scene go?” *strokes beard as things get more difficult*

Give yourself time to think. Give yourself time to ponder. Brainstorm, make a pinterest board, go for a walk and accidentally join a bunch of dwarves and go kill a dragon.

Then write a book about it.

I hope this was helpful. I hope this will make your editing journey less painful. So.yeah. *sits back, sips coffee, and continues staring out window*

SEE YA NEXT WEEK.