The first draft is merely the beginning.
The real magic happens in revision.
But how do you approach editing your own work when youre too close to see its flaws?
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Heres our greatest hits compilation of editing techniques that actually work.
But if that beautifully crafted paragraph isnt moving the story forward, its got to go.
Create a darlings document where it’s possible for you to paste your precious deleted sections.
Think of it as having a B-sides album those cuts might work somewhere else.
Your ears will catch what your eyes miss.
Read your entire manuscript aloud, even if you feel ridiculous doing it.
Clunky dialogue, awkward transitions, repetitive words they all become glaringly obvious when you hear them.
This forces you to focus on the writing itself rather than getting caught up in the story.
Youll spot overused words, consistency issues and places where the pacing drags.
Its like trying to record, mix and master a song simultaneously.
Focus on one aspect at a time.
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Cut the Fat, Keep the Flavor
In journalism, shorter is usually better.
In fiction, thats not always true, but the principle of economy still applies.
Try cutting 10 percent from your total word count.
Its amazing how much stronger most manuscripts become when forced to lose the bloat.
If anything pulls you out of the story, fix it.
At some point, you have to call it done and send your work out into the world.
Your manuscript, like a perfectly mixed album, will tell you when its ready.
Now go forth and edit like a rock star.
