Making editing fun!
Apr 24, 2020 by Colette Alaine
I don't mind the first two edits of my novel because I write them straight through from beginning to end so I find necessary changes to make. I usually pinpoint the big stuff in these first two edits, which take almost as much time as it took me to write the book! Not really, well, perhaps both edits combined are close to the same general timeframe. My books take three months to a year to write, depending upon what I'm writing. The novels in the thriller series take less time now because the characters are defined and when I reintroduce them into the next novel, it is much easier.
After completing two in depth edits, I then reread the novel multiple times; so many times that I see no mistakes at all. That is when the novel is sent out for professional editing so a fresh pair of eyes can find gaps or punctuation issues; anything that needs to be fixed or clarified. I usually begin writing another book or editing one depending upon my scheduling and, to some degree, my interest at the time.
"Leveling Lawyers," the third novel in the series is at this stage. I have not read it since late last year and I just received my professional edit. All of that prior editing paid off because the notes are easy fixes; mostly punctuation issues. As I began this edit to fix the problems my editor found, I decided it was time for me to learn proper placement of .commas and not to rely soley on her. So I googled it and found eight correct uses of the comma. As I go through this edit, I am checking my sentences to make sure that both of us got it right. Once I finish it, I will specifically go through the editor's comments and see if I got them all. I made it into a game and it is keeping me very focused on my novel. Once these two edits are completed, I will reread the entire novel twice more before releasing it. I hate finding mistakes in books and I try very hard to correct all of mine.
Nothing replaces multiple edits. If you find that you just cannot read your novel again anytime soon, send it out to multiple readers for their input. Don't select people who want to change your novel; rather ask friends and family who like to read to review it after your professional edit is done and you've made those changes. Seeing how others view your novel can be very interesting, and sometimes quite fun!
Until later, happy editing!
Cheers, Colette
After completing two in depth edits, I then reread the novel multiple times; so many times that I see no mistakes at all. That is when the novel is sent out for professional editing so a fresh pair of eyes can find gaps or punctuation issues; anything that needs to be fixed or clarified. I usually begin writing another book or editing one depending upon my scheduling and, to some degree, my interest at the time.
"Leveling Lawyers," the third novel in the series is at this stage. I have not read it since late last year and I just received my professional edit. All of that prior editing paid off because the notes are easy fixes; mostly punctuation issues. As I began this edit to fix the problems my editor found, I decided it was time for me to learn proper placement of .commas and not to rely soley on her. So I googled it and found eight correct uses of the comma. As I go through this edit, I am checking my sentences to make sure that both of us got it right. Once I finish it, I will specifically go through the editor's comments and see if I got them all. I made it into a game and it is keeping me very focused on my novel. Once these two edits are completed, I will reread the entire novel twice more before releasing it. I hate finding mistakes in books and I try very hard to correct all of mine.
Nothing replaces multiple edits. If you find that you just cannot read your novel again anytime soon, send it out to multiple readers for their input. Don't select people who want to change your novel; rather ask friends and family who like to read to review it after your professional edit is done and you've made those changes. Seeing how others view your novel can be very interesting, and sometimes quite fun!
Until later, happy editing!
Cheers, Colette
