WOO HOO! Only three more years to go! I'm very excited because I finally can focus on doing the things I want to do! I have already crossed Shift, by Rachel Vincent off my Must Read list, and today I'm going to focus on editing Chapter four.
Shift was
fantastic. I love Rachel's whole Shifter's series and I'm so sad that there's only one book left! I highly recommend her books, but start with Stray. It's a series with great characters and a fantastic plot in every book. Pick them up and read them, I guarantee you'll fall in love with them!
I'm wondering at how to go about this whole editing process now that I can actually sit down and do it. I've been reading my novel chapter by chapter and fixing it up that way, but I'm wondering if I need to read the entire book before I begin serious editing. Any opinions?
Till next time!
Excellent work, Kat. Enjoy the summer, you've earned it!
ReplyDeleteWhat I do before I revise a novel is I make up a list of all the major things I know I need to do to make it better (plot changes/character details/backstory/foreshadowing/etc). Then I go through the list systematically and tick them off as I complete them. Then I go through the book, chapter by chapter, making the little improvements necessary in the details.
When I've done all of this I move on to the editing, concentrating on grammar, spelling, punctuation etc. That way I know that nothing is undone.
Jai
Thanks, as always for your helpful comments. I've decided to manipulate the way you edit into a way I can edit. I'm going through, chapter by chapter and writing down everything that doesn't work or other serious issues, like a name changing about halfway through (oops!). I feel a little less overwhelmed this way! So thanks :)
ReplyDeleteKat, that's why I work this way, because it makes the task less overwhelming. When you focus on only one thing at a time you work faster as well as better.
ReplyDeleteJai
Shift sounds great, thank you for the suggestion!
ReplyDeleteI’m almost done with my first draft so I’m kind of nervous about how to go with the whole revision/editing process… But Jai gave some excellent advice, it’s an excellent idea to make a list and just go from there… Good luck :)
No problem Lua :) and yes, Jai's advice on how to go about the whole editing process is very helpful. Good luck to you too!
ReplyDelete