Editing Process

[Lan]

@Janna and Rusty

It is really hard not to go back...but the free flow writing is the best. This is when the creativity runs wild:) If only my perfectionist side wouldn't hold me back... Any suggestions on how to avoid rereading ;)

Should we start an editing support topic?

[Bo]

@Cassandra Lol. I hear you! Technology moves so much faster than me. My Nokia mobile is nigh on 20 years old. My niece says it’s obsolete. I say it’s vintage. :)

@Lan I never edit on my first draft. When I’m getting the original story out – my writing tends to be frantic and fluid…..and riddled with errors. With every new draft and edit the story changes. By the time I’ve reached version 1000, it’s generally good to go! :)

@Janna Keep going with that novel. It’s the best feeling in the world writing ‘The End.’ An editing support group would be awesome!

[Cassandra]

@Ian I write until I get stuck. If I reach a point where I'm not really sure which way I want to go, I start back at the beginning with rewrites and edits. Most of my editing is done at the very end.

During the first draft, I usually keep my eyes closed while I type. Then I can't see the letters that I transposed because one hand types faster.

[Lan]

Thank you all for your honest answers:) it is true how a character evolves through an editing process. For instance, I chose to name this male character Richard because in my mind, he was going to be a "Dick" but after developing his character through 1000 edits, he turned out to be a sweet guy:)

[Janna G. Noelle]

@Lan I've heard that some people who have a big problem with going back to edit (i.e. to the point that it prevents them from going forward) will start each writing session in its own document, and assemble the multiple documents into a single one at a later time.

@Bo Thanks for the encouragement. It'll be a little while yet, but the end is definitely within sight now, although the writing does seem to be getting harder, not easier, trying to pull all the various threads back in.

As I mentioned before, I'd be all for an editing support group. I've never edited a novel before, and don't even know what the first step is beyond putting the novel away for a little while to get some distance from it. I'm about to start reading Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King. I've heard it's really good. Anyone here read it?