You Need to Read This Book Again Before Taking the Quizread the Book
Many new writers are confused about what happens after you take managed to get the commencement typhoon out of your head and onto the folio.
Information technology is definitely time to gloat considering you take achieved a lot more nearly writers! Merely information technology's also only the kickoff step towards your finished volume.
Hither's my process, and I believe it'due south relevant whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction.
(1) Rewriting and redrafting. Repeat until satisfied.
For many writers, the first draft is just the bare bones and often no ane volition ever run across that version of the manuscript. But once those words are downwards, yous can ameliorate on them.
Personally, I beloved the rewriting and redrafting process. Once I have a first draft I print the whole thing out and exercise the first pass with handwritten notes. I write all kinds of notes in the margins and scribble and cross things out. I note down new scenes that need writing, continuity issues, issues with characters and much more than. That first pass usually takes a while. Then I get back and showtime a major rewrite based on those notes.
In one case I have the first typhoon in Scrivener, I print the whole thing out and do the get-go pass by hand. I write all kinds of notes in the margins and scribble and cross things out.
I note downward new scenes or chapters that need writing, continuity issues, problems with characters and much more. That starting time pass usually takes at least a week and is the most substantial edit.
Then I go back to Scrivener and type all my changes into the manuscript, inevitably changing some more things along the fashion. Subsequently that's done, I will print again and repeat the process, but that commonly results in fewer changes.
When I am satisfied that my self-edits are the best I tin can practice, I volition send the manuscript to my editor.
Click here to bank check out my list of recommended editors.
If you are struggling to get to the point of satisfaction with your words and you lot have been through several self-edits already, or even several pro editors, then read The Pursuit of Perfection and How It Harms Writers by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
(2) Structural edit / story edit / editorial review
If this is your first book or the showtime book in a series, it can exist worth getting a structural edit (sometimes chosen a story edit for fiction or an editorial review). This isn't a line by line analysis, but more than of an overview on what you can improve. It's cheaper than a full line past line edit and will assist yous determine whether you lot demand to do some pregnant rewrites or re-organization. It's unremarkably presented equally a report with sections for the various aspects of the book e.g. problems with characters if fiction, and with chapter lodge or menstruum issues when non-fiction.
I had a structural edit for Stone of Fire (previously published as Pentecost), which was my first novel. As the other ARKANE novels follow a similar formula, I didn't get structural edits for the other books in the series.
Nevertheless, I did get one for the second book in my crime series, Delirium, when I got to a point when I had 'lost the plot.' I really didn't know what was wrong with the book, merely that something wasn't quite right. I paid for a professional editor to requite me a structural edit and she found the problematic scenes. It helped me a nifty bargain and I was able to get back and finish the book.
(three) Revisions
When you get a structural edit back, there are usually lots of revisions to do, possibly fifty-fifty a complete rewrite. It might exist hard to become through the report, so I'd recommend setting it bated for a few days while you try to think nearly it in a non-emotional manner!
The book is yours, so you get to decide whether or not to implement the changes, but recall, you did pay the professional editor to make your finished product improve.
If you lot decide to deed on the communication, then go dorsum into the manuscript and make the changes. If they're pregnant enough, you might demand to go through and self-edit again.
(4) Line edits (besides known every bit copy editing)
This is the classic 'red ink' edit where an editor goes through your manuscript line past line and marks upwards issues in spelling, grammer, discussion choice and any other comments about the book every bit they go through. This is usually washed with Track Changes on a Word document and yous go dorsum a version covered in edits.
Remember, this is not a structural edit and you lot volition exist paying by the word or per g words. So this is the expensive edit and you should make certain the volume hangs together well earlier doing this.
There are horror stories of authors who have paid for line edits on 120,000+ word novels only to determine after that they need to cutting the volume in one-half and should have waited to pay for an edit on a tighter 60,000-discussion manuscript.
You must go the structure of the volume right before obsessing over tiny details like word selection or grammar issues.
The first time you get a proper line edit, it will hurt. You remember you're a writer and then someone changes practically every judgement. Ouch!
But remember, editing makes your volume stronger, and the reader will thank you for it.The more eyes on your book before publication, the better information technology will exist when the book is actually out in that location. Afterward all, y'all want a professional product, correct?
Yous can find a list of professional editors hither.
If you can't afford a line editor, then check out Grammarly, which volition bank check your manuscript for a lot of typical errors.
(v) Revisions
Yous'll need to brand more changes based on the feedback from the line editor. This may be a lot of detailed piece of work when information technology'southward your first book, only it gets improve with each book if you learn from those edits. Afterward 20+ books, my line edits are pretty clean these days because I have learned from every editing feel and then I don't make the same mistakes again.
Make certain you don't only Accept All changes in marked upwards manuscript, or y'all won't learn!
Information technology is important to remember that you don't have to alter what the editor suggests and sometimes they will exist wrong, e.yard. about place names or culturally specific things you know more near. Then evaluate each suggestion with a critical middle. I usually finish upwards making near 90% of the changes my line editor suggests.
(half dozen) Beta readers
Beta readers are a trusted grouping of people who evaluate your book from a reader's perspective. You should just give them the book if yous are happy with it yourself considering otherwise, it is disrespectful of their time. Ideally, you also want them to postal service a review when the volume is published, and so the closer information technology is to the finished product, the better.
I utilise beta readers for specific cultural or knowledge gaps in my fiction, for example, I had an Indian reader go through Destroyer of Worlds to check for issues with my portrayal of Republic of india, and I had a Vulcanologist check out Risen Gods for the volcanic scenes. For non-fiction, I use beta readers to ensure I have covered all the necessary topics in the book as well equally whatsoever issues with jargon or over-complexity.
You can discover beta readers from your existing audition, or seek them out in writers groups online.This could exist a critique group, although I prefer a hand-picked grouping of 5 or 6 who bring different perspectives. I definitely accept a couple of people who love the genre I am writing in as they will spot issues within the boundaries of what is expected, and then some people who consider other things.
Some authors utilise unpaid beta readers instead of professional editors, but I think that the skill of an editor is very different to the experience of reading for pleasure. You need both opinions.
(7) Proofreading
By this point in the procedure, you won't be able to see mistakes in your manuscript because yous are so familiar with the words! Inevitably, your corrections for line editing volition also take exposed more bug, albeit modest ones.
And then before I publish, I get a final proofread from a fresh pair of eyes.
Proofreading is normally a reasonably priced read-through and terminal check on typos, grammer and word issues. After Crypt of Os was published, I fifty-fifty got an e-mail from a reader saying congratulations because they had failed to discover a single typo. Some readers really do care, for which I am grateful and that extra investment at the finish tin can definitely pay off in terms of polishing the final product.
Of class, information technology's important to note that nearly published books are not mistake-free, whether they are from big proper noun traditional publishers or small indie micro-publishers. We just take to practise the best we can and and so let the book out into the earth!
(viii) Mail-publication updates
The beauty of publishing in a digital world is that you can always update your files after. The days of a volume being finished on publication are over.
If someone finds a typo, no trouble. If you desire to update the dorsum matter with your author website and mailing list details, no worries. If you want to re-edit the whole volume later when y'all are a better author, y'all can exercise that too.
This is much easier if you self-publish and control the files yourself. It takes a matter of minutes to re-format on Vellum and then upload those files to the publishing sites.
How long does the editing procedure take?
Every author is different, and there are no rules.
But when you lot're a new writer,your revision process will probable accept at least as long equally the first typhoon and probably longer.
Every bit y'all become a more experienced writer, the revisions and edits might not take then long. Some very experienced writers only write one typhoon, e.g. Lee Child and Dean Wesley Smith.
How much does professional person editing cost?
In terms of money, I would budget between $500 – $3000 depending on what level of editing y'all're looking for and how long your book is.
The unfortunate truth is that editing your first novel is likely to be far more expensive than editing for experienced writers because you accept and so much more to larn. Recollect of information technology as an investment in your writing craft and it volition become easier (and cheaper) with the more books y'all write.
I believe editing at all these different stages is important because it is our responsibility to make certain our books are the best they can be. We want to exist proud of the finished product.
Happy editing!
More than resources on editing
Editing, revisions and proofreading: What happens after the first draft?
How to Find and Work With a Professional Editor
Tutorial: How to Improve your Writing with Grammarly
My list of recommended editors
Tips for Editing your Book with Natasa Lekic from NY Book Editors
Demand more than help?
If you'd like some more than help on your author journey, cheque out:
- My Books for Authors
- My Courses for Authors, including How to Write a Novel and How to Write Non-Fiction
- The Creative Penn Podcast, interviews, inspiration and information on writing, publishing, book marketing and creative entrepreneurship every Monday
- My videos at YouTube.com/thecreativepenn
Source: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/writing-book-after-first-draft/
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