Writing Corner: Editing (Self-editing)

It's been several weeks since I've posted a Writing Corner blurb, I apologize. Hopefully, my six-part series narrating chapter one of Out of Touch tided you over.

I have posted before about being an Indie Author with limited funds.  As such, I've chosen not to hire an editor at this time, though it is a future goal.  Luckily, a couple of beta readers are more like proof readers in exchange for the occasional meal or two.

So, due to monetary woes, I have to self-edit, which can be problematic.  You are so close to the story that you know the characters, plots, etc.  You know what you are trying to say in the dialogue scenes or when you are describing action.  You also know so much about the world you created, you may tend to provide way too much exposition.  With all of this and then some, how can you truly edit yourself objectively?  Well, I am no expert but I have a couple of techniques that I use, with varying degrees of success.

1. Do not edit while writing
1. Write the book first. I may wish to color, bold, or highlight something if I know I need to fix it later. However, I do not dwell on it, I continue writing.
2. Do not edit earlier works while writing a new book in the series
1. I work ahead, so I wrote the second novella before before I even sent the first to my betas.
2. I kept an editing list for Book 1 while writing Book 2.  This let me quickly jot down something I may need to go back and correct in Book 1, but I was able to keep writing Book 2 without losing momentum.
2. Read the previous books prior to working on current (applies to editing and writing)
   
1. I need to read the 'published' copy as that is the only thing readers have access to.
2. Writing the books, I've cut scenes from previous books, etc that I am privy to, but not the audience. I need to remember what events occurred, what the characters actually did or said, or what was said about them.  Sometimes I inadvertently leave a possible plot point dangling and need to resolve it in the current book. Nothing too big, usually a hint of something to come that I forgot to pay off like future plans for a vacation or a shopping trip or something.
3. I need a refresher of events sometimes too, dangit.
4. Helps to keep character tone and writing consistent.  "Oops, so-and-so is a more serious character and I need to correct that in current book, not so sarcastic or quipy".  "I forgot that these two had that small interaction so I don't need to introduce them to one another." And so-on.
3. Wait a month or two after finishing the book to edit it
1. The time away allows my brain to reset and come at the work with a fresh perspective.
2. Sometimes ideas that were not fully formed while writing have the chance to percolate during the away time and I am better able to expand or fix the text that I highlight when originally writing the book.
4. It is okay to write while editing
1. Sometimes I need only to rewrite a few paragraphs in a chapter while other times the whole chapter needs to be reworked. Nothing wrong with this.
2. If it is a short rewrite, a few paragraphs, then I continue editing the rest of the work afterwards.
3. However, if I find that I am rewriting large swaths, a full chapter for instance, then I shift back into writer mode and focus my attention on that. I will need a break (maybe only a week or so) after a large rewrite before I return to editing the book.
5. Refer back to book notes (more on notes here)
1. If I have scenes with many characters or if it has action, I block the scene.
2. I also timeline my books (calendar, daily breakdown, etc) to help keep plot points straight.
3. When editing, if I have to refer to my notes to figure out what is going on or when the event is occurring, that means I did not explain it well.  A reader will not have my notes to refer to so I need to correct this in my writing.
4. I like having notes at hand when editing. I don't want to waste time trying to redo research or recreate logistics that I worked out originally. However, I cannot use them as a crutch for not explaining something well in the written book, so tread lightly.
6. Speak your work aloud
1. This helps you to discover words and phrases that do not flow well.
2. You catch ideas that aren't explained well. If you go 'huh' while speaking your own words, imagine what the reader is doing?
3. Pretend you are recording an audio book, it is not as tedious. 
4. Drink plenty of water so you don't lose your voice.
7. Edit MULTIPLE times
1. I edit before sending it to betas.
2. I edit after receiving feedback from betas.
3. I edit after writing the next book (since I write ahead, prior books are not published yet).
4. I edit when I create a draft to send to Copyright department. This goes to one beta for one last read through.  I rotate the betas so as to not overwhelm them.
5. Then I edit it again, right before uploading the draft to Copyright.
6. Editing multiple times is essential to me.  I might not catch something the first or second time, but hopefully will at some point.  I try to separate the multiple editing times by a couple of weeks so my brain doesn't get into a rut of reading the book without thinking or critiquing it. 

Self-editing is not for always, but it is my reality for now.  Once I complete school (in two to four years, hopefully) I will be able to hire an editor.  I may even become an author with an agent and a publisher, but realistically I am not counting on it.

I am certain that better editing blogs are available and written by actual editors (or writers that are more successful with editing themselves).  I encourage you to seek out those articles, I am sure they are extremely helpful.  I like to read how someone does something and if it speaks to me, then I can adapt and incorporate their process for me to use.  So, I am just sharing my experience in case any of this resonates with you, paying it forward and all.

Happy Reading!