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Tuesday, 8 September 2009

Self-edit: part one

So, long long ago in a galaxy far far away, I promised that I'd give you some pointers on self-editing. So here they are...

Format the document. I suggest no less than 1.5 line spacing and a sensible font size that doesn't have you squinting like a mole in a dark room.

Print it out. Yes this is the age of technology and people are perfectly capable of reading onscreen, but reading isn't editing, is it? Print. It. Out.

Read it with a pen in hand. Don't start scribbling down every little thing, just circle the stuff that leaps out at you as a reminder for later. Do this all in one go, not an hour here, or an hour there. This is your book so it should be able to hold your attention; if it gets a wee bit tedious, then that's something you need to address.

Write down chapter summaries as you go. Each chapter should contain something important to the story - if it doesn't, then why's it there? I find chapter summaries give you a good overview of the story and allow you to spot holes from afar. Plus it's a good memory aid.

Sit back and think about it. Thinking is the most important part of the editorial process and I spend large parts of my day staring into space. Here are some things I think about:
  • How has the story left me feeling?
  • What was the ebb and flow of the narrative? (When did my heart race? When did I hold my breath? When did I start skim reading?)
  • What bits have I forgotten? (Not an easy question to answer, hence the chapter summaries.)
  • How do I feel about the characters?
  • How can I cut this down and make this sleeker?
Brew, stew and chew your lip thoughtfully. Go to bed and see what your brain throws up when you're trying to sleep. Tomorrow is a good day to tackle the major edit.

Word of the week: INSOUCIANT; adj. indifferent, unconcerned, nonchalant; heedless; apathetic.
Context: I've been feeling somewhat insouciant towards blogging of late. This is about to change.

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