Edit. Edit. Repeat.

So, you’ve finally done it, the moment of a hundred daydreams since you started. You finally finished that first draft of your novel. Congratulations! This is a big achievement. Most don’t get this far, losing interest part way through. You kept going and reached that finish line after months (sometimes years) of work. But now the real torment begins as a new challenge lies ahead. The edit.

The editing stage is, without doubt, the most important stage of writing a book. If a book is badly edited, your readers will not return. It takes an insane amount of time, and by the end, your labour of love, your baby, and the outpouring of your creative soul will become the most hated thing in your life.

So many times, you will think you’re finished. So many times you will think Sod it! That’ll do! But a little voice inside will tell you another read-through is needed, and more changes happen. The biggest mistake first-time writers make is rushing and thinking the novel can’t get any better. If you are a first-timer, take my advice – pass it to a friend. A teacher, lecturer, proofreader, ideally. At the very least, someone you know who reads a lot and will tell you the absolute truth. If you submit it before it is ready to publishers or agents, your work will scream amateur, and they will not read past the first paragraph. The competition in writing is fierce. Thousands of submissions a week enter the slush pile, and usually, only a few (sometimes as low as two) unknowns will be signed each year. A year. Let that sink in. So stop, take a break for a couple of weeks, and make sure by giving it one more look.

Editing is relentless. It feels neverending, and you will never finish, but hang in there. Refusing to give up is the difference between a published book (independent or mainstream) and a forgotten file on your computer. I am no expert by any means, but after going through the process a few times now, there are some things I have learned.

For me (although everyone is different), the trick that makes it bearable is doing the process in steps. Then at least you think you’re making progress, instead of feeling like you are standing in a sandstorm in the middle of a desert, trying to find a way home. Each stage I concentrate on and try to turn blind to anything else. It keeps me focused. So, the stages…

📖 Stage one: Initial read-through

This is a labourous one but a good starting block. Basically, you simply read your novel. It is in its roughest stage, so you find spelling mistakes from late-night typing sessions, and sentences that make no sense, and you’ll wonder what on earth you had been drinking when you wrote such drivel. Sometimes you get names wrong, forget speechmarks, and automatically you correct and change as you go. It’s not even uncommon for giant spaces of empty pages to appear for no apparent reason! Your confidence might waiver at this point when you look at the mess that lies in front of you but keep believing. No one can write like you. You are the only person who can tell this story in the way you envisioned at the start. Your book will get out there. Just keep going!

🕳 Stage 2: Plotholes

When you write a first draft, you are getting the story down. When you initially read through, the chances are you made a note of parts that need to be inserted, expanded, or changed. Either to bring more to the characters and setting or to make it easier for the reader to experience the story. These can be things such as more details of places or feelings, etc. If there is a character that you wish the reader to get attached to or embrace more, this also means showing more of them throughout the novel. Creating opportunities for them to be present.

If you’re writing a novel set in the past, a lot more time is needed at this stage. You have to make sure everything was around or used at that time. There’s no sense in putting in microwaves if everything was cooked on a stove. You will also need to cover fashions, diet, currency, landscape, major events that happened at that time, such as wars, the language or slang people used, land, religion, and sometimes monarchs. You need to be aware of it all. This stage also nicely leads into stage 3.

👐 Stage 3: Show don’t tell

This is a massive thing in writing and is really important. The more experienced in writing you get, the better you become at doing it. When you read through the book, you have to be aware of anything where instead of telling the reader something you describe it and trust, they will interpret what is happening for themselves. If, for instance, you want to describe what someone is wearing instead of saying something like feeling self-conscious, she decided to sit down. Julia wore a tight black dress to her knees like the old Hollywood stars she admired as a child and wanted to be like.

You would be more subtle, such as; When Julia was offered a seat, she felt the material of her dress clench her body as she bent down. She glanced at the stranger opposite, and she tugged the hem a little further over her knees. Her black tights blended seamlessly into a silhouette, Julia crossed her ankles, hoping none noticed the small ladder that had started to appear from her heel.

From the revised version, you understand the dress is tight, and the use of the word silhouette describes the colour. Instead of telling the emotion of being self-conscious, it becomes apparent in small actions such as Julia tugging the dress down after seeing the stranger. The ladder in her tights creates a premise, adding more to her character. There is a book I use that has become invaluable for this. It is called the Emotional Thesaurus and describes actions and gestures both internal and external for every emotion. If you are serious about writing, a similar book could prove invaluable. You will be surprised at how many incidents in your writing can fall into the trap of telling, not showing. Even the biggest bestselling writers have to edit a lot to make sure they avoid the temptation of a quick tell.

🕑 Stage 4: Contingency

This edit is all about time and making sure the events in the book are in order and make sense. It also includes the characters’ likes and dislikes. If a character is vegan, it would make no sense if later on they visit a cafe and have a full English breakfast. So, every detail you have to note down. Birthdays and ages, likes and dislikes, jobs, families, friends, and anything that happens to them that can be referenced later. Also, the reader has to have some concept of time in the novel, so a quick mention of a time of year or season is good.

The events of your novel have to flow. Conversations between characters can not mention anything that hasn’t happened yet, such as meeting fleeting characters or referencing lovers or friends. You also have to make a note of anyone working in shops or people like postmen. So, in the book, the way you describe them or a name will create an immediate image in the reader’s head. Small details like this make it easy for your readers to step into the world you’ve created. So the more of this you get right, the more realistic your story will be.

👀 Stage 5: Second read through

At this stage, you must read the book as if encountering it for the first time, ensuring everything you have changed so far has worked. You are looking for readability, engagement, whether you can relate to characters, and the overall pace of the story.

✔️ Stage 6: Grammar and Language

Pretty self-explanatory. You need to spell check. Check grammar, and watch out for any mistakes between American English and Standard English. Sometimes, computerised spellcheckers will switch between the two, so be careful.

Next, use a different spell checker independent from the first. This is also where you pay close attention to tenses (past and present) and try not to mix them up in sentences and paragraphs, which is a bigger and more detailed task. Take your time with the tense check. It’s a big indication of your ability, and it’s very easy to mix them up.

👥 Stage 7: Beta Reader

Ideally, another read-through is needed before handing it over to someone you trust. You need fresh eyes on your novel. Avoid spouses, partners, parents, or best friends as they are usually the most supportive. Usually, three is ideal.

☕️ Stage 8: Take a break

You have to break away for a bit. Some do weeks, some do months, but remove yourself from your book. You would have gone through it so many times now that it is hard to be subjective. So, try and forget or focus on other things for a bit.

🏁 Stage 9: Final readthrough

This stage is as long as a piece of string. Stepping away will ignite your focus, so you read through and edit as many times as needed. Make any changes the beta readers have suggested (if one person suggests something, take it under consideration. If it is more than one, it is best to change it no matter how painful). The general rule is, if you make more than four or five changes, the book isn’t ready, so you will have to edit again. It has to be in the best shape it can be. Only you can decide. If you are like me, you are never 100% sure, so trust your instincts. There is always a niggling feeling you can’t ignore if it’s not ready.

🍾 Stage 10: Finish!

So, that’s it, you’re done. Pour yourself a glass of something and relax- the hard work is over so reward yourself and do something just for you. There’s still cover design, marketing, and blurbs to come but the most labourous stages are over. You made it!

If you are approaching or in the midst of editing, you have my condolences. I am there myself, so I feel your pain! But we can do this! The harder we work, the better the book will be. And in the end, it will all be worth it. Hopefully!