The Messy Middle: Inside My Editing Process
Introduction
The editing process is more than correcting typos. For me, personally, it is a complex process in which a manuscript as a whole becomes refined and ready for publication. Editing has layers to it. Some common layers that I have to work through when editing are grammar/ syntax, narrative development, structure, and formatting. Each step in the editing process is crucial for the manuscript to be publication-ready, as each piece builds upon the other. The process can change slightly depending on whether I am editing for a client, which includes a more back-and-forth process between revisions and approvals, or editing my own drafts. Regardless of whether I am editing my own stories or those of a client, the main principles remain.
1. First Things First: Reading Through the Draft
The first step when I begin editing someone else’s draft is to resist the urge to start editing. This can be a challenge, especially since I am a detail-oriented person, which most writers by nature are. Reading the draft all the way through allows me to get a sense of the author’s voice and intention for their work. It also makes it easier when I get to the editing process, because I am able to understand how my edits will affect the draft as a whole. When editing someone else’s work, I want to be respectful of their draft, as it is the product of their mind, heart, and soul. Reading it first without making any revisions is the first step in handling the draft with care.
2. Grammar and Syntax Sweep
The second time I read through the draft, I focus on grammar and mechanics. This includes spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and any other mechanical errors. I will also correct any awkward wording or sentences that I come across. It requires a more focused and detailed reading of the draft to make sure no errors are missed. I avoid looking at developmental issues during this second sweep and keep my focus solely on grammar and syntax. Honing my focus on one aspect of the editing process at a time ensures I do not get overwhelmed or distracted by everything at once. When working with a client, it is important to leave suggestions within the document itself. Not everything needs to be left as a suggestion and sent back to the client to review, however. If a sentence is awkwardly worded, or a word used could be replaced by a better-fitting word, leaving a comment may be more appropriate. I do this to ensure that the edits I make do not alter the author’s voice or intentions. Minor things like spelling or punctuation errors that do not change the intended meaning can be fixed without the need to send it back to the author with a suggestion or comment. A good rule of thumb I follow: when in doubt, leave a comment! The author can decide whether or not to accept my edit or suggestion, and thereby their voice and vision remain intact.
3. Deep Dive: The Developmental Edit
The developmental edit is the most intensive part of the editing process and takes up the majority of my revision process. When I begin a developmental edit, I go chapter by chapter to evaluate the pacing of each scene and chapter. I will look for areas that feel rushed, repetitive, confusing, or unnecessarily slow. These can be adjusted to enhance the flow and pacing of the draft. Next, I check for plot inconsistencies or any gaps. If there are areas of the plot that could leave readers confused, I will suggest edits for the author with tips on how to make their details clearer to the reader. Then, I look at the characters to see if their arc is fully fleshed out. If there is anything that needs to be added to enhance a character’s arc, I will leave those suggestions. The reverse is also true; if there is anything that needs to be removed or rewritten to strengthen a character arc, I will suggest that as well for the author to review. The most important part of this stage of the editing process is to ensure that the draft feels cohesive from the first page to the final chapter.
4. Formatting for Publication
Once the narrative development has been revised, the next step in the revision process is to polish the format and layout of the document itself. I will go through and make sure all the chapter headings are the same font and style. Next, I add alternating page numbers to the document, ensure the margins are 1 inch on all sides, resize the page to the desired book dimensions, and much more. I also make sure that page breaks are added after each major page, such as the title page, and after each chapter. This ensures that all chapters start on their own page. If there are any visual inconsistencies, I will make sure they are fixed so the entire document looks visually consistent. For example, if the first paragraph after a chapter is indented in most of the chapters, but some are not indented, then I ensure the appropriate indentation is used for all the beginning paragraphs of the chapter. This step is where my attention to detail really thrives! I strive to look at the draft from the viewpoint of a prospective reader, as though I picked it up from the bookstore. In this mindset I scan the document for anything that stands out to me that looks like it does not match or belong. This final stage of the editing process is like icing on the cake! The cake is already baked and layered, but the icing makes it look decadent and gives it extra sweetness!
Final Thoughts
Editing works best when the revision process is broken down and separated into the following phases: reading through the draft without making any edits, then sweeping through to fix grammar and syntax, followed by narrative development edits, and finally putting the finishing touches by fixing the formatting of the document itself. By isolating these stages, it reduces the chance that I will miss errors that I might otherwise have overlooked had I tried to combine all the steps in one go. An added benefit, and arguably the most important, is that compartmentalizing the editing process this way keeps me from getting overwhelmed. Each stage has a different purpose and is crucial to creating a final product that is ready to be held in the hand of an admiring reader.
