Whether you’re trying to get by without a developmental editor or you can’t wait to have one get their eyes on your work, you’re going to be able to accomplish more if you spend your writing time with editing in mind. And that means spending less time editing and ending up with a more polished product. Win win. We’ve got a few thoughts about how to simplify your edit, so let’s get started.
Go in with a Plan
One of the easiest ways to decrease the amount of editing you do is by being a planner. Don’t get us wrong. We don’t have a horse in the pantser v. planner race. In fact, we think it’s best to use a little of both in your writing. But it’s a lot easier to need less editing when you have some kind of a structure to keep you on track early.
Maybe consider just jotting down your ideas for the inciting incident, first act break, midpoint, second act break, climax, and resolution. Then you can imagine your way from place to place as you continue to write but you know where you’re headed. If your characters get a mind of their own and wander in a totally different direction, that’s okay too. You can always update those goal posts, but having them in the first place will give your story a foundation to build upon.
Separate by Scenes, Not Chapters
The experience your character has in a story is separated by scenes. And when you’re writing a first draft, you should be focused on the character’s story. Chapters are a phenomenon that dictate a reader’s experience, which can more easily be augmented in editing. What’s a lot harder to change is the scene’s structure after the fact.
By grouping your writing by scene rather than chapter, you can stay focused on the scene’s structure and ensure you’re including a beginning, middle and end to each scene. Later you can decide whether to leave them with cliffhangers or include multiple scenes in a chapter, but you do yourself the best service grouping by scene to see the effect of your writing in the beginning.
Know Your Genre Conventions
Whether you’re going to follow them or break all the rules, it’s important to know what a reader expects when they pick up your novel. There are tropes, characters, and major scenes every genre requires, and being aware of them during your first draft will help them fall into place naturally. 95% of successful novels will hit each and every one on the head.
Though you can probably think of one or two bestsellers in your genre that don’t follow convention, it’s a big risk that could cost you in readership and finding an agent. Even if you think you want to go without, it’s much easier to write the convention that’s unimaginative and then turn it on its head later than to leave it out entirely and then fix it when your story is lacking. The effects of a missing convention ripple throughout your story, and it will make editing a real nightmare.
Make a Style Sheet
When you’re building worlds, there are likely to be some new words or concepts you make up along the way. At the very least, you’re probably going to have a fake business name. Put it on your novel’s style guide. It’s basically just a place to keep track of the way you want things spelled, capitalized, fake taglines, what your chapter titles should look like, and more. You can even keep it full of your preferred use of hotly-contested grammar rules like whether or not to oxford comma. If you’re inconsistent, a copyeditor is going to pass over it and make these kinds of choices for you. But intentionally choosing these styles and putting them in one guide will make self-editing easier, and you’ll never have a fight with your editor about how to spell stormtrooper.
Take Notes About Your Struggles
None of us is a perfect writer, and whether you’re writing your debut novel or your 50th, there is going to be room to learn. So if you paint yourself into a narrative corner and have trouble getting out, mark it down and keep it even when you eventually find a way out of it. If you find yourself struggling with using similar words again and again, keep a list. Being aware of your shortcomings as a writer is your best asset as you edit. You can keep these things in mind and get help overcoming them with resources like a book coach or beta readers. Add questions about them specifically to your beta reading questionnaire. It’s a great way to get a reader’s perspective on what needs adjusting.
When it comes to writing, following your whimsy will help you get words on pages. But when it comes to editing, knowledge is power. Putting in a little effort on the front end will make a huge difference as you attempt to edit your novel. If you’re worried about interrupting your flow as you write, don’t worry. These things don’t have to happen the second you write. Check in once at the end of each writing session or at the end of each scene. Do what you can and what works for you. Every little bit will help you (or your editor) later!
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