Self-Editing Your Writing
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
Self-editing can sound intimidating, because revision and editing tend to be such fraught, complex-seeming topics. But novels are made in revision, rather than during the initial draft. Self-editing is a skill that writers can learn—and master. Let’s talk about some simple steps that can help you tackle this important task.
Self-editing skills are developed through experience. I recommend setting a novel manuscript aside for three months or more before attempting any revisions; this gives you the benefit of rereading the story with "fresh eyes," even if they're your own.
If you find yourself stuck and unable to move forward with the revision process, this is also great advice. Putting it away and coming back to it will often help bring new ideas to light. Another useful tool is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King, which gives novelists a good starting point for guiding their own revision.
However, most writers will hit a roadblock at some point in their self-editing journey; they may find themselves making small changes without making any real progress. In such cases, it's usually best to enlist outside help. This is particularly true when major changes need to be made in order for the novel to be accepted by an agent or publishing house. How do you know what those changes are? Well, that’s one of the major questions of self-editing.
Elements to Consider When Self-Editing
As you undertake the self-editing process, keep an eye out for these factors, which are among the most frequently cited reasons that agents and publishers have for rejecting a project:
• Poor writing quality
• Hard to relate to characters
• Poor point of view (POV)
• Confusing timeline
• Too much dialogue
• Too many scenes
• Slow pacing
• Too much telling
• No conflict
• Unrealistic description, or description that doesn’t serve the story
• The protagonist is unlikeable
Of course, it’s impossible to tackle all of these big craft topics in one round of self-editing. You’re more likely to organize revisions in a number of rounds. First, tackle plot (with the help of a novel outline), then character from scene to scene, and finally, the sentence level craft of the prose itself.
The Bottom Line With Self-Editing
Editors and literary agents want to see that the novel is well-written, and they want to be able to engage with the characters. Every editor has his or her own opinion about what makes a good novel, but they all want to see solid craftsmanship and storytelling. Most importantly, they want to fall under the novel's spell; they want the kind of emotional experience that compels them to finish the book. Self-editing can help you emphasize those crucial elements.
If you can make the literary agent or editor fall in love with your work, you'll be more likely to make the sale. And it often takes a lot of self-editing (or working with an editorial partner, like a freelance editor) to get there. The most successful writers learn to love it.
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